Happy Thursday, and welcome back to late start days! Our blog assignment for today is to explain what the Black Death was and give details as to how it affected Europe in the Middle Ages.

The Black Death was caused by a pandemic of many forms of plague. All were of the same disease, but they could be transmitted differently. Most commonly, the Black Death was spread and identified by large dark spots in specific areas of the human body called buboes. This form of transmission was most common and is known as the bubonic plague.

The bubonic plague started somewhere in China or the Far East in 1333 and was spread by merchant ships coming to Europe. These ships contained rats who had been infected with the disease. Fleas on the rats quickly spread the disease back to humans. The first European outbreak occurred in 1347.

At the time, there was little basis for treatment of diseases and most medicine was based on religion rather than science. This was unfortunate because the Black Death killed extremely quickly. Typically patients died within a week of catching the disease. Men in suits and masks walked from door-to-door carrying out ineffective methods of treatment. The only way the Black Death died out was by letting it go naturally. This happened within four years -- the Black Death as we most commonly know it was gone from Europe by 1351. However, it had already done massive damage to Europe. It wiped out 25 million people between the years 1347 and 1351; almost a third of Europe's population! The Black Death is seen as a major point in both world history and medical and pandemic science nowadays, and I can see why.

I'm shocked, to say the least. This offer came completely out of the blue. I wasn't even aware our Holy Lands were being attacked, much less that even the common people unlike myself needed to fight. Apparently the pope holds fighting off invaders of Jesus' territory very high to him. But why was I chosen to go? Again, I had literally no idea.

I can't say no to my uncle's offer. I, too, think of it as important to protect the Holy Land and I wouldn't doubt it for a second. But why the sudden change of character from Pope Urban II? My training as a person of height in society is not to begin for more years. I wouldn't draft unprepared people like the peasants below me, either. I wouldn't select anyone untrained for a position.

Another thing I'm apprehensive about is the trip. It's thousands of miles from England to Jerusalem and there are many new climates I'd be forced to face on the way there. There's news already that the first cross-bearers, who were also the poorest, were attacked by the invaders and Jews before even making it to the Holy Land. How should I be any different, even if I'm more prepared? Sometimes I wish adults would think more clearly before making life-changing decisions for other people. I don't know how to fight or even shield myself and others against vicious foreigners. All I'll have there and on the way there is the protection of God and my own good grace. My uncle calls the wars to be fought "Crusades". That means "marked with a cross", but it sounds too much like "tirade" and "raid" to bring positive connotations to my head. 

Why me, of all people? Why did I have to be born to the most noble king of France? Why did my father have to make an alliance with the people in a faraway country? And why did I, the youngest, have to be engaged to someone I don't even know and have never seen?

I want to run away, but I know I can't. What would the consequences be? I'll either be stopped or punished somewhere along the road. Plus, I've no idea where I would go. Running away would be a disappointment to my family and I'd be shunned and possibly murdered, even if I am technically royalty. I don't even know where this new prince lives or who his parents are. If I had been a lowborn, I would probably be working in the fields, miserable by a princess's standards but peaceful by a peasant's. But now I am being forced to marry a boy at the age of thirteen and live with him for the rest of my life for the sole purpose of sealing a deal. Sometimes I wish these politics didn't involve selling people. Sometimes I wish my father wasn't so selfish.

I don't understand why he couldn't marry off my older brother, who's just two years my senior. Thirteen is too young, I think, but apparently it's not too young to have your young life cut off as if you were an object, not a person. I don't understand why he didn't just give money instead of me. What would my mother think?

But I can't say no; I can't put myself at risk for anything. I can only hope for the best in my future spouse and less misery in adult life. I can't disappoint my father or do anything that would potentially make him angry at me. I'm still a child, after all. I guess I have to be obedient and solemn, like a queen. I can't say anything.

Dear Diary,

I am frightened yet again as I write this because I have just been taken as a servant to a man I barely know. I was wandering through a village that had previously been destroyed by pestilence when I heard a voice. The person behind it was literally a bear. The pushy ex-jester took me in as his boy slave and is now forcing me to work for him without pay on the consequence of public death in my own home village. I only even started running because I am a wolf's head and have been vulnerable ever since my mother died. I don't know where we will go next, but right now I am camped out behind a tree in the forest we are resting in. He says he has business in Great Wexly, but judging from the way he speaks of everything and everyone, that could be a lie. I know I should trust him because he told me not to call him "sir" and does not wish to think of me as only a servant, but he even said that like him, there are two sides to every bear. I can't run away, because that would unleash the vicious side, wouldn't it? But so far there does not appear to be a sweet side. All and all, I'm very confused, but I can't say that I'd rather be back in Stromford or even dead. I just hope that I can gain my liberties in Great Wexly and learn more about my mother and my father. All that is keeping my faith intact is the cross of lead that I still carry. Maybe sometime soon I will learn my letters and be able to work on my own without being found. But for now I have someone to work for, even if it is not much of a living and I could be punished with death for disobedience. I will just have to look to God now for help if there is any.