What does Cecily Neville have to do with Benjamin Franklin? On routines as useful propaganda
[And sorry for the break, but I'm back!]
They died almost exactly 300 years apart, lived on different continents, and led radically different lives. So what does Cecily Neville — died 1495, mother of two British kings — have to do with Benjamin Franklin — died 1788, founding father of the United States?
Well, they both liked a tightly scheduled, predictable day, or at least liked to give that impression. I also like a good predictable schedule. It’s what productivity experts say is one of the keys to getting a lot done and maintaining your motivation in a sustainable way. But is it realistic today?
I’m currently drafting the seventh chapter of my book, Visionary: The Woman Who Changed Medieval England, where I look at a remarkable document inscribed sometime in the last decade of Cecily’s life, 1485-95-ish, by an unknown member of her household: ‘Orders and Rules of the Princess Cecill, Mother of King Edward IV’. It’s relevant because it shows Cecily was a big fan of Birgitta of Sweden. This ordinance captures the daily life of a devout widow seeking succor in a predictable routine more like a nun’s than a noblewoman’s:
She useth to arise as seven of the clocke, and hath readye her Chapleyne to saye with her mattins of the daye, and mattins of our lady; and when she is fully readye she hath a lowe masse in her chamber, and after masse she takethe something to recreate nature; and soe goeth to the Chappell hearing the devine service, and two lowe masses; from thence to dynner; during the tyme whereof she hath a lecture of holy matter, either Hilton of contemplative and active life, Bonaventure, de infancia Salvatoris, legenda aurea, St. Maude, St. Katherin of Sonys, or the Revelacions of St. Bridgett.
In the familiar, luxurious warmth of Berkhamsted Castle in London, Cecily’s day no longer revolved around the earthly needs of her dozen children or husband. Now it was their souls, and hers, that she prayed for. Devotion began before breakfast when her family priest led her in back-to-back performances of two different versions of the divine hour of Matins, a series of prayers and readings, mimicking what happens in monasteries. Then the first of three Masses in her private bedroom, the second two in the castle’s more public chapel (though she likely didn’t receive Holy Communion so frequently, only witnessed it). In between, a walk in the gardens. During the following meal she again acted the nun: eating without idle chatter, instead listening to ‘holy matter’ read aloud, probably by her chaplain.
These three visionary women listed here — St. Mechthild of Hackeborn, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Birgitta of Sweden — are part of what makes this account so well known today by scholars: finally actual proof of HOW a medieval woman consumed literature by other women. As part of a hearty literary routine, and during a hearty meal.
More on this in my forthcoming book!
But Cecily’s day was far from over. After dinner she held public audience for an hour, took a short nap, returned to prayer, and had a glass of wine. Then it was back to the divine office for Vespers, here called evensong (now three versions, one with choir):
Forthwith her Chaplleyne is ready to saye with her both evensonges; and after the last peale she goeth to the Chappell, and heareth evensonge by note; from thence to supper, and in the tyme of supper she recyteth the lecture that was had at dynner to those that be in her presence. After supper she disposeth herself to be famyliare with her gentlewomen, to the occasion of honest myrthe; and one howre before her goeing to bed, she taketh a cuppe of wyne, and after that goeth to her pryvie closette, and taketh her leave of God for all nighte, making ende of her prayers for that daye: and by eighte of the clocke is in bedde.[1]
Now it is Cecily’s turn to talk at the meal: she ‘recites’ back to her household what she had heard earlier, essentially teaching the ‘holy matter’, now as the authoritative voice instead of her chaplain. Perhaps the discussion flows into the lighter after-supper ‘honest mirth’ with ‘her gentlewomen’. Another glass of wine and it’s time for prayers and bed.
Is this schedule for real?
We don’t actually know if this was pure propaganda or an actual reflection of Cecily’s real final years. It does seem likely that she approved this document, so even if she didn’t live it, she liked the idea of it. My guess is that she did follow this routine, though. She could pull it off in several ways, which are quite relevant to understanding the feasibility of such a schedule today:
She was super rich and never did any housework, etc. Today’s hack: be super rich and have staff that does everything for you.
Her kids were grown, her husband had passed away, and she was basically retired from court life. Today’s hack: have grown kids or a great nanny. Remove yourself from demanding environments. Again, have a lot of money.
She had a priest that helped her keep her schedule. Today’s hack: hire a coach of some kind to keep you responsible.
The moral of the story is that such ultra-piety or ultra-whatever/workaholic schedule seems very much out of the reach of normal people! But perhaps some of these hacks are worth considering even for the not-rich like us: if we have any extra resources, what is the value of hiring help for these ‘other’ things — housework, childcare, motivation? The return on that investment could make for enormous gains, of calmer, more predictable and more productive days… I myself have hired housecleaners just for one semester when I was abroad and it was required in the lease, and it was A MIRACLE. Worth every penny! Since then we can’t really afford it, but maybe I should reconsider that. Also, the research funds I’ve used for an academic coach were worth every øre and again, A MIRACLE! Cannot more highly recommend scholarsandwriters.com! The return on that investment has been paying off in a calmer, more productive work life for the last seven years.
Benjamin Franklin’s idealistic schedule
Cecily’s schedule reminds me a lot of Benjamin Franklin’s alleged daily schedule he made for himself, captured in his autobiography written between 1771-1790. Here he lays out a rigorous daily schedule of just as much work as Cecily’s prayer:
Now I can’t go on about early American history like I can with late-medieval England, though I remember reading that in fact this schedule turned out to be more like a wish-list for life and Franklin never actually could commit to it. But business people, inevitably men, today LOVE to adopt the idea and report on how it goes: like here in Fast Company and here in Business Insider. Of course men yesterday and today who report such experiments either have spouses doing all the behind-the-scenes house and family work, or are paying people to do it. Maybe don’t ask what their children think of never seeing them…
In any case, it is inspiring to think of Cecily and Benjamin long across time and place both seeking to order their daily life and dedicate so much time to what they want to accomplish, whether that’s soul-saving prayer or money-making work. But it’s also worth reflecting on how these are not solitary pursuits: it requires practical help, and emotional support, to lead those kinds of days. So if you find you can’t sustain a Benjamin Franklin schedule or a Cecily Neville routine, reach out to some friends and see if you can’t do some social writing or share childcare or something to help make things go ‘round a little easier even if you’re not rich as royalty!
[1] A Collection of Ordinances and Regulations for the Government of the Royal Household, Made in Divers Reigns. From King Edward III. to King William and Queen Mary. Also Receipts in Ancient Cookery. London: John Nichols, 1790, pp. *35-*39; p. *37.
I appreciate the reminder of how unrealistic these productive schedules are for most of us mere mortals! Although to be fair to Cecily, after raising a dozen kids, I think she deserved her daily nap and glass of wine :)