[Mid] A Spinster in Uppton Paggels

Tis strange to be mistress of my own yardland & household. After many
years working at the abby nearby, earning so small a wage, choosing the
majority of my wage each year in animals rather than money, {a well
loved thing in the abby} to finally get the opportunity to make my own
way. I was lucky enough to be available with the right skills and that
the Prior had much faith in my striking out on my own.

Ldy Alysoun seems so different from the sheltered life of the Abby
holdings, but Blessed be that I was able to bring a small heard of my
own sheep and I have sent word to my own mother to send one of her best
black rams. Of course, I have had to promise her two ewe lambs after
the first breeding season when I get the herd bred. In all I have many
improvements to make to this poor hovel I have found myself in.

One of the concessions I have received from Ldy Alysoun is freedom of
the herd tith for 5 breeding seasons. This will allow me to build up a
good herd of fine wool sheep for Uppton Paggels. The sheep I bring are
10 in number, all of them twins or triplets.

John the Franklin is in a very ill temper with me and my household, as
well he should be. I have received the best two yardlands with the
third to come to me when John retires as he is already in sickley
health, and his drinking does not help the matter, I believe that soon I
will be mistress of all.

I have brought along with me my young daughter, Angela, and John the
Simple to watch over the sheep. John is a simple person and the Prior
of the Abby was happy to allow him to come with me as there are enough
novates to watch the sheep on Abby lands. John is a simple soul, but he
does love the sheep as if they were his own children. He may not be
able to follow complecated instructions as one would expect an adult
would be able to, but he can follow directions as a 8 year old would.
He is far more willing to work than most of the bondsmen or apprentices
I have seen. He will do well.

In the morn, I will ask permission to build new, a seperate 3-bay house.
The house we are now housed in is barely adiquate for the sheep, let
alone we three souls. I intend to ask for the house, and permission to
fix up the old one bay to act as a barn for the sheep as well as a
birthing area for them. If Ldy Alysoun is serious about wanting to
build up her wool trade in the fastest possible way, this would help
with the speed. Also, I have never liked chickens or pigs being allowed
in the cottage. I will strive to keep them out of the new house. But
for now, I must abide with their comings & goings.

One bay would be where my daughter & I would live, another would be
where my spinning works, felting and my loom would go. The third would
go to John, any sick animals, as well as storage of raw wool until it is
worked.

While visiting the village priest, I noticed one young man splattered in
pottery mud pleading like a lost puppy to a group of three maidens who
wore most definately NOT happy with the small group of young men behind
them. Well have they learned the fine art of tyeing a man to
themselves. I would not be supprised if a wedding would happen soon.

Ah well, back to my inventory.

Ldy Isabel Moundoghter,
Spinster in Uppton Paggels
From: Paula Barreto <moonhauk@earthlink.net>
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ to unsubscribe, send a message to
`~-, ,-~`~-, ,-~`~-, ,-~`~-, ,-~` sca-middle-request@dnaco.net with
. | | | | | | | | 'unsubscribe' as its body.
Received on Mon May 5 22:52:03 1997