Devo and the Pony Gal

Dear Folk,

Today, September 10, we are talking about wives: one who lowered taxes and one who did her best to prevent a war.

Marie-Therese D'Autriche, also known as Maria-Teresa de Austria in her home in Spain, was born September 10, 1638 in El Escorial, Spain. She was the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain and Elizabeth of France. When she was a lovely 16 years old she was betrothed to Louis XIV of France, her cousin.

This peace she was involved with was called The Peace of the Pyrenees. Here was the deal. This peace ended a 24-year war between France and Spain. Under the terms of the pact, Marie agreed to renounce her claim to succession to the Spanish throne in return for a large dowry. She and Louis were married in June 1660. Cool thing, she says she doesn't want Spain, just show her the money. Now, the Spanish had better make sure to pay the nice French folk that dowry.

Pappa Philip died five years later and Marie's half-brother Charles II ascended to the throne of Spain. Charles was not very robust. He had epilepsy and some other problems. He was a nice kid and all but weak as far as ruling a country went.

Louis XIV claimed that since Marie- Therese 's dowry had never been paid, her renunciation was void. So, it was off to conquering for the Sun King. He did not attack Spain itself – one hated to troop through those mountains where Roland got whacked – instead he sent troops to the Netherlands. Spain had claimed them for quite some time. Louis thought up a neat justification, besides the unpaid dowry, he claimed the Law of Devolution.

I can just hear all you Devo fans out there singing "Crack that whip!" Devolution was a local custom governing the inheritance of land in certain provinces of the Spanish Netherlands, by which daughters of a first marriage were preferred to sons of subsequent marriages. Louis XIV began the war on the pretext that this custom should apply to sovereign territories also, so that his wife, Marie-Therese, should succeed her father, Philip IV of Spain (d. 1665). She was, after all, in the majority of the Spanish possessions in the Netherlands in preference to her younger half-brother, Charles II of Spain. Besides, no one thought that young Charles would make it to having kids. Accordingly, he conquered part of the Spanish Netherlands in his wife's name in the War of Devolution, (1667-68). France won Flanders and with it Bergues, Furnes, Armentières, Oudenaarde, Courtrai, Lille, Douai, Tournai, Binche, Ath, and Charleroi.. Not a bad dowry, eh?

Meanwhile, on the home front, Louis did not prize Marie enough to stay in her bed. Barely a year after their marriage, Louis took the first in a succession of royal mistresses. Marie Mancini, Louise de la Vallière, Madame de Montespan and several other beauties at court won the king's heart or some part. The queen showed more class than most and suffered his infidelities in silence.

Upon on her death Louis is reported to have said, "This is the only trouble she has ever caused me." How sweet. Of Marie's five children, only one, the dauphin Louis (d. 1711), lived to maturity. Those love affairs of the king faded because Madame de Maintenon (whom the king secretly married immediately after the queen's death on July 30, 1683) required strict, Christian, constant devotion. So Louis, who was fond of saying "I am the State," had to finally find out who ruled the State.

The second wife I would like to tell you about you probably think is a legend. She is, in part, but also very real. Today we mourn her passing in September 10, 1067 CE. Her name was Godgifu, which translates as "God's gift," and she was. You might remember her by the name Godiva.

Leofric the Earl of Mercia was one of the three greatest earls of Britain in the 11^th Century. He backed Harold's claim to the throne over Edward the Confessor, and even moderated a tussle between Edward and Earl Godwin. Leofric's wife's name was Godgifu.

Roger of Wendover told the tale originally. Roger said that Leofric and Godgifu had graciously founded a monastery near Coventry in 1057. He recounted that the people had been oppressed with taxes which the kings of Britain had laid upon them. Leofric had passed these taxes on to the folks in Coventry. The people appealed to Godgifu, a great lover of the Blessed Virgin, for some help.

Of course Godgifu appealed to her husband who told her to mind her business which might include sewing, singing, having kids, and looking good as a Countess should. Godgifu found it convenient to bring the subject up again and again. "Hello Dearest, have you thought about lowering taxes today?"

"Grumble, mumble, grump!" You get the idea. Finally, Leofric decided to put an end to it by a dare.

" 'Mount your horse, and ride naked, before all the people, through the market of the town, from one end to the other, and on your return you shall have your request.' On which Godiva replied, "But will you give me permission, if I am willing to do it?' 'I will,' said he. Whereupon the countess, beloved of God, loosed her hair and let down her tresses, which covered the whole of her body like a veil, and then mounting her horse and attended by two knights, she rode through the market-place, without being seen, except her fair legs; and having completed the journey, she returned with gladness to her astonished husband, and obtained of him what she had asked; for earl Leofric freed the town of Coventry and its inhabitants from the aforesaid service, and confirmed what he had done by a charter." – Roger of Wendover, Flowers of History (c. 1231)

A later chronicler said that Leofric did hold to one exception: keeping horses was still taxed. In the seventeenth century someone added Peeping Tom to the legend. Dr. Seuss wrote about 7 Godivas but that is another story.

Want something really cool? Queen Elizabeth II counts William the Conqueror as part of her lineage. That also then traces to Harold. Harold's grandparents were Leofric and Godgifu. Would Her Majesty take such a ride today? I kind of doubt it.

So what have we learned? Wives can get their way if they really want to? Your partner will surprise the pants off you? Always pay those dowries and other debts? Your mistress will put you through far more changes than your wife ever will? Ancestors can be really embarrassing at times? How about never underestimate the power of a Pony Gal?

Today also marks the debut of someone who will make her very determined mark on this world. Jaime Hendrix, the Happiest of Birthdays to you, my dear Fox-Friend! Jaime is daughter to my Squire and his Lady. They and we are very lucky you are around.

If you are out riding around Coventry in your all-together, declaring war on Spain, fighting tax increases, or just sipping some Godiva liqueur, and decide to forward this missive to others, pray do. Just remember to leave my name and sig. attached.

Looking for a Pony Gal to lower my taxes,
J. Ellsworth Weaver

SCA – Sir Balthazar of Endor
AS – Polyphemus Theognis
TRV – Sebastian Yeats