Cordellia Elizabeth Ann Howard
Name Given at Birth: Cordelia Elizabeth Ann Howard
Nicknames: Cordie, is a name I was given as a child.
Hometown or where you were born: Howard Estate in Lambeth, Norfolk England
Current Residence: Lord Mayor’s Manor in Canterbury
Age: 23. I was born on July 3rd 1551
Class: Upper nobility
What do you do, your main function in life/society: I spend most of my days studying I am learning how to become a court lady.
Have you ever gone skinny-dipping / do you know how to swim: I am a lady and would never do such a thing in public. I do know how to keep myself afloat when I am in the water.
Do you make fun of people: I would never hurt a person’s feelings by mocking them. Now my sister’s tongue is much quicker than mine.
Favorite Color: Yellow, my father always told me I had hair has radiant as the sun.
Have you ever committed or been convicted of a crime: No, my sister and I have been blessed with the class we do hold. We would never steal from another man’s livelihood.
Closest friends/How did you meet:
My sister Amelia- is my best friend. We have been through some tough times and that has only brought us closer. Lady Beatrice- Since she has arrived at the manor I have gone to her many times to get help when I have needed it. I am also seeing her as a friend who I can count on. Lady Catherine- She is my ward and is teaching me how to run a manor as a lady of the court. My lady is most wise in the life as a lady. She is most kind and never turns me away even when I just want to sit by her side. Sean - I did meet him when I arrived to Canterbury. He is quite but he will also do anything I ask of him. We sit for hours by the fire just talking. He is becoming one of my dearest friends. One Pillow or two: I do have three pillows that grace my head. I had four at one time but one has gone missing.
Pets: My lady has a little terrier named Winston. My lady has given my sister and I gifts since we have arrived to the manor. One of them is my riding horse, Goldie. She has the most golden mane I have seen.
Favorite Type of Music: I do enjoy music that keeps my feet moving. I do not care for the gypsy violin I do keep hearing in the manor.
Hobbies/Pastimes: Needle work is my highest passion at the moment. I am learning to read and loving it more each day. Shopping is another favorite pastime that I have.
Personal Hygiene: I bathe once a week for I wish no one to turn their noses up in my direction.
Favorite Food: I do love a good pheasant, chicken plum pie, and must never go with out an apple pie.
Are your parents alive, do you get along with them: Both of my parents of passed from this earth.
If your parents are dead, when and how did they die: My mother died when I was 10 while giving birth to my baby brother who also did not make it. My dear father did pass away a few years ago he died from weakness in his heart.
Favorite place to relax: While I was living in Carfax, there was a tree near the manor where I could sit and forgot about all the worries of the day.
Favorite Holy Day / Why: Yule is my favorite day for it is a time for I can give gifts with out a reason. Yule is a chance for loved ones to show the love for each other and I have always felt a part of a family during Yule.
Favorite Drink: Tea my lady has served us since we have lived here. I also enjoy apple cider
What's your bedtime: We are put to bed by our lady when it is growing dark. My sister and I do lay our heads to sleep once we have stopped gossiping for the day.
What, if anything, do you usually wear on your feet: Soft leather slippers my father had made for me two Yule’s ago.
Are you married or single: I am single but my lady is looking for my future husband
Do you have a family / who are they:
Amelia- She is the only family I do have left. I love her with all my heart and pray that she will marry well and have the life she truly deserves. Sean- Though he is our servant he is also considered like a little brother. Lady Beatrice- She may not be blood related but she has become family to me. My lady Catherine is my ward and much of a mother that I will come close to. My lady did tell me that she is married to a gypsy man who is also my ward. The gypsy man also has 8 sons and one daughter, my lady told me they are our family as well. Favorite Entertainment: I love to dance, sew and lastly shop. I also like to play games with the Sean servant of the house
Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: My lady is very knowledgeable in theology and I have become an admire of it as well.
Least Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: I would have to say that I don’t like to clean anything in any of the houses I have lived in.
