Through all of Calontir it is known that many benefits accrued and are still accruing because of good women, wise in literature and learned in artistry. Lyra, Queen of arts and devotee of Lady Reason, seeks such among the flowers of the Kingdom as are fit to be named among Her Lilies; Orren, chalice bearing King, seeks those of erudition and education to advise His court.
Of Rosalie Langmod, late of York and of the three rolling rivers, Lyra proclaims: “Lady, thy goodness and thy generous grace, thy pen and needle flowing in accordance with the falcon’s needs; only can your talents be equaled, for they can never be exceeded.” Of the good lady of the purple roses, Orren proclaims: “We fitly praise all thy worthiness, your wisdom and knowledge. For how many have learned at your feet, and been clad by your hands?”
So to her shining roses was a gilded lily laid, in hue and honor equal to her own; and on the __ day of ______________________ it was done, in the sight of all the learned of the Kingdom.
_______________________________ _______________________________
King Queen
(Based on the Book of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan, 1405, and the Prologue to the Wife of Bath’s Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer, 1387-1400. The sources were chosen to be close to Rosalie’s time period—they are a little late, since her persona was born in 1290, but not significantly later; and Rosalie has done a scroll text using Chaucer as a source before. The reference to ‘late of York’ refers to Rosalie’s alternate/former name Rosalye of York; the three rolling rivers refers to her residence in the Barony of Three Rivers. The reference to purple roses refers to Rosalie’s arms, which feature three purple roses. ‘To her shining roses was a gilded lily laid, in hue and honor equal to her own’ refers again to her arms, which feature gold and purple—the same colors as the badge of the order of the Lily.)