I personally have a hard time imagining any career I would hate more than to be a court lady, so confined by social rules, familial expectations, and cumbersome clothes, with so little freedom to make meaningful choices or get your hands dirty with real work. Ugh. But the evidence is that hundreds of women fought for these places; is that maybe evidence of how miserable every other kind of life was at the time?
Not that the women had no choices to make, or no power. They endlessly networked and used those connections to benefit their families and their friends. They also had their own kinds of art. I was struck by this:
The Duchess of Norfolk was forced to abandon a “complex embroidery work” when her husband banished her so he could carry on an affair. The work, described in inventories as “a great pomegranate of gold,” had perhaps been her silent form of protest at the treatment of her queen, as the fruit was Catherine of Aragon’s symbol.
This connects to what Laurel Thatcher wrote about women's cloth work in colonial North America, which was simultaneously practical, political, and self-expressive. Women said a lot without writing it down.
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I personally have a hard time imagining any career I would hate more than to be a court lady, so confined by social rules, familial expectations, and cumbersome clothes, with so little freedom to make meaningful choices or get your hands dirty with real work. Ugh. But the evidence is that hundreds of women fought for these places; is that maybe evidence of how miserable every other kind of life was at the time?
I imagine that in the 16th century, being a court lady ensured your nutritional needs were met in a way few other vocations could match. It also meant high end comforts - an excellent bed, abundant heating, regular baths, good medical care, etc. I would think that generally speaking, court ladies would be in better physical condition than most women as a result.
Then there's the intangible aspects of things. One should not discount the value people historically placed on matters of prestige. I have no doubt most of these women fully considered it a genuine privilege to be permitted into the mere presence of royalty, to say nothing of perhaps even befriending them or gaining their trust in some small way.
After all, most people really did believe that monarchs were the chosen of God, ordained by heaven to rule - so perhaps to be a trusted servant of such a monarch was akin to being a disciple of Jesus. And even for the cynics of the time, who might privately laugh at "Divine Right" as a concept, there's still the simple factor of people generally being drawn to the rich and famous.
Imagine if modern day celebrities "held court", and ordinary people could apply for positions waiting on them. Imagine if Taylor Swift fans could win the chance to live in the same mansion as their idol, with free room and board, and all they had to do in exchange was act as a personal assistant and follow a specific code of conduct.
There would be MILLIONS of applicants - not because "every other kind of life is miserable", but because some people are just star struck and want to be "part of something bigger", and would sell their kidneys to be able to hang out with their heroes, be of use to them, and earn their notice or appreciation.
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