DD has to do a project on Mary Tudor (Queen Mary I of England). She came to me earlier depressed because she has to find some "virtues" of the lady and not focus on the bloodiness of her reign. After some internet searching I produced a passage written by Giovanni Micheli, the Venetian ambassador at Queen Mary's court in 1557. A portion of which reads:
"Besides woman's work, such as embroidery of every sort with the needle, she also practices music, playing especially on the clavichord and on the lute so excellently that, when intent on it...she surprised the best performers, both by the rapidity of her hand and by her style of playing. Such are her virtues and external accomplishments."
What do you think DD extracted from this? "She played the lute and clavichord very well."
Sigh.
;-) Jeanine in Canada (who is now officially giving up the hope that DD will _ever_ pick up the needle!)