Sunday 15 June 1662

(Lord’s day). To church in the morning and home to dinner, where come my brother Tom and Mr. Fisher, my cozen, Nan Pepys’s second husband, who, I perceive, is a very good-humoured man, an old cavalier. I made as much of him as I could, and were merry, and am glad she hath light of so good a man. They gone, to church again; but my wife not being dressed as I would have her, I was angry, and she, when she was out of doors in her way to church, returned home again vexed. But I to church, Mr. Mills, an ordinary sermon. So home, and found my wife and Sarah gone to a neighbour church, at which I was not much displeased. By and by she comes again, and, after a word or two, good friends. And then her brother came to see her, and he being gone she told me that she believed he was married and had a wife worth 500l. to him, and did inquire how he might dispose the money to the best advantage, but I forbore to advise her till she could certainly tell me how things are with him, being loth to meddle too soon with him. So to walk upon the leads, and to supper, and to bed.

23 Annotations

First Reading

daniel  •  Link

"...at which I was not much displeased. "

Perhaps I misunderstand. Sam is actually a bit pleased that they took off for a neighboring church, perhaps as not to be seen "not being dressed as I would have her".
Sam and his domestic squabbles often leave me wondering who offended whom first and what precisely transpired.

Nix  •  Link

"not much displeased" --

As I picture it, Samuel made some negative comments about her outfit on the way to church, and she got angry about it and stomped off home. He had dreadful visions of more fighting when he came home. He is relieved that she has gotten out to church. It both mitigates the casus belli and extends the cooling off period.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Wonder what the heck she wore...Patches perhaps? Or did she throw a cloak over her shoulder like a ruffian?

Hmmn...Balty claiming to be in the money at last, eh? I'd say Sam knows his brother-in-law well.

Cumgranissalis  •  Link

I wonder how Nan Pepis spelt her name, or How did Our Sam spell the name in his diurnal, was he consistant;
The i and y seemed to be interchanged in the dailies of the House of C and L, it was not always consistant, Samuell was spelt both ways. The i [I] appears more often in the 17C.

Cumgranissalis  •  Link

"...when she was out of doors in her way to church..." in?
Was it too much ankle showing or her latest bib and tucker that should have been kept for a better occasion?
Daniel: The Man be always right, did not ye Papa tell ye the correct protocol when dealing with the fair sex. [shame]

dirk  •  Link

Sam's brief quarrel with his wife seems so recognisable, and the way he reports it so straightforward, that I can't help having a warm feeling about it all.

I particularly love the phrase: "and, after a word or two, good friends".

Or is it just the old me being sentimental?

DrCari  •  Link

Recall Sam became quite cross with Elizabeth over some colored ribbons she wore to trim her clothing...this was discussed in the diary some months back.

Xjy  •  Link

Liz is such an ingrate...
Here's Sam working his fingers to the bone to keep her in luxury and all she does is nag him for more and more expensive finery -- and then she deliberately dresses to embarrass him!
Gehst Du die Frauen besuchen, vergiss die Peitsche nicht!

Tom Burns  •  Link

Here we go again...
Once again, we have an outburst from Sam soon after he's viewed an execution. He's probably incredibly conscious of how he and his family appear toward others after seeing someone who stood out as different pay the ultimate price for those differences.

BradW  •  Link

I was relieved too Dirk. The best part of (watching someone) fighting is (watching them) making up. The warmth of Sam and Elizabeth's relationship is a reminder to those of us sometimes in need of fresh air in our own households.

Peg  •  Link

Plus ça change! I bet many of us have been on both sides of the exchange at one time or another:

SP: Is THAT what you’re wearing??

and a bit later…

EP: But you said you liked this outfit! …and I’ve spent hours… I’m just not good enough for you, eh? Well, if you’re ashamed to be seen with me I’ll just go to my own church! (stomps off)

still later:

SP (thinking “Poor dear, she does try so hard.”):
Sorry I barked, you really do look nice in that.
EP (thinking “Poor dear, he works soooo hard.”):
I’m sorry, too - I forgot you hate this old bustier.
(snuggle, snuggle)

It’s a bit frustrating not to know more about Elizabeth’s daily life and thoughts. What kind of pressures is she under? And does anyone else wonder if the two of them are in a bit of culture shock from Sam’s fairly rapid shimmy up the social ladder? When she married him did Elizabeth think he would turn out to be a Somebody?

Cumgranissalis  •  Link

"Here we go again". Ah! a perfect observation. Back to the couch. So glad that the young whipper snapper not be available for clip .

Australian Susan  •  Link

With reference to the books Nix has turned up in Amazon.com - the Dale Spender one starts pre-diary and has Sam getting the idea of writing a diary from his wife! Dale Spender (who lives in Brisbane as I do)is an academic and knows her history and Sam's diary - she portrays a perpetually exasperated, but in love, woman. It's a good read.

language hat  •  Link

Dale Spender:
Is this the same woman who wrote the groundbreaking Man Made Language? If so, I'll have to look for the Elizabeth Pepys book.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

I'd love to know more about the Great Temporary Breakup before the Diary...Obviously Beth loves our big lug and perhaps they've realized on some mutual level just how well suited they are. Both romantics with strong practical streaks and a tendency toward hot-headedness at times.

I still think she tried slipping off to church in patches...The big fashion craze.

"Good God, girl! What the hell are those? Are you some common hussy off the street?!"

"Everyone's wearing them, Sam'l...You said Lady Castlemaine looked incredible with them."

"For a King's mistress, yes. What, am I now to be ranked with Lord Castlemaine?! You are not going to church wearing those things!"

"Not with you!" abrupt turn. Pompous prick-louse tailor's boy...

Oh, God...He's not running off now? Surreptious look behind...It always makes me nervous when he hurries off like that, I can just see that damned stone wound opening right up...Mon Dieu.

Well, Will will keep him from doing anything foolish...And no way am I staying home, giving him the satisfaction... "Sarah!"

Nothing at all indecent with these...Well, perhaps ten is a bit much(She removes half the patches).

Dull going to church without him. He always has me in stiches with those observations he makes during the sermon...When he doesn't pass out dead asleep in the middle.

john lauer  •  Link

"If you go visiting the women, do not forget the whip!"
is babelfish's rendering of xjy's aphorism.

Australian Susan  •  Link

Language hat:
Yes!
Expert in gender studies and feminism.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"He is a fool who by force or skill would seek to change the course of a woman's will..." The Adventure of Five Hours, Samuel Tuke.

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Cungranissalis, I wot the dailies of the House of C and L were not always consistent due to scanning errors.

Chris Squire UK  •  Link

OED has:

‘cavalier . . 3. A name given to those who fought on the side of Charles I in the war between him and the Parliament; a 17th c. Royalist. Originally reproachful, and applied to the swash-bucklers on the king's side, who hailed the prospect of war . .
1651 W. Lilly Monarchy or no Monarchy 107 [Speaking of what he witnessed during Christmas of 1641–2] The Courtiers againe, wearing long Haire and locks, and alwayes Sworded, at last were called by these men [the Puritans] Cavaliers; and so after this broken language had been used a while, all that adhered unto the Parlament were termed Round-heads; all that tooke part or appeared for his Majestie, Cavaliers, few of the vulgar knowing the sence of the word Cavalier . . ‘

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