renaissance suggestions

excommunicated

Kinda? A mistress was kind of considered a public position to some extent - a lot of important men acknowledged their mistresses and gave them houses and acknowledged bastard children. So in the sense I usually refer to it, not really.

But romantic relationships between women absolutely existed. There’s not a ton of documentation but there are def some examples and presumably more lost.

In terms of public stuff, one courtesan, Isabella de Luna, reportedly used the sexual services of another courtesan though to be fair the source is Bandello and….. lol.

As in me, the person running the blog?

Of course not, I desire a truly cultured and graceful woman. She must have some wit, though she should not behave as some women do who think their minds comparable to a man’s. A certain degree of respectability helps as well. I do not want to be embarrassed.

Athletic skill really does not matter, I prefer hawking with my gentlemen. I do not overvalue fertility, my wife has borne six children so far and to be wholly honest, it’s made her no fun at all. I’m trying to have a nice time and she’s constantly telling me things like “our daughter has a fever and may pass from this world” and “our daughter died this morning and it grieves me”. She has no sense of how to lift a man’s spirit.

Of course not, she is a respectable noblewoman.

In this house, the infidelity goes one way exactly.

Oh, I’ve had a few. I tend to only keep one at a time of late as my political duties take up much of my time. My last one had an unfortunate accident after Maddalena came to attend on her, but that won’t happen again, don’t worry about that.

I prefer beautiful and cultured women (and sometimes men, but that’s less of an official position).

In the evening, after I’ve conducted my business.

Do not accept any food or drink from the serving woman Maddalena, she is a favorite of my wife’s and they have been known to place certain adverse extracts in the food and drink consumed by my mistresses, if you know what I mean….

As a wise man who nonetheless had less money than I do once said, ‘one must be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.’

There is a secret door at the side of my palazzo.... my servants will show you inside. They will examine you for weapons, be warned. I am very unpopular of late.

it is highly likely your betrothed has engaged in relations with this shepherd. however, i wouldn’t worry about it. it is so very common for men to cavort before their marriages and a home and family will be a stabilizing influence. i would concentrate on building a home and producing children. men’s business is their own. (however, if he proves without reform, you may perhaps discretely engage in affairs of your own. but go to confession afterward!)

naples is full of traitorous punks who cannot be trusted and we’ll associate with them when we have to but keep one eye open at all times, you know?

they have too much time on their hands