The Companye of Merrie Folke

06/06/2026

Join wyth us thys daie at Colchester Roman and Medieval Festival, 11 in the forenoon till 6 in the after. We shalle be wyth you on the morrow as well.

05/06/2026

03/06/2026

My deare Lady Eleanor,

I am gladdened to hear you shalle join wyth me in three short daies at Colchester.

I am in receipt of a missive from your Household Steward, Matthew Dawes. He muste be a grayte asset to you, for he writes wyth a fyne hande and expresses himself right well.

He tells me you have moste generously instructed hym to send eggs from your estate, and wonderous sweet portingales. You are the kyndest friend I could wish for, in truth, your companye is gyfte enough. We shalle enjoy these delights together.

I pray your journey is an easy one, and I shalle soon be greeting you upon the sward of Lower Castle Park, Colchester on the 6th and 7th daies of June.

God be wyth you my friend,
Lady Cecily Buffry

30/05/2026

God Save you My Lady Cecily.
I pen this to you at the behest of my mistress Lady Eleanor, who is well pleased to be joining with you at Colchester at the weeks end of 6th and 7th daies of June in this, the year of Our Lord, 1568.
She doth know that your wondrous cooks will be accompanying you and it is her most earnest wish that she bring some foods to contribute to the goodly feast they will most assuredly prepare. To that end she hath charged me to bring the fynest and freshest eggs from her estate, and a goodly number of sweet portingales, newly arrived from overseas which she is aware that you are most partial too. She doth trust that this will find favour with you and looks forward with grayte anticipation to enjoying your goode companye.

May your journey to Colchester be easy and the way smooth.

With the compliments of My Lady Eleanor.

God Save You.

Matthew Daws
Household Steward

16/05/2026

My Good Friend Lady Cecily,

I greet thee well and make so bold as to ask how life goes with thee.

I graytefully accept your kynde invitation to join wyth thee at Colchester. News of a Fayre in the grounds of the fyne Castle has caused grayte excitement in my household, and I will have much joy in seeing thee upon the sward as it seems many moons since last I was in thy company.

In truth, I am graytly troubled at this time and it will be well to have two days of goode pastime with thee.

My unease hath been caused by word that Mary the Queene of Scotland hath come into the realm, and that our Goode Queene Bess may now hath suspicion as to the loyalty of her Catholic subjects. Of the Catholic Faith I have ever been a loyal adherent and it doth give me much sorrow that my Queene should have doubts of me, and I would unburden myself to thee.

The Fayre will be moste uplifting, and thou hast made known to me that thy cooks will attend thee, thus I will be assured of a goodly Board also. Mayhap we will also spend coin on the divers wares available at the Fayre, and spend time watching the skilful Archers, always a most welcome diversion.

May God Bless thee and keep thee in goode health.

Fare thee well.

Written this day of 17 May by the hand of your assured friend Lady Eleanor.

05/05/2026

On this day we remember with great affection our much missed Fred Rapsey who sadly passed away in 2020.

A “larger-than life” character, Fred brought an extensive knowledge of all things period to The Companye.

Oft times he was resplendent in his distinctive blue outfit, as The Queen's Herald, drafting alms for visitors to take away. He was equally at home playing the pious Brother John in a simple wool habit when he would minister to the spiritual needs of The Companye.

He was oft times called upon by film companies and can be spied in such dramas as “The Private Lives of the Tudors”, “Elizabeth I and II The two Queens”, “Henry VIII and his Six Wives” and many more.

It is said that no one is indispensable, but his passing has left a void within The Companye that can never be filled.

Sleep well Fred.

14/02/2026

Friend Thomas and thy Goode Wyfe Anne,
I send to thee felicitations and grayte thanks for your generous hosting of myself and Elizabeth over the festive period. Your companye was most delightful as ever, and the conversation was most stimulating and not once did we touch on business, much to Elizabeth’s delight.

Christmas Daye was a joy, even though mayhap your Father Cornelius could have made his sermon a little shorter at church that morning.

As always, you did ensure our bellies were full, with such a feast as methinks would not have disappointed Hys Majesty Himself. Your cooks are such a credit to your household. As for your maid Mary, what good fooling humour she was in. When your steward appeared after dinner with that piss-pot about his neck. I thought my sides would split with laughing. Mistress Fryer also found it most amusing, though your steward’s face was of a most rosey hue. Whether through ‘barrssment, or rage I know not, but mayhap the latter, as his jaw was firmly clenched. This only served to make his position funnier.

The games and past times Mary ordered were most fyne, and the poppet show of “The Wishing Tree” a most welcome diversion. Priding myself at skittles, I was surprised that Mistress Spryng bested me at every turn. To be beaten so was a mite irksome. I can but surmise this was due to a surfeit of the copious amount of sweet Flemish wyne and mead that thou were so generous with.

All of your servants were most attentive and Elizabeth and I wanted for naught. You were most gracious as hosts, and I am well pleased that you so enjoyed the cask of wyne I brought as a small contribution to proceedings.

We had a goody journey home despite the poor upkeep of the road from Kelevdon. It’s many cart ruts made our progress slow, but at least the ground was frozen else our journey would have been e’en slower.

Elizabeth hath said that we needs must return your hospitality, and next Christmas you will come to us for the whole festive season. I cannot promise you roasted Peacocke, nor the marchpane subtleties crafted by Master Martin, as I fear my cooks are not as skilled as thine own, but we will not go hungry.

Many thanks again my friends. I look forward to seeing you both and doing business again with you goode Thomas afore too long.

God Keep thee both
Yours aye

Jasper.

23/01/2026

Gods greetings, and mine also, are sent to thee as the 12 days of celebration of our Lord’s birth hath now reached an end. Such a fine time was had by almost one and all, with the world being most topsy-turvy as tradition doth dictate.
As thou must know if thou were present when I was so fortunate as to find the bean in mine own mince pie, there was one person who I fear was not at all pleased! For being allegedly found in his cups, Master Steward was reminded that he should drink less heartily and perhaps more temperately, as doth a woman, and the Mistress did loan him one of her hoods to wear as a reminder that he must curb his voracious ale supping! Many visitors were amused that he was required to serve dinner wearing a woman’s hood!
Visitors were indeed very engaged with the merriment and willingly participated in riddles, forfeits and use of the kissing bough fashioned by Annys. The simple tankard game played in the great hall was a favourite amongst all ages of those present, with both young and old sharing the merry jape.
As Queen Bean held court and many were called in turn to give account and witness the Steward’s ways, it was the Housekeeper’s accusation that Master Steward would ever say she was lazy, tardy and slovenly. Queen Bean felt that the punishment of tying him to her apron strings would lead him to appreciate her worth and work as he must then follow her about. This, however, turned out to be more of a punishment for the poor housekeeper than it was ever intended to be!

There were many who reminded me that my days of riotous rule would end and that I should have a care what mischievous merriment I create, especially regarding Master Steward. He did, however follow all fun and forfeits handed out by Queen Bean, for in truth I believe he hath a heart buried deeply under his crusty, boorish outlook. And altho’ ‘‘tis early days, I have not yet been met with harsh treatment or punishment for my dealings over the 12 days of merriment.