KnoWoPerWriMo

Thursday 9. December

This day I did attend upon Sir R. W. and all of us seeking to rid the enemy of his false pride in his burning of sundry houses on the large island in the river hard by the place where the King is building his new fortifications and so Captains Clifford and Baskerville and Sir R. W. and all our men in several little hollows did wait for the braggarts to appear but they did not, for I fear they did discover us our hiding places, so just before dinner we quitted the place and Sir R. W. and some others of us did dine with one of the French gentlemen and there had some pretty good food and even better drink and so did toast the health of our host and the King and many others until I saw Coningsby quite besotted with his drink and so when we were done I did help him back to his quarters and so he did fall fast asleep on his bed and I fancy he will feel the worse tomorrow for it.

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Today Coningsby reports on the attempt at an ambush by the English troops and the drunken dinner with the French gentleman. In fact he admits that, “th'one syde of my head did ake 2 daies after.” Someone must have poured him into bed and in this case it was Luke.

Coningsby, Thomas, Jornall of Cheife Thinges Happened in Our Jorney from Deape the 13. of Auguste, Untyll, MS.- Harl. 288. f. 253279, p. 59-60. Camden Miscellany by Camden Society (Great Britain), Royal Historical Society (Great Britain), published by Camden Society, 1847 Item notes: v.1 (1847)

KnoWoPerWriMo

Friday 10. December

The King left for Gisors yesterday to remind his governor there, one Flavencort, of his loyalty to the crown; little else happened this day perhaps owing to the fact that the rain poured down from before dawn to late into the night.

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Coningsby has little to report today, perhaps because he was sleeping off his bender from yesterday. He reported yesterday on the King leaving for Gisors to remove the rebellious governor who had been conspiring with the Leaguers.

Coningsby, Thomas, Jornall of Cheife Thinges Happened in Our Jorney from Deape the 13. of Auguste, Untyll, MS.- Harl. 288. f. 253279, p. 60. Camden Miscellany by Camden Society (Great Britain), Royal Historical Society (Great Britain), published by Camden Society, 1847 Item notes: v.

KnoWoPerWriMo

Saturday 11. December

This day Coningsby came to me and said he would be quit of this place its pestilential air and that he and I and several others and our men should ride out into the country and see if we might find some pleasant company and so we took horse and went from village to village roundabouts the area and asking the local folk what house is this and whose castle that might be until finally we did hear of a house of very fair ladies and so off rode we and came to their gate and the porter, seeing our martial aspect was at first loath to admit us but after persuasion from the King of France he unlocked the gate and let us in; when we were come in we were led to the ladies their parlor and the chiefest of them bid us welcome, she was somewhat older than the rest but quite a handsome woman and very richly dressed, and bade us come before the fire and warm ourselves and had the servant bring us hippocras to warm ourselves yet further, then chairs were brought for us and a very pretty young lady led me over to a settle and did begin to feed me sweetmeats from a little dish and so friendly was she that I could easily have forgotten myself right there but I did behave myself, then the lady who did greet us on our arrival bade us come and dine in their hall and so my young lady led me by the hand and sat me down and she beside me and we feasted upon goose and capons and many excellent dishes, the best I have had ere I have come to France (better than those dishes Mr. Ambassador served to the Prince) and much excellent wine and after dinner my fair young lady did lead me to her chamber and there we entertained ourselves the remainder of the afternoon until it was quite late and finally we all did part despite the entreaties of all the ladies who would have us stay the night but leave we must and rode we all the way back at the gallop with swords drawn owing to the danger of the countryside and so returned to camp and so to bed after a most delightful day.

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The visit to the high class bordello actually occurs in Coningsby believe it or not! He is a bit more coy in his description but it obvious what went on that afternoon. The “persuasion from the King of France” was coin with the king’s picture on it.

Coningsby, Thomas, Jornall of Cheife Thinges Happened in Our Jorney from Deape the 13. of Auguste, Untyll, MS.- Harl. 288. f. 253279, p. 60. Camden Miscellany by Camden Society (Great Britain), Royal Historical Society (Great Britain), published by Camden Society, 1847 Item notes: v.1 (1847)