[Sca-cooks] A Bird Bath, or: what I did with herbs last weekend!

[Aurore]

Bravo!!!! Beautiful!!!!!  Good recipe for peer broth? ;D  Aurore



> It occurred to me that several of you might be interested in hearing what
I
> did last weekend- I provided a full Vigil Bath for a very dear friend of
> mine who was going to be elevated to the order of the Pelican in the
> morning. This involved a large (130 gal) stocktank (vinyl, not galvanized.
> Eyuew!), about 50 gallons of water, my pavilion and poster frame, and
> several hours of research to recreat the ceremonial that I had written
last
> time I did this several years ago, but somehomw did not have a copy of,
so...
>
> Aleyn is one of the senior members of the local Hospitallers, so they
> rounded up all of their water cans, filled them the night before, and left
> them in the sun all day. When we poured the bath about 9 pm, the water was
> perfect.
>
> Lessee...
>
> I set up the poster bed frame inside my pavilion, but didn't put the bed
> inside. Instead I covered the area with rugs and set the tub up against
one
> of the long sides of the bed frame, which was against the back wall of the
> pavilion. Had all of the curtains up on the bedframe, and curtains between
> the corners of the bed and the pavilion wals, so there was space to stash
> things. I have two small folding tables, they fit exactly into the back
> corners at the ends of the tub. Covered those with cloths, one candelabrum
> each. The left hand one also got my pretty new Madonna statue (She is
> 'vaihrry naihce'). There was a nice period chair in the empty corner of
the
> frame, on the right, and on the left was the extra water, the basins and
> ewers, the rosewater, etc. I laid several layers of white sheeting in to
> line the tub, and then I stripped a whole bunch of fresh herbs into the
> bottom- rosemary, sage, lemon balm, beards of fennel, and oregano flowers.
> When we poured in the warm water it was really intense. And then I added
> rosewater.
>
> When we got everyone ready to go, my student Laurence, who is also a
> Hospitaller, stood at the door and read this portion of the script (which
> was sewn together from bits of texts including Geoffery de Charnay _Le
> Livre de Chevalerie_, the anonymous Ordene de Chevalerie, _Ouevres de
> Froissart_, and _Li Romans de Durmant le Galois_):
>
> (before entering the bath)
>
>      "Before you is the Bath of Courtesy and
> Bounty. As you enter and dwell therein, reflect
> on your need to cleanse your body henceforth,
> from impurities of sin, and any dishonorable
> ways of life~ you shall leave any such
> impurities in the water, and as recalling the
> baptism of infants, you will come out of the
> water with clean conscience, emerging clean
> and pure as an infant from the font."
>
> Mavis snuck in and took pictures before Aleyn got into the water- I'm
> hoping they turn out.
>
> Aleyn stripped down and got into the tub, and I read the Pater Noster in
> Latin.
>
> Laurence read this portion as Aleyn bathed:
>
>      "Think on these things as you ready
> yourself for the vigil before you.
>
>      As a Peer of the realm, you must be freed
> from wickedness, so to win a place in Paradise.
>      You must be willing to shed your blood in
> defense of God, and of the Crown you serve.
>      You must often contemplate your own
> death, and thereby avoid pride.
>      You must keep your body pure and avoid
> liscentiousness.
>      You must hasten to action with the love of
> God and the honor of the Crown in your heart.
>      You must preserve this inseperable pair of
> virtues~ Justice and loyalty.
>      And always be ready to return your soul
> to God, rendering fair account for your
> deeds."
>
> I read the Ave Maria, and after washing his hair, the Credo.
>
> Then, as Aleyn was leaving the bath and dressing in clean white clothes,
> Laurence read:
>
>      "Hold close these virtues: hardinesse or
> courage, loyalty, and prowess. Be always
> courteous and generous; be of fair speech.
> Ferocious shall you be against evil, while frank
> and debonair to friends."
>
> When Aleyn was dressed, but before leaving the pavilion:
>
>      "And now remember this: Every new peer
> should make a good beginning. Remember
> these words here tonight, and Godspeed you to
> your new life."
>
> With the candles and the steam and the warm water, and everything, Aleyn
> said it was a most wonderful experience- and indeed made him feel as if he
> was experiencing a part of the Middle Ages for real. And me? "Yippee!!"
>
> And then we had to bail the tub. Hey- can't re-use the water if he's left
> his sins in it! I dated the man! I know some of those sins! Encouraged him
> in them even! ;-D)
>
> Was great fun and a worthwhile experience. He cried. I cried. I cried some
> more the next day during the ceremony. And then I had a nap!
>
> 'Lainie
> bathmaiden to peers...