Gossip and Graffiti This Blackboard forum in the Reacting game Henry VIII and the Reformation Parliament drew over 1500 posts, written by students writing in character about issues and texts in the course. Dr. Martha Driver occasionally intervened in the debates and received a number of amusing responses from the students. A small sampling of the dialogues is below: Subject: Poor Relief Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 9, 2008 3:15 PM Important information to know on the issue of poor relief 1. The Bible says to give charity to the all those less fortunate than yourself. "Bible instructions given to all Christians in Matthew Chapter 25 which stated that all Christians shall: feed the hungry give drink to the thirsty welcome the stranger clothe the naked visit the sick visit the prisoner bury the dead" source: http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/the-poor-law.htm 2. Anne Boleyn supports giving charity to the poor. "She also gave generously to charity and sewed shirts for the poor." source: http://amolife.com/personality/anne-boleyn-the-most-important-queen-consort-england- has-ever-had.html "She was also supposedly quite devout, and contemporaries wrote that she was kind and gentle, engaging in acts of charity for people in lesser positions." source: http://www.wisegeek.com/who-was-anne-boleyn.htm "She was also a generous patron of charity far more so than Catherine of Aragon. Anne gave heavily to poor relief, agricultural programs and educational foundations. Often, she and her ladies would sew shirts for the poor or beautiful cloths to decorate High Altars in churches." source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/anne-boleyn/life-as-queen.html Author: Martha Driver Posted Date: November 9, 2008 8:29 PM Greetings, Just a point about the history here: all of your comments are on the mark except the last one, with which I take issue. Katherine gave charity regularly and was noted for her piety. She also donated lots of money to the RC Church and its foundations. Here is a line about her from the Dictionary of National Biography: Among the religious orders Katherine especially supported the Observant Franciscans; she was a member of their third order. Popular in Spain, the Observants were established in England from 1482 under the auspices of the court, as an élite group of mature and well-motivated religious. Anne did support the development of educational institutions but this was directly connected with the seizing and dissolution of the monasteries, which took their wealth and redistributed it. She protected the importers of illegal English scriptures. She promoted evangelical clergy, placing "reformers in the episcopal hierarchy. As well as Cranmer, Anne patronized Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Shaxton, Edward Fox, Thomas Goodrich, and William Barlow" (DNB). The two ladies had somewhat different agendas -- even charity can be political. all best, dr d Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 9, 2008 9:41 PM It is clear, Dr. Driver, that the comment you take issue with was stated not out of any misunderstanding of the facts, but out of a political bias. I would assert that the [original anonymous author] is not as neutral as s/he would like us to believe. Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 9, 2008 10:10 PM Good point! … On a side note this poor relief is ridiculous and the money spent on the poor can be put to much better use in our country's defenses. Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 9, 2008 10:47 PM Thank you for the correction. I am trying to keep my comments as accurate as possible so I very much appreciate your guidance. I will be sure not to include my last comment in any game session. With that being said, if an error in my information is found in the future, I hope everyone feels free to notify me. I'm trying my very best to provide truthful facts, but at times it is difficult. Therefore, I deeply appreciate all the help I can get. Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 9, 2008 11:17 PM Any good Catholic would be willing to help the poor! You clearly have more than enough money and are incredibly greedy. Are you sure you're a Catholic??? You sound more like a Lutheran to me! Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 9, 2008 11:45 PM Why put money towards the country's defenses, i.e., prepare for war, if we can just avoid fighting altogether, using diplomatic means? Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 9, 2008 11:46 PM I second that. From a discussion on Princess Elizabeth: Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 18, 2008 4:43 PM Rumor has it that the infant princess is physically deformed and monstrous in appearance. Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 18, 2008 5:09 PM You mean Prince Elizabeth? Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 18, 2008 4:55 PM Yes, the same one. Still, you don't have to be so harsh, she's just a baby. Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 19, 2008 1:45 PM You're jealous; she’s beautiful! Author: Martha Driver Posted Date: November 19, 2008 5:06 PM But haven't I heard Anne B. has an extra finger on her left hand, an extra nipple (check out your history books), and other strange maladies because of her purported dabbling in the black arts? Fortunately, I cannot be prosecuted for my wide reading which encompasses both pros and cons of the arguments, including the Maleus Malificarum and other related works. But, according to one of my sources, "Anne's minor physical defects, namely an extra digit on her hand and a prominent neck mole added to the belief that she was a 'she-devil'." (BBC) Post: On Queen Ann Boleyn Author: Christopher Schweitzer (Thomas Boleyn) Posted Date: November 19, 2008 10:05 PM Dr. Driver, are you attacking my daughter? I do not appreciate this type of comment, nor do I think the King would. And as for the rest of the comments if you intend on attacking members of my family perhaps you would be so bold to tell us your names. Clearly you take issue with this and should come out of the shadows. If you choose not to, I will find you anyway and you will be forced to answer to Parliament. Tell us all who you are now and I shall show mercy. You have been warned. Author: Garry Hayden Posted Date: November 19, 2008 10:13 PM Charles Brandon here [and] I hope this mercy you speak of involves my holding an axe. Let it be known that attacking Boleyn in this matter is ridiculous. First [there is] the thread about his trickery and now attacking his daughter, the Queen. If anyone finds substantial evidence that Thomas Boleyn has wronged the King in any way, come forward with it ,and I will personally see him apprehended in the name of the King. But since he has not, leave those accusations in the pubs. The King's loyal servant, Duke of Suffolk. Author: Martha Driver Posted Date: November 19, 2008 10:58 PM Everyone knows your daughter has eleven fingers (I am not entirely certain about the extra nipple though some historians do record this). Just count them (I refer to fingers only!)! And some folk say this is a sign of a witch, though of course this may be sheer superstition. Anne is highly intelligent which is really more important than the number of fingers and toes, don't you agree? She is well educated, too, in French and English. Author: Christopher Schweitzer Posted Date: November 19, 2008 11:01 PM The 11 fingers [are true. However, she is clearly not a witch, she has no warts, no large nose, and has not turned anyone into a newt, so I think were safe. Author: Martha Driver Posted Date: November 19, 2008 11:05 PM She may have turned someone into a newt, but he got better. (Sorry cannot help Monty Python refs). Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 19, 2008 11:05 PM Ah yes, but we shall bring the largest scales to class next week... For if she weighs the same as a duck... Author: Pearson Browne Posted Date: November 19, 2008 11:08 PM Ah, it seems our race to the "weigh the same as a duck" comment has resulted in an "11:05 P.M" tie! I hereby unveil my cloak of anonymous comedy references and announce the following. Master Cromwell will challenge any man or duchess to a "Monty Python Line-Off!" and assure you his victory. I advise against it, however. You will not succeed! Author: Christopher Schweitzer Posted Date: November 19, 2008 11:10 PM Perhaps we should have a Monty Python night when all this is over then. Author: Aaron Fetto Posted Date: November 19, 2008 11:12 PM I will also throw off my cloak. However, I am sure that Master Cromwell would school me easily. So, I bow to your knowledge of all that is Monty Python - related....NEE! Author: Pearson Browne Posted Date: November 19, 2008 11:13 PM A wonderful idea! Perhaps, and just a thought, we could also take advantage of living in NYC and bang our coconuts together all the way to go see Spamalot! (although, I'll warn you... don't look straight into Clay Aiken's eyes...) No longer do we say Ni! For we are now the Knights who say... Ecky-ecky-ecky-ecky-P'tang, Zzoo-Boing, gdgdbaaoizen! From a discussion of Lutherans: Author: Anonymous Posted Date: November 9, 2008 11:24 PM Status: Published I heard that the Duke of Suffolk got a chit from Cromwell-- a chit from the German Protestants.