Diseases

Journal Entry 1

June 28, 1349

Dear Diary,

Well to start things off I am a complete imbecile. Now normal people would cringe at the idea of going on going on a pilgrimage. But oh no not me... "It'll be miraculous," I said. "I'll just be a 'stow away' " I said. Which led to me being stuffed in a sack of clothes that smell like urine. Being the extremely stubborn sixteen year old girl I am when my father denied my request to join them on their pilgrimage saying it was for men only I acted on impulse and climbed into this bag. And I am now being jostled around on a mule's back. While writing this. Oh no we stopped. Someone's opening the ba...

I'm in hot water. As luck would have it was my father who had opened the sack. Though on the bright side it revealed my location, we were in the port of the city that went by the nameRotterdamit was the nearest city next to my home town ofBrussels. The smell of salt mixed with the scent of sewage. Small groups of people were throwing their buckets of their sewage into the sea.

"You deceiving child! How dare you betray my trust!" My father immediately cried out. "Sorry papa. But I've always wanted to travel across the world and stowing away seemed like the only way to have those experiences," I explained. His expression softened.

"You may stay but if you must follow all my commands. For you mustn't forget you have caused me and your mother great shame." He said sternly.

 "Yes papa," I agreed and climbed out of the foul smelling sack.

 "We have just arrived toRotterdamand will be staying at their place of worship." He explained as he led our group to the church. I nodded. While with wide eyes I gazed across the city and at it's streets. "This city first started as a dam constructed in the great year of 1270. And is slowly becoming a great city. One day I predict it will be quite large."

We then reached the towering church. My father explained to me that we would be staying her for 4 nights then we would take boat a toLondon.

"Really papa?! We're going to travel toLondon! Oh thank you for letting me stay with you!" I grinned and tackled him in a hug.

"Control yourself child. For you stowing away you will not leave the church until we leaveRotterdam. And seek forgiveness through prayer," My father said.

"Yes papa,"

A priest emergered from the church and bowed before us. "Welcome to our humble abode. We have been expecting you. Please make yourselves comfortable." That was when he caught sight of me. "We were not expecting a woman to traveling with you."

"Yes. This girl is my daughter. Against my wishes she stowed away," My father explained while a blush appeared upon my cheeks.

"I regret to inform you but we have no room for your daughter," the priest muttered. "Well unless you wish her to room with a man." My father rubbed his forehead showing off his stress.

"Fine we can't have her sleeping in the streets," my father sighed. The priest nodded and gestured for us to follow him. He led us first to the dining hall were we ate our dinner and then led us to our sleeping quarters.

"You will be sleeping here miss,'' The priest said and opened the door to reveal a young man reading out of a bible.

"Mathew, Isobel will be rooming with you for four nights and I expect you will be a proper gentleman," The priest said and my father handed me my small knapsack of the clothing I had brought with me.

"Yes father," Mathew replied obediently. The Priest nodded andafter giving me a quick hug my father and the rest of the men followed him.

"Hello thank you for being so gracious on letting me sleep here. I promise to be no trouble," I smiled.

"Oh it's fine," Mathew replied nervously. I pulled a quilt from my bag and looked around the close to bare room before moving to lay down in the far corner of the room. Since the sky was turning dark.

"Wait! You can take my mat," he motioned toward the clothe mat that was no doubt filled with hay.

"Oh it's fine I have already imposed enough."

"I insist.''

"Alright er-thank you!" I replied smiling gratefully. I handed him his own quilt from the bed. I laid down on the mat.

"Is it true that you stowed away?" He questioned by now the only source of light was from close to full moon.

"Yes," I replied.

"May I ask why?" He asked.

"I stowed away because I felt like it was the only way for me to see the world," I explained.

''Do you think I would be able to join your father's pilgrimage?" Shocked I look over to him.

"Aren't you training to be a priest? Why would you want to come with us?"

"Never mind it was an idiotic idea,"  he grumbled.

"No it's not, but you their is a chance going on the pilgrimage could jeopardize you becoming a priest," I explained.

"I know but going on the a pilgrimage with your father could help me find in a word enlightenment," he explained.

"Well if you asked my father he would probably accept you to go on the journey," I said.

"I'll ask him tomorrow," He proclaimed.

"if you want I'll come with you,'' I volunteered.

"That'd be nice," he agreed.

"Well goodnight Mathew."

"Goodnight Isobel.''

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My journal entries for Science. :) So enjoy my homework!