We kept this a holiday, and so went not to the office at all. The fact that he mentions this indicates that it was unusual - or a restoration revival of an old custom.
" since it has pleased God to bless me with something, I am desirous to lay out something for my father," I assume the custom would be to pay the outgoing Mr Young when he retired so Sam is not just asking for a favour, he's putting up a stake on behalf of his father. Good for him.
A small further thought on Sam's worries and complaints about Will, John, Bess, etc. He probably has no-one that he can talk to frankly about these sort of problems - except for his diary.
Back to the oysters, we should bear in mind that Sam kept a running record of all expenses on a daily basis, presumably so he could claim some or all back later. Later on, in a period when his daily notes were not transcribed into the journal, we'll see that this included tips given to grooms, bag carriers, etc.
and there made sale of many old stores by the candle, The candle method is still used here in Somerset UK to auction the annual use of a piece of land in the Mendip hills. However, it's inevitably a fairly slow process so I wonder how "many old stores" were sold. Perhaps they had a separate candle stub for each lot? Or maybe they had more time in those days.
A bit late, but it is slightly misleading to use a serving maid's income as a measure. After all, she also got food and accommodation, possibly also clothes, so her total 'income' was well in excess of £3 per annum.
The coffin in which was the body of Cromwell was a very rich thing, very full of gilded hinges and nails. It seems strange, if the whole purpose of this charade was to humiliate the memory of Cromwell, that they left him (or most of him) in his fancy coffin. Surely, a pine box would have been more fitting for the puritan?
Weather and politics links: One of our local government crackpots has just suggested that the recent floods in the UK are a sign of God's disapproval of gay marriage laws. It has been pointed out that the Lord's aim must be poor as he missed London and parliament by several hundred miles. Plus ca change......
"the decay of my memory" Sam's various responsibilities mean he has to keep a lot of balls in the air at the same time. It sounds as though he has a nagging fear of forgetting something, or someone, important which many of us can identify with.
The attitude towards infant mortality was common many years later. In the 1911 census my grandparents' entry shows two children plus seven deceased children. The fact that they were required to list the number of dead children shows the official attitude that still applied and which was, presumably, accepted as normal.
For UK listeners, a new series of extracts from the diary starts next week on BBC Radio 4. Unfortunately, judging by the trailer, the readings are in a quiet, rather dull voice. My mental image of Sam's speech is that it would be lively and amusing as befits a man who was obviously very popular and sociable.
MarkS, I don't disagree about the relevance of religion in the 17thC. However, I was merely using the line about the meek as a familiar cliché in the 21stC. Just because David was not a Christian doesn't make it irrelevant - although it's getting less and less amusing. Perhaps we should not take up any more annotation space on this.
In the afternoon Sir W. Batten and I met and did sell the ship Church for 440l.; and we asked 391l., This sounds like an auction where the reserve price was £391 - or am I misreading something?
Grazing rights to some land in the Mendip hills in Somerset, UK are still auctioned annually by candle in a local pub. There was a great uproar a few years back when the candle went out almost immediately it was lit and someone got a bargain.
"Lady" Davis. From the later references to her, Sam was being sarcastic here - she was plain Mrs Davis but, by the sound of it, not the best neighbour to have. She certainly seems to have scared the Comptroller.
Comments
Second Reading
About Monday 24 June 1661
Tonyel • Link
We kept this a holiday, and so went not to the office at all.
The fact that he mentions this indicates that it was unusual - or a restoration revival of an old custom.
About Monday 3 June 1661
Tonyel • Link
" since it has pleased God to bless me with something, I am desirous to lay out something for my father,"
I assume the custom would be to pay the outgoing Mr Young when he retired so Sam is not just asking for a favour, he's putting up a stake on behalf of his father. Good for him.
About Friday 10 May 1661
Tonyel • Link
A small further thought on Sam's worries and complaints about Will, John, Bess, etc.
He probably has no-one that he can talk to frankly about these sort of problems - except for his diary.
About Sunday 31 March 1661
Tonyel • Link
"took occasion" is definitely active. Compare and contrast with the late Ronnie Scott's line:
"I was out one evening and was taken suddenly drunk"
Sorry, off topic and ten years late - but it is April Fools Day and a little humour seems overdue.
About Tuesday 5 March 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
Back to the oysters, we should bear in mind that Sam kept a running record of all expenses on a daily basis, presumably so he could claim some or all back later. Later on, in a period when his daily notes were not transcribed into the journal, we'll see that this included tips given to grooms, bag carriers, etc.
About Thursday 28 February 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
and there made sale of many old stores by the candle,
The candle method is still used here in Somerset UK to auction the annual use of a piece of land in the Mendip hills. However, it's inevitably a fairly slow process so I wonder how "many old stores" were sold. Perhaps they had a separate candle stub for each lot? Or maybe they had more time in those days.
About Monday 18 February 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
A bit late, but it is slightly misleading to use a serving maid's income as a measure. After all, she also got food and accommodation, possibly also clothes, so her total 'income' was well in excess of £3 per annum.
About Thursday 7 February 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
The link to the Duke of Buckingham is incorrect - it's his son who upset Sandwich ( and a lot of other folk later).
About Wednesday 30 January 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
The coffin in which was the body of Cromwell was a very rich thing, very full of gilded hinges and nails.
It seems strange, if the whole purpose of this charade was to humiliate the memory of Cromwell, that they left him (or most of him) in his fancy coffin. Surely, a pine box would have been more fitting for the puritan?
About Wednesday 23 January 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
Or maybe he had an expense account.
About Monday 21 January 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
Weather and politics links:
One of our local government crackpots has just suggested that the recent floods in the UK are a sign of God's disapproval of gay marriage laws. It has been pointed out that the Lord's aim must be poor as he missed London and parliament by several hundred miles.
Plus ca change......
About Friday 18 January 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
"the decay of my memory"
Sam's various responsibilities mean he has to keep a lot of balls in the air at the same time. It sounds as though he has a nagging fear of forgetting something, or someone, important which many of us can identify with.
About Tuesday 1 January 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
The attitude towards infant mortality was common many years later. In the 1911 census my grandparents' entry shows two children plus seven deceased children. The fact that they were required to list the number of dead children shows the official attitude that still applied and which was, presumably, accepted as normal.
About Tuesday 4 December 1660
Tonyel • Link
For UK listeners, a new series of extracts from the diary starts next week on BBC Radio 4.
Unfortunately, judging by the trailer, the readings are in a quiet, rather dull voice. My mental image of Sam's speech is that it would be lively and amusing as befits a man who was obviously very popular and sociable.
About Tuesday 27 November 1660
Tonyel • Link
MarkS, I don't disagree about the relevance of religion in the 17thC. However, I was merely using the line about the meek as a familiar cliché in the 21stC. Just because David was not a Christian doesn't make it irrelevant - although it's getting less and less amusing.
Perhaps we should not take up any more annotation space on this.
About Tuesday 27 November 1660
Tonyel • Link
Thanks Mark, but perhaps I should have made it clearer that this was a mild joke. I don't take any sort of superstition very seriously.
About Thursday 29 November 1660
Tonyel • Link
In the afternoon Sir W. Batten and I met and did sell the ship Church for 440l.; and we asked 391l.,
This sounds like an auction where the reserve price was £391 - or am I misreading something?
About Tuesday 27 November 1660
Tonyel • Link
Excellent précis, Gerald. Whether it's Nabal or the drayman, the idea of the meek inheriting the earth has never really caught on, has it?
About Tuesday 6 November 1660
Tonyel • Link
Grazing rights to some land in the Mendip hills in Somerset, UK are still auctioned annually by candle in a local pub. There was a great uproar a few years back when the candle went out almost immediately it was lit and someone got a bargain.
About Wednesday 31 October 1660
Tonyel • Link
"Lady" Davis. From the later references to her, Sam was being sarcastic here - she was plain Mrs Davis but, by the sound of it, not the best neighbour to have. She certainly seems to have scared the Comptroller.