Wifmann Swap

Welcome to another episode of "Wifmann Swap"! This week we have sent Ethelberga of Lundenwic to spend some time with a Norman family, while Matilda of Rouen will the time in the Saxon woman's timber household.

Ranulf, the Norman husband, gets an immediate rebuff from Ethelberha when he tries to exercise his droit de seigneur. He goes off hunting in the New Forest while his children, Jehan and Alys are horrified to find themselves assigned to chores around the castle. Jehan is sent to help sheer the sheep while Alys learns to practice the highly boring task of spinning with a drop spindle and distaff. "But my mother says a lady's must be preserved for fine work such as embroidery. Ethelberga replies, "Hlaefdiges aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. I swear, I don't know how you people ever conquered us."

Meanwhile Matilda is virtually frozen in place. Wulfstan actually stays home and works on the farm, sleeps in the same room as his wife and expects her to do the hard work alongside her. He seems annoyed when she meekly goes along with whatever he says, causing him to compplain, "Ethelberga has a mind of her own." Matilda defers as well to young Athelwick who is as stunned as she is and winds up going to the cow byre to hide, suspecting some sort of trick. Milthryth shakes her head at the tapestry work Matilda wants her to to share. "Can't you do anything useful?" she asks her temporary Mom.

Then comes the rules change. Matilda puts her foot down. The men's and women's chambers are separated. Wulfstan must cut his hair and shave off his beard. He must spend the day with other men, hunting or fighting, with Athelwick in tow. Milthyth must stop running and playing and sit quietly and learn her place. In the castle Ranulf finds his daughter and Ethelberga underfoot in what used to be the men's quarters. The hall now has a wall loom, and there is flax and wool everywhere. Ethelberga unsuccessfully tries to get him to help her with the cheesemaking. Jehan runs away rather than giver up his horse to fight in a shield-wall and Alys is timidly beginning to like these rights she has.

As a result of his refusal to play the game, Ranulf and Matilda lose the prize money. Wulfstan and Ethelberga plan to spend it on a plank floor for their wattle cottage.