The Librarian’s Wife reveals how she survived lockdown - in 1602
Good day, gentle reader, and welcome to my fireside. Goodness me, where has the time gone? I must confess, it has been overlong since we spoke, for which I offer manifold apologies. I trust you will understand. For, have we not all suffered many Afflictions these last few years?
Lockdown, and the Plague, kept us all at home for many months, did they not? Even I, homebody that I am, grew weary of our home (and even of my dear children, tho’ I should not own it). We surviv’d how we could, thinking overmuch about food, cleansing our cupboards and cabinets,
refashioning our clothes, singing out the windows…. How I longed to walk freely once more through Oxford!
And yet, when we could issue once more from our houses, how different our lives did prove! With what fear did we don our masks, and shun our own neighbours?
My good husband, Dr Thomas James, cheerfully resumed his labours at the refurbish’d University Library, corresponding often with his patron, Thomas Bodley. How carefully my good man handled those London letters, and how scrupulously did he burn them, to protect us all from city-borne filthy airs! His clear ambition was to complete the equipping of the new Publick Librarie with new oak shelfs and seates, and many thousand excellent books. Then t’was the plan to formally – royally, no less - open Bodley’s Library with a Visit from the Queen herself!
Alas, as you know all too sadly, dear Reader, that Occasion was not to be. I think we all sens’d that same shock when the news of the Queen’s death was announc’d. The Queen, dead? How can this be? Had we not all grown up from childhood with the Queen upon the throne? Did we not all think she would reign forever?
Certainly, good souls, there shall never be another Queen Elizabeth! Nor ever a Queen who shall reign so long, nor one so belov’d!
The Queen is dead. Long live the King! Amen, say I, and may our new King live long and in peace.
Now, kind reader, my letter is nearly at its end. All that need be said is that my family is right well – although I suffer yet with weariness and fogged wits since the plague – and for that I am grateful. I shall be up on my feet and telling stories before you know it, dear gossip! (And did I mention my new shoes with the red timber heels? And the visit of the King? And my husband greeting his Majesty? And the kind thing the King said? Oh, we have MUCH to speak of when we meet!)
I remain yr affectionate
Ann James, the Librarian’s Wife, Oxford 1604
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