Jane Parker Boleyn, Lady Rochford
Name Given at Birth: Jane Parker
Nicknames: Lady Highgate sometimes refers to me as "Janie", but she is the only one who can get away with this. Dear Maggie has taken to calling me "Penny", though I know not how she came by this name. When I asked her why she called me Penny, she simply said that there were too many Janes at court.
Hometown or where you were born: Great Hallingbury at Essex
Current Residence: With the King and Queen in Canterbury.
Age: I have aged 24 summers.
Class: I am of noble birth.
What do you do, your main function in life/society: I am a courtier. I spend my days in court, assisting my dear sister-in-law, Queen Anne Boleyn, in all things.
Have you ever gone skinny-dipping / do you know how to swim: Why would I swim in the water, when there are such splendid ships to carry us across it?
Do you make fun of people: I never "make fun" of people, though I do sometimes point out their flaws in a humorous manner.
Favorite Color: Rich blues and greens are my favorite, for they best flatter my complexion.
Have you ever committed or been convicted of a crime: I dare say that those of noble blood would never stoop to committing crimes, as it is against God’s will.
Closest friends/How did you meet: My dearest friend is my sister-in-law, Anne. We have become so close over the past several years. We met when I married her brother George, and his love for her could not but result in my own admiration of her.
- I consider Maggie to be a wonderful friend as well. She is also a lady-in-waiting to the Queen, and I delight in her pleasant company. She never seems to have a foul word to say about anyone, a rare trait in a courtier. I met her when she first came to court, so new she seemed not to know what to do with herself. I have enjoyed her company immensely in the past months. Her unusual sense of humor has resulted in my nickname of "Penny".
- My most unexpected friend would be the Lady Highgate. I met her when I was but a child on my family’s estate. I had been scolded by my father for interrupting him in conversation, and was in a sour mood. I went wandering in the woods, picking flowers to pass the time. A lovely gypsy woman appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and I was startled. But her sweet, motherly demeanor quickly won me over. She taught me to weave the daisies I had picked into a crown, then told me I looked like a princess. Since that day, I have been very fond of her, and was ecstatic to see her rise to the position of Duchess of Kent. In court, she is the one and only soul in whom I feel I can confide my secrets and fears. She has many times proven herself to be a trustworthy friend, which I find is a rare gift at Court.
One Pillow or two: Several at all times, though when my husband, George, is gone I require one more, so I may not feel his absence so keenly whilst I sleep.
Pets: I do not have a pet of my own at present, though I trust that I would greatly enjoy the antics of a lap dog. I know many courtiers with such pets, and I find them to be most agreeable.
Favorite Type of Music: I am most fond of the minstrels’ music at any masque.
Hobbies/Pastimes: I do enjoy a nice masque, complete with music and dancing, where joy and happiness abound.
Personal Hygiene: I bathe only as often as is befitting a lady of stature such as myself. To bathe any more often would be uncouth and unhealthy. I do, however, keep my appearance neat and clean at all times, so as to please Anne and the King.
Favorite Food: I do quite enjoy fruits of all kinds, most especially grapes and strawberries. I find these both to be sweet refreshment on a warm summer’s evening.
Are your parents alive, do you get along with them: My parents are both living, and by God’s grace, I am able to stay in contact with them when they visit the court. My father, Thomas Parker, is a man who holds my greatest respect, as he arranged such a wonderfully beneficial marriage for me with George. My father even arranged for my care should my husband leave this world prematurely. My mother is an upstanding lady, from whom I learned much about my place in the world.
If your parents are dead, when and how did they die: Thanks to the Gracious Lord, both of my parents are still living.
Favorite place to relax: I do enjoy resting by the fireside, of an evening, recovering from yet another day of intrigue.
Favorite Holy Day / Why: I would have to say Epiphany, as it comes at the end of twelve days of Christmas celebration, and everyone is in such high spirits that one cannot help but enjoy oneself immensely.
Favorite Drink: I am most fond of a good wine.
What's your bedtime: I make my way to my bedchamber whenever the Queen grants me my leave. This is often quite late, as our dear Queen does enjoy a late night on occasion.
What, if anything, do you usually wear on your feet: I wear only the softest velvet or leather shoes, of course. My favorites are my brown leather shoes, but I only wear those for the most special of occasions, such as the upcoming wedding of Anne and King Henry
Are you married or single: I am married to George Boleyn, brother of the Queen. We have a happy enough marriage. He provides me with all of the things that make my life so comfortable, and while I know he feels no great affection for me, neither is he an unkind man. My situation could indeed be worse, many times over.
Do you have a family / who are they: I have quite a wonderful family. We Boleyns are on the way up, and many of us are favored friends of the King and Queen. I am related, through marriage, to Anne Boleyn, of course, as well as Sir Thomas Boleyn and all of the other Boleyns at court. I am also lucky enough to have the blood of Parkers and Howards in me, as well. I believe my uncle Lysander is newly arrived at court.
Favorite Entertainment: As I have said before, I do love a masque. I especially enjoy the moment when all of the masques are removed and we find out with whom we have been dancing. We are always amazed when the King removes his masque. God has truly blessed us with a King who is not only strong and courageous, but also a most excellent dancer.
Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: I most enjoyed learning languages from other lands, especially French. I am not at all well-learned in any of these languages, but I can speak them passably well.
Least Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: I was not fond at all of sums. Such matters do not interest me in the least.
Favorite Sport: I enjoy a refined game of shuttlecock with the other ladies of the court from time to time.
Most Humiliating Moment: I shudder even to remember my first day at court. I was walking through the halls, lost and trying to find my room. A door on my right opened, and a lady came bustling out, leaving the door standing open behind her. I moved toward the door, thinking to inquire from its occupant as to my whereabouts, when something small and furry came scampering out of the room. Thinking it a large rat, I screamed, lifting my skirts and backing away. In that moment, the creature bounded under my skirts, and became immediately entangled within them. I was still flailing around in the hall, when Princess Margaret Tudor came out of the door to her room. I tried to reverance, but the creature had become angered and I wound up falling hard on my backside. Princess Margaret looked shocked, then bent over and picked up the frightened creature, which turned out to be her pet lemur, and scolded me for scaring the poor thing.
Proudest Moment: I was most proud on the day of my marriage. In that day, I left behind my life as a Parker, and became a Boleyn. George and his family have showered me with riches the like of which I could never have imagined. And now, I am a lady-in-waiting to the Queen.
Craziest Person or silliest you know: Though I would never stoop to calling her crazy, our dear Anne does have a bit of fun from time to time, which makes all of us ladies giggle. I also enjoy watching our Lady Highgate. She tries ever so hard to be a proper lady, but the gypsy in her can not stand still when she hears the beat of a drum.
What do you look for in the opposite sex: I look for a man who is charming, kind, and witty, with enough money to provide me with the comforts to which I have become so accustomed. In these things, George is an ideal husband. I do enjoy flirting with any gypsies that I see, but never seriously, as I doubt they could afford to keep me. Besides, I am a married woman. Why would I be looking still?
In our Hierarchical Society everybody has somebody "over" them, Who is your immediate "overlord": Why, my husband, of course. In all things, I defer to his will, as is befitting a lady.
Favorite Sport to watch: The jousts, of course. There is so much energy, and we all enjoy it immensely when our great and glorious King Henry competes.
Do you remember your first kiss: I do indeed remember that most glorious first kiss. As a lady, I should shudder to share the details. I will, however, say that I was but a young girl at my family home when it happened, and it was not received of a gentleman. I will not say more of the young man, but to remind you that the gypsies often stayed fairly close to my estate.
Do you keep in touch with your childhood friends: I do not have much time for the acquaintances of childhood, now that I lead a busy life amid the court. The one exception to this is the Lady Highgate, who is at court with me.
Where is your favorite "Vacation" spot: I greatly enjoyed our time in the port of Calais, where the Field of Cloth of Gold was held so many years ago. Visiting Calais reminds me of all of the elegance and entertainment I so enjoyed there.
Have you ever been overseas: Just over the Channel, to Calais.
Do you have Dirt/Mud floors or Stone: The floors in all of our apartments and homes is stone, of course. Would you have us walking on dirt like a common peasant?
What is your bed made of: Our bed is made of the finest wood, with feather-stuffed mattress and pillows. The bed coverings are of rich velvets, and a heavy curtain can be pulled around it.
How many people sleep in your bed: Just myself, and George when he is home.
10 Things Everybody Should Know About Me:
1. I am married to George Boleyn, brother to Anne Boleyn, and I take this association with royalty very seriously.
2. I adore the finer things in life, especially in food, dresses, and shoes.
3. I have no children yet, which is a sore spot for me, but I am still young enough to provide George with an heir to his lands and property.
4. I love a good bit of gossip, and will willingly listen to any you have to share. Just beware that I also love to share a good bit of gossip with the other courtiers.
5. I enjoy dropping the names of all of those in high places that I am related to into any conversation, and do so often.
6. Though I enjoy being related to the Boleyns, and will tell you I am close to them all, I am very much a woman who keeps her own counsel about personal matters. I may relay a variety of juicy rumors about others, but I will seldom speak of my own actions or motivations.
7. I am related to a new person at court, one Lysander. He is my uncle, and not the most popular man around. I do feel a certain fondness for him, but will sometimes deny it depending upon who is present.
8. My mood can sometimes change upon a moment, for reasons that seem unclear to some.
9. I adore little children, and am much more comfortable in their company than in the company of the adults at court. I can often be caught conversing with any young ones present, especially the young pages.
10. I adore small furry lap dogs and gentle horses, but cannot abide most other animals. In fact, I try to avoid them. (Especially that lemur.)
11. Though I of course hold some very strict religious beliefs, I do not think that those beliefs need to be constrained to the old church. I am welcoming the religious revolution without comment.