Favorite Sport: I do like to go out in the afternoons with Goldie and ride
Most Humiliating Moment: Amelia and I decided to go riding a few weeks back. I was walking with Sean to the barn when I saw some gypsy’s walking towards the manor. I got nervous and told Amelia to go back to the manor and tell our lady about the visitors. When I turned back a young gypsy woman was running towards me. She was very excited to see me so I hid in the barn till she did leave. I then turned and ran to the manor with Sean a close step behind. Once I was inside I saw the two gypsy boys sitting and playing with Winston. They looked up and addressed me as "sister" I told them that as soon as my lady saw them they would be asked to leave the manor. I turned around to find her and I saw the gypsy girl sitting with my lady. My lady then told me to sit as well, it was then I found out that the gypsy’s who were on our land were our family. My lady told Amelia and I that she was married to the Maestro – a gypsy man - who had 10 kids. I asked if I could be excused and ran to my room. I was then humiliated how I had acted in front of them and prayed they would not report back to their father my new ward of my behavior.
Proudest Moment: A few months back my sister and I came to live with my lady. I knew the harvest festival was approaching in Canterbury. I assumed that after the festival we would be sent to another house to live. The day came when I was told that Amelia and I would be staying with my lady indefinitely.
Craziest Person or silliest you know: In my travels from manor to manor I have meet a few people who have made me laugh a time or two. I can not say one is crazy or silly for that is not for a lady to decide.
What do you look for in the opposite sex: I look for a man who has a sense of humor. Good looks that make my head turn when I see him. Also a man who can dance till the sun comes up in the morning.
In our Hierarchical Society everybody has somebody "over" them, Who is your immediate "overlord" I assumed when I was told of my lady she was my overlord but she did inform me that a man by the name of Maestro Boleyn is my overlord. I am told he is a good man who loves his family with his whole heart. Though he is a gypsy
Favorite Sport to watch: I have always enjoyed a joust when I am able to attend
Do you remember your first kiss: Yes and I will take the story to my grave
Do you keep in touch with your childhood friends: I did travel so much that I was never able to keep a friend for long. Amelia is the only childhood friend who I have kept in touch with for she has never left my side
Where is your favorite "Vacation" spot: Vacation to me has been a dream of mine for some time. Right now living in Canterbury is a vacation for me.
Have you ever been overseas: Yes, when I have traveled from home to home
Do you have Dirt/Mud floors or Stone: the lower floors are made of stone while the upper floor is wood
What is your bed made of: Oak wood frame and goose down mattress
How many people sleep in your bed: Myself, I am a lady
10 Things Everybody Should Know About Me:
1. Amelia is all I have left of my family, I want to protect her but I know she will have to go out on her own someday. I pray that she will be happy and not have the worries we have come to face in our life. Amelia does say I hold her a little to close at times.
2. I tend to marry by the end of the harvest so I may right the wrong our family name has seen.
3. I tease our servant boy but I am loving him more has a brother each day I am knowing him.
4. My favorite color is yellow, to get my good side if bring me anything yellow I will listen to what you have to say.
5. All my life I have been learning to become a court lady and how to run a manor. There are days when I wake up wishing I could go and play in the field and not have the worries have a court lady.
6. While living in Carfax, I did meet a man who caught my heart. We would spend hours under a tree he reading sonnets. The day came I was dreading and I had to move to away, before I left he gave a necklace that I wear to remember him. Though he will always have my heart he shall never be worthy of my hand for marriage.
7. I have been wanting to have a manor I could call my home, now that I am staying for good in Canterbury I am most pleased to say my home is here.
8. My father and I were close when I was a little girl. After my Aunt’s death he sent Amelia and I away so we could have a proper life. A few years back I wrote to him to come back home and live with him he never wrote back. I thought he did not want Amelia or myself to come back home in truth he did pass from this earth.
9. The Howard family name had a lot of power behind it. My Aunt Katherine disgraced our family name during her marriage with King Henry. When Katherine was beheaded our family pulled together to help us through the tough time that was ahead. When I was first sent away I was upset and didn’t understand the reason behind it. Now that I am older I am grateful for what my father did. The other person I am grateful to is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. My father wrote her and out of the kindness of her heart she sent us to be with Lady Catherine. I will forever owe her for my lady’s manor that I call home today.
10. I have always wanted to have a family who I can say I am a part of. I was upset when I learned my lady was married to a gypsy then I heard her side of the story. I have seen how they all care for each other and will not stop at anything to protect each other. Slowly I am opening my heart and accepting them as my family. Deep down I am truly happy to be a part of the Boleyn family but I will never show my feelings to them.