Journal from the Year of our Lord, 1212: Unexpected Opportunity

I've been selected for a very important, very secret royal mission!

I'm to go on quite a bit of a voyage overseas!

My diligence and clerical skills have been noticed by none other than King John! So says Peter de Roches, Chancellor of the Exchequer. Quite odd that Peter de Roches offered me the mission, and not my master, Justiciar Geoffrey Fitzpeter.

Bloody frightening getting pulled out of St. Benedicts' by royal sergeants and taken to the White Tower without an explanation. So many have entered and never emerged. I thought I might become food for the ravens! Thank God I'm not in the dungeon!

Nonetheless, who am I to question royal authority? If the King wants me to go, then I am his most humble and obedient servant.

I haven't been told exactly where I'm going, only that its incredibly important to King John & I must keep a detailed account of everything that happens, especially what his royal envoys say and do.

What with King Phillip Augustus of France threatening to invade, and with Pope Innocent's blessing no less, I think we'll be going to Paris or Rome! Both my French and Latin are bloody good, so I think I'm up to the task.