1 From Johannes, Summer 1222
3 > To the respected Mathieus of House Jerbiton, Johannes Roth sends greetings and good wishes:
5 > My friend Alexios has spoken much of your wisdom and understanding, and thus, being
6 > unsure where else I might turn, I am venturing to contact you in this matter, and hope
7 > that you will not take it amiss that I have done so, whether you are able or willing
10 > I have reached that age wherein a man begins to consider marriage and the continuation
11 > of his line. Sadly, owing to the strain in my relationship with my father, Baron Roth,
12 > the origin of which lies in the irregularity of my conception, I find myself unable,
13 > to seek his advice - or at least unwilling to do so and reopen old wounds.
15 > I know you have many claims on your time, but I am hoping nonetheless that you might
16 > be able to offer me some advice on how I might proceed; I would be most grateful no
17 > matter how much or how little.
21 > Johannes ex Guernicus
23 From Mathieus, Summer 1222
25 > To Johannes Roth, Quaesitor of Stonehenge,
27 > I am, of course, willing to offer my advice. This question is one
28 >that I have been asked about on many an occasion, although few of
29 >those who ask seem to go on to fulfil their course of action.
31 > The problem is complicated, of course, because there's no commonly
32 >accepted status for an Hermetic Magus. Many of my charges are in
33 >fact full members of the nobility; and for them I recommend that they
34 >proceed in exactly the way they would if they were any other younger
37 > In your case as one outside of the supporting structure of the
38 >nobility I suspect you're going to have to make some kind of
41 > Potential options might be, firstly a Maga of the Order; secondly
42 >the younger daughter of an impoverished nobleman; thirdly the
43 >daughter of a prosperous merchant or craftsman hoping to rise in the
44 >world; fourthly the daughter of one of your Academic compatriots at
45 >Cambridge or Oxford; or fifthly abandon any concept of your correct
46 >place in the world and court anyone you please and submit yourselfs
47 >to the arrows of public opinion.
49 > In the first or second case I might be able to arrange
50 >introductions. Or indeed in the fourth case in respect of Paris.
52 > I hope that this overview has been helpful; do please feel free to