Saturday 20 January 1665/66
To the office, where upon Mr. Kinaston’s coming to me about some business of Colonell Norwood’s, I sent my boy home for some papers, where, he staying longer than I would have him, and being vexed at the business and to be kept from my fellows in the office longer than was fit, I become angry, and boxed my boy when he came, that I do hurt my thumb so much, that I was not able to stir all the day after, and in great pain. At noon to dinner, and then to the office again, late, and so to supper and to bed.
22 Annotations
First Reading
Eric Walla • Link
Oh dear, Sam, I hope you hit him again for having the effrontery to hurt your thumb.
cape henry • Link
Did anyone else burst out laughing as I just did?
Nate • Link
"Did anyone else burst out laughing as I just did?"
Oh, yes indeed!
cgs • Link
"Yee moost be punishe', Me Ladd it'll 'urt me more than it'll 'urt thee" so it goethe the old farmer's sayin' when chasiting a strip of a' happrentice.
Mary • Link
Mr Kinaston
I don't think that this is the same man as the famous actor of that name. L&M refer to him as a merchant concerned in the victualling contracts for Tangier.
The other Kynaston remained an actor all his life, progressing from female roles (when a youth) to male roles in the later part of the century. He was a society figure, very popular with the 'celebrity' ladies of the day.
Mo • Link
"I was not able to stir all the day after, and in great pain"
How one's heart bleeds for him.
Robert Gertz • Link
I think it's clear about Mr K not being the famous Ned...But what fun if it were his "side career" while he relearned his trade from the male perspective? Oh, well...
Sam...You hurt your arm beating poor Wayneman, you were in agony of being exposed after you gave Bess that charming Xmas present, you nearly broke your thumb beating poor Tom. Dost thou not see God's hand in all this? Saying "Knock it off, Pepys!"?
"I see you applied discipline again."
"Shut up, Bess."
Grin...
"Actually Sam'l, you should know..."
Wave of hand, nursing bandaged thumb. "I shall take the boy down to the cellar for a proper whipping. Boy! Tom!!"
"But, sir."
"Sam'l."
"Silence. I shall administer a proper thrashing. Come, boy...To the dark cellar."
Opens door.
"But, sir!"
"Sam'l...You don't understand..."
"Enough." solemn wave, enters...And falls ten feet into cellar, cushioned fortunately by emission from Mr. Turner's again overloaded house of office.
"...the steps to the cellar are broke, sir!"
"Sam'l? You alright?"
"Glugh..."
"And Sam'l." Bess calls into the dark. "Tom was only trying to warn you. He'd heard Norwood's in trouble...Word about town is he's to be sent to the Tower. You shouldn't be seen doing business with him."
"Gluugh...Ahhh..." followed by profanity...
Bess closing door to cellar...Best to let things be awhile.
"He'll take us out and buy us both something when he settles down." she notes happily to Tom who nods.
A.Hamilton • Link
Little Sam Pepys
Grew angry by leaps
When his messenger boy didn't hie
He struck him, blind dumb,
And damaged his thumb
And said, what a sore boy am I.
Mary • Link
Neat!
jeannine • Link
I just checked the "Minutes from the Meeting" for the Samuel Pepys Pity Party Club and it seems that today nobody showed up...
(Nice poem AH!)
Mary • Link
"Little Sam Pepys.."
sung, of course, to the tune of "Little Jack Horner"
A. Hamilton • Link
sung
Maybe. I couldn't arrange feminine rhymes for the first triplet, so a beat will be missing unless you add an extra "e" sound to lengthen Pepys and leaps.
A. Hamilton • Link
rhythm works if Samuel is used in the first line instead of Sam. Or you could use Sammy.
JonTom in Massachusetts • Link
This is not the first time this tragedