Dame Merouda Pendray

her chronicle

 

This is both a research project and an experiment in creating a diary in the style of a Tudor-era woman. Research notes are usually found here, and my primary journal is here.

22 December 2009

On ys day, I have not moved from Marihaus, owing to illness. 7 I was to ye surgeon yesterday, who bade me rest and stay away from ye Earle's Chancery these *iij* days, and I am vexed at ys but am in no wise willing to go against it. Et so also do I fret heavily, having will to do much that needs attention, but have little ability.

Et vpon ye *xj*th day of December, which is for remeberance of Saint Damascus, I sent vnto my sonne a boke of letters by which he may have greater instruction in ye way how to write ym, et some days later receiued of hym a letter bearing news of my lady daughter et her children, et he saith yt all is well wh ym, 7 I right glad to know it.

And so also did we trauel vnto Marihaus with ye babes, Curnan 7 Ryley, yt we might spend some portion of time wh Rosamund, Gerald, Catlin 7 Iames, et yr babe, Kilian. Et I owe some of ys illness to ys heavy trauel, having been too weak to endure yt and having had no rest, for too true it is yt I have been dreadful ill since St Lucy's eve.

As for yt evening, the Marchoiness sent vnto me a purse containing *c* soverigns, et I humbly grateful for it, owing to the woes we have had ys year, et set aside ys purse for use in alms and gifts in Christmastide. But I was most distressed to send her man away with word yt I could not come to ye banquet she had prepared for ye grete discomfort I had, although I did not know at yt time just how ill I was.

Et vpon St. Lucy's day, my Lord Miguel et I went vnto ye feast in celebration of ye marriage of ye Lady Jennifer of ye River's Edge, who hath married one lord William whom I know naught of, but she seemed most pleased for the marriage and hath departed these lands to live in ye lands of her hosbond. 7 at same feast I spent pleasant time in ye companie of many of House Redhair, 7 gave unto ye new-made wyfe a purse containing as many soverigns as I could spare.

But vpon ye next day, I woke with such sickness as caused my Lord to exclaim and pray of me yt I might go to ye surgeons. Et I did not, instead exhausting myself in tyring to continue to run ye household et keep faith et duties at ye Earle's Chancery, et so am now made so ill that I am to return to bed vpon completing ys account.

06 December 2009

On ye eue of ye day of Saint Nicholas, I moued me to attend ye fesiual called Boar's Head, and therat saw many friends 7 crowns. Et I spake at length with my dear cousin Mistress Melisant et so also spake with Viscountess Iulia of whom I think most highly, et ye conuersation was exceedingly short, much to my sorrow, but we were both taken with others things needful of our attencion. 7 so also I saw my dear gossip ye Lord Toshikagi, whom ye Crown was moved to place on vigil in preparation for an eleuation of hys estate, et he shall become a member of ye moost noble Order of ye Laurel. 7 many others were in attendance, including my Lady daughter, et her hosbond, Theodwyn, et all ye babees: Curnan, Riley, et Osmond. 7 I had grete pleasure at yr companie et chased ye babes et delighted in yr laughter 7 watched my Lady daughter as she moved about ye fest with grete happiness, et was sore sad when she et her kin departed for Maison-Vpon-Newbury. But my Lord Miguel et I straid not for ye feast, but left vpon ye completion of ye Crown's business, having had little rest et fearful of falling asleep on ye iourney home. Et so we returned vnto Marihaus and therafter to listen briefly to ye Iester tell a story et then to my chambers, et sleep.