LIVING THE RENAISSANCE TODAY. Renaissance Festivals in America.

The first Renaissance Festival was organized in 1963 in the Hollywood Hills-- ground zero of make-believe.  There are now more than a 150 annual fairs in the US, with the two largest in Plantersville, Texas, and Shakopee, Minnesota.

 

Together, those fairs attract about six million visitors, slightly more females than males (53 vs. 46 percent), with a third in the under 35 years of age group coveted by merchants. They are generally well educated  (64 % college grads) and well-off (52% homeowners). They have to be well-off because it will cost them $ 300/day and up. What do they get for their money?

• The illusion to escape the modern world and spend a day surrounded by fake architecture, in a lovely English village or the noble court of our beloved Queen Bess.
• Becoming part of the fantasy and magic by dressing up. Popular costumes for rent are: Romeo and Juliet, the village wench, the tavern lady, sexy Gwenhyfar, the executioner, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. If you are tired of historical characters, there is always Guido Libido, the Hopeless romantic, friend to all women.
• Fun, fun, fun in a place where pleasures reign and merrymaking is the rule. What kind of pleasures? Full contact jousting, falconry, jugglers, jesters, an exchange of comic insults, bear-baiting (the comic version), and leeching (the bloodless version, I assume).
• Post-Renaissance payment methods. Sign at one festival booth: We honor Lady Visa and the Master of the Card.

(Source: Paul Grendler, The European Renaissance in American Life)

EARLY MODERN STRATEGY: LORENZO DE’ MEDICI’s LETTERS

Here is a lesson in strategy from a seasoned Renaissance politician. The quotes are from his letters, 1467- 89.

• How to obtain consent. We would like to inspect your properties…If you do not reply, we will interpret your lack of an answer as a quick way of giving your consent. I think I’ll try that strategy on the IRS: “I would like to withhold my taxes…If you do not reply, I take that as a quick way of you giving your consent.”
• How to get out of visiting your mother. My doctor does not think it would be good for my eczema to return to your place. PS: Send my purple tunic, as I have nothing to wear.

• How to get out of giving a present. I was going to send you some trout, but the fishing wasn’t good because it rained so furiously.

• How to avoid exile and death. I decided to go voluntarily to Naples.

• Sucking up to the Pope. So sorry to hear that you are suffering from the gout. As Saint Francis felt the pain of the wounds suffered by Jesus Christ, thus do I feel every pain and ill suffered by Your Holiness in my own person and am much vexed thereby.

• Don’t trust the French.What reliance is to be placed on France, seeing the French nature, I know not.

• Don’t denounce the King. It is better to dissimulate and make secret preparations than to show anger before being ready to strike…but an agreement would, I think, be better than a good war.

• First sign the contract, then complain. By the kindness of Your Holiness the contract of the alum works has been awarded to me…I entreat Your Holiness at last to act like a Pope…and not trust so much in posterity and good health.

(Source: Jon Thiem, Lorenzo de' Medici. Selected poems and Prose. Image: kingsacademy.com) 

LORENZO DE’ MEDICI: GOOD ADVICE TO HIS SON, THE CARDINAL

Leo X by Botero

 

What can you say to a sixteen-year old, who has just been appointed cardinal?

This is what Lorenzo de’ Medici had to say to his son Giovanni:

• Lead a saintly, exemplary, and honest life. So far you are doing alright, son. I notice you’ve been to confession and to communion without anyone reminding you.
• If all the cardinals were good, there would always be a good pope. Hint: why not aim for the top yourself?
• Persevere in studies suitable to your profession.
• Of course temptations will be great once you take up residence in Rome, that sink of all iniquities.
• See what you can do for the family. Assist our House.
• Use jewels and silken stuff sparingly.
• Eat plain food and do much exercise.
• Get up early and draw up the agenda for the day.
• In the evening, reflect on what you have to do the next day, so that events may not come upon you unawares.Don’t bother the Pope. He is a busy man and grateful if people don’t break his ears. If you see him, talk about amusing things.

 

It worked! Giovanni became Pope (Leo X) in 1513.

(Source: Jon Thiem, Lorenzo de Medici: Selected Poems and Prose. Image: www.1.bp.blogspot.com)

 

KING JAMES I ON MARRIAGE. Good advice to his son.

• Be careful whom you choose as your wife, because marriage is the greatest earthly felicity or misery that can come to a man.
• Keep your body clean and unpolluted till ye give it to your wife.
• And remember the triple purpose of marriage: for staying of lust, for procreation of children…and to get a helper.
• Make sure she is not subject to hereditary sicknesses either of the soul or the body. After all, you are particular about breeding horses, how much more careful should you be for the breed of your own loins.
• Love your wife, but rule her as your pupil and teach her not to be curious in things that belong her not.  For example,
• Suffer her never to meddle with the politic government.
• And finally: make sure she keeps good company, for women are the frailest sex.

(Source, James I, Basilikon Doron, 1599)

EARLY MODERN HACKING? King James’ advice leaked to the public.

You think it’s hard to keep anything private in the age of hacking and phone tapping? Well, if it’s any comfort to you, King James I (1566-1625) couldn’t keep his private notes private either. He thought it no ways convenient that the public should know about them.

Then why did he have them printed?  The printer was sworn to secrecy, he says. And only 7 copies were in circulation.

Well, that was 7 too many. Naturally the contents were leaked to the public.

So what did James say in this top secret document meant only for his son’s eyes?

First, he had some political advice, such as

• [God] made you a little god to sit on his throne and rule over other men.
• Of course even little gods can make mistakes: I grant we have all our faults. Just keep them betwixt you and God and don’t ever talk about them to anyone else.
• Don’t be too merciful at the beginning of your reign or the offences would soon come in heaps and the contempt of you grow.
• And absolutely never pardon witchcraft, willful murder, incest, sodomy, poisoning, and false coin.

Next blog: James' advice concerning marriage.
(Source, James I, Basilikon Doron, 1599)