First Person Survey for: Lord Avery Rochester

Name Given at Birth: Avery Rochester

Nicknames: Chester, Rocky Stocky

Hometown or where you were born: Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire

Current Residence: as I am a member of the council I reside in Whitehall

Age: 25 summers

Class:  Nobility, I am Marquess of Aylesbury, it is one of my father's lower titles bestowed upon me

What do you do, your main function in life/society: I am on the King's Council and advise His Majesty from time to time

Have you ever gone skinny-dipping / do you know how to swim: Alas Whitehall is not near a body of water, I do not know how to swim.

Do you make fun of people: Nay, tis quite boorish to tease others, it shows a clear lack of breeding.

Favorite Color: Oranges and reds, they remind me of a sunset.

Have you ever committed or been convicted of a crime: nay, I would never commit any offense against King, country, or anyone else for that matter.

Closest friends/How did you meet: 

One Pillow or two: Two very comfortable pillows as I am a nobleman

Pets: Two terriers, Zeus and Apollo

Favorite Type of Music: I enjoy the sounds of the lute and the virginals for they both produce such haunting melodies.

Hobbies/Pastimes: playing chess, hunting with the King, and hawking.

Personal Hygiene: I am sweet of breath and pleasant of odor as often as possible.

Favorite Food: By far my favorite foods are boar, rabbit, and venison.

Are your parents alive, do you get along with them: My mother did die 12 years ago in childbirth bringing my sister Jane into the world. My father is still alive but is an old and ailing man.

If your parents are dead, when and how did they die: Mother died giving birth to my 12 year old sister, Jane

Favorite place to relax: By the fire in my apartment at Whitehall.

Favorite Holy Day / Why: Christmas and Easter for they are both such happy times, filled with revelry.

Favorite Drink: Mead that has been warmed and spiced as well as a good Claret.

What's your bedtime: I go to bed after Their Majesties have retired for the eventide.

What, if anything, do you usually wear on your feet: I wear slippers of fine cloth when indoors, when out and about or hunting I wear the finest leather boots I can afford.

Are you married or single: I am single and also looking for a worthy bride to have sons with and carry on the Rochester name.

Do you have a family / who are they: My ailing father is Henry, Duke of Buckingham, my younger brother Edward, and my little sister Jane. I am the eldest child in the family.

Favorite Entertainment: I enjoy hunting as well as dancing.

Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: Reading and writing were my favorites, I am well read on Chaucer and Emperor Marcus Aurelius. I also enjoyed learning Spanish.

Least Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: Mathematics, though numbers are a necessity, they can be quite boring to deal with.

Favorite Sport: The joust, as well as tennis. Both are exciting to watch.

Most Humiliating Moment: Must I give this detail? *sigh* If you do insist. During the celebration of the 12 Days of Christmas, at court they played a "blind-man's bluff" game where persons were put in a blindfold, turned round and round and had to find a person of the opposite sex and give them a small kiss. It is no secret that I am quite fond of Lady Isabel Coronado, and hoped to kiss her. I attempted to keep in my mind where she was standing and when it was my turn I headed her direction blindfolded. Alas she must have moved a few paces away, because rather than kissing Lady Isabel, I kissed Princess Jane the Elder instead!

Proudest Moment: I remember that moment well, it was a year ago that my father had started to become ill and was to retire from being an advisor on the King's council. Many other lords and other persons competed for the King's favor to take the place of my father. Rather than give the other lords the position on the council, King Richard bestowed upon me the honor of taking my father's place advising His Majesty on the council.

Craziest Person or silliest you know: Giacomo, His Majesties jester, quite an amusing young man.

What do you look for in the opposite sex: the rank of the family as well as the dowery that is offered.

In our Hierarchical Society everybody has somebody "over" them, Who is your immediate "overlord" My father, is my overlord in Buckinghamshire, however at court Their Majesties are my overlords

Favorite Sport to watch:  the joust

Do you remember your first kiss: I do remember it quite well, it occurred at the age of 11, and that is all the details I wish to divulge for it is not proper to discuss such matters.

Do you keep in touch with your childhood friends: As I am at court in London and not in Buckinghamshire, I write to my friends as often as I can.

Where is your favorite "Vacation" spot: At home in Buckinghamshire.

Have you ever been overseas: I have been overseas to Spain. My father at a young age decided to send me to the Spanish court to learn language and diplomacy, as well as court manners. Twas here that I did lay eyes upon Lady Isabel Coronado.

Do you have Dirt/Mud floors or Stone:  at Whitehall they are stone, in Buckinghamshire, they are of wood.

What is your bed made of: English oak with sheets of satin and is stuffed with fine goose down

How many people sleep in your bed:  myself and my terriers

1. Rumors at court say that I have my eye upon the Spanish emissary, Lady Isabel Coronado....it might be true.....

2. Some say that I am a complete and utterly boring person, not so if you take the time to know me.

3. It is rumored that I look quite similar to a so called "romance bandit"

4. I CANNOT STAND THE LEMUR!!!! The wretched thing destroyed my favorite hat! Alas as it is Queen Eleanor's pet, I tolerate it.

5. The fops constantly try to give me fashion advice....I smile, nod and when they have left, disregard the advice completely.

6. I did quite by accident kiss Princess Jane the Elder in a game of blind man's bluff.

7. I do wish for better, somewhat warmer apartments at Whitehall, mine are about as cold as my terrier's nose.

8. I pretend to enjoy the dish of peacock as it is served quite frequently at court, and I would not dare displease Their Majesties by not partaking of the dish.

9. I am a bit of a flirt at times, when appropriate.

10. I have seen Lady Helen Throckmorten and Lady Lucy Wylde sneaking out of the palace some nights; for what I know not.