Eleanor

April 20th, the near of our Lord 1136

“It rains again. I am sitting in the window seat, looking out toward the other end of the palace. I can see the knights pace along the battlements. Their helmets look shiny gray in the rain.

There is one knight in particular I hope to glimpse: Clotaire the Strong.
I have tried to lean out the window for a better look, but the opening is too narrow. It is the right foe an archer to stand here and shoot out his arrows.
Only my arm will fit outside. The rain is cold and quickly soaks my sleeve.
Grandmere has seen that I am wet and is calling me over to the fire. She and her ladies are busy with embroider. To please them I will return to my sewing, but really my interest is to hear the stories they tell one another… such drama and romance!

I am grateful for this diary. Grandmere gave it to me so that I could describe the longings of my heart and my own dramas. She asked one of the monks to sew together scraps of parchment left over his Scripture copying. When the pages were bound, he painted the edges with gold and then made a cover from rabbit skin.

I have escaped the ladies. A rat the size of a cat ran from a bundle of cloth where it had made a nest. Screams and clattering of stools tipping over brought servants. They are now spreading clean straw on the floor.
Grandmere has returned to the fire and are looking over at me. “What silly little things are you writing about, Eleanor?” I did no answer. The question made me hot.

They say it is noble to weave woolen threads onto linen, but I would rather be like the troubadours. With pen in hand they weave words upon paper. Theirs is a joyous art. To write stories and poems now that is noble. My grandfather was William IX, the greatest troubadour who ever lived. He died when I was little, so I don’t remember much of him except for his beautiful singing voice. People still recite his poems.”

Troubadours were court poets, singers and composers often in the employ of nobles and rulers.
The first troubadour of record was Duke William IX of Aquitaine also known as Guilhelm de Peitieu (le Neuf). (1071-1127) His work is said to contain all the elements of poetry courtly love. Troubadours also was Richard the Lion-Heart (son of Eleanor of Aquitaine, later King of England)

“The woods are leafing out
and every type of bird is shouting
now in its specific tongue,
all versions of the latest song.
The time is sweet—a man should find
the ease which most is on his mind…”
(The woods are leafing out by William IX)

Richard the Lion-Heart is said to have written the following song, which is addressed to his half-sister Marie de Champagne.

"They know this well who now are rich and strong
Young gentlemen of Anjou and Touraine,
That far from them, on hostile bonds I strain.
They loved me much, but have not loved me long.
Their plans will see no more fair lists arrayed
—While I lie here betrayed.

Companions whom I love, and still do love,
Geoffroi du Perche and Ansel de Caieux,
Tell them, my song, that they are friends untrue.
Never to them did I false-hearted prove;
But they do villainy if they war on me,
—While I lie here, unfree…”


( The Royal Diaries- Eleanor of Aquitaine)