I need money! Quick – to the alehouse...
1660, Week 2
The weather took a hard, frosty turn this week – like it suddenly remembered it’s meant to be winter. Because we had no spare money for coal to heat our own house on Sunday, Elizabeth sought shelter with my father.
But not me. I had other means of building resistance to the chill, such as visiting the new church of Mr Messum and hearing an invigorating sermon. It was delivered by someone from out of town who called himself simply ‘The Doctor’. It was a good sermon, though it felt a little odd at times, almost as if this stranger knew more about the future than he was letting on…
I maintained my personal warmth throughout the rest of the week by taking several brisk walks. These walks also served the purpose of taking me away from all the men trying to press me for money I owed them, while taking me towards men who might lend me the money I need to pay my debts…
My final self-heating activity was to drink a fair amount with many good friends and colleagues. Nothing helps one forget a lack of money more than spending it on a decent ale here, a pint of wine there.
My money troubles, though, are little compared to those who once innocently followed the orders of the former Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. My friend Simons told us how his uncle is facing a heavy fine and time in jail simply for recording in Parliament’s journal for 1653 that “This day his Excellence the Lord General Cromwell dissolved this House.”
Why should this be an issue? Well you see, six years later, Parliament voted to use the word “Interruption” instead of “dissolution” in formal papers. And because Simons’ uncle didn’t have the foreknowledge of Mr Messum’s strange Doctor, he is now deemed guilty of using Cromwell’s preferred term before such became a crime.
Is it a preposterous notion, to judge someone’s actions of yesterday by the new understanding of today? This is the kind of matter I would love to debate with my master and cousin, Lord Montagu. I must remember to raise it with him after he’s back from his latest expedition rounding up slaves from Morocco.
Other highlights of the week were a visit to see my friend Crowly’s full-grown tame lion (such a magnificent beast!), and several visits to play cards with Mrs Jem (who I’m pleased to say does not have the small pox as we feared, only the swine pox).
By the way, don’t worry: I’m certain that Elizabeth cannot be jealous of the time I spend with Mrs Jem, not least because Elizabeth herself makes many trips without telling me where she’s going. But Friday afternoon, Elizabeth tried to follow me through Whitehall as I walked to Mrs Jem’s. Having spotted my wife, I led her a merry winding way around the houses, and I daresay we both enjoyed our time together – but she was still grumpy with me when I left her again back home.
Now I think of it, though, that was Friday 13th. Perhaps my dear wife was trying to ensure I didn’t fall foul of any misfortune?
Oh zounds – might I have caught the swine pox from Mrs Jem?!
Tell me, what is your preferred means of keeping warm in cold weather? Or evading your creditors?
I shall be delighted to hear from you! Please reply to this post so we can exchange our thoughts…
In return for the smiles you took from these words, please send them to a friend!
Your smiles will then be compounded twice: once for sharing joy with your friend, then again for my undying gratitude. {:-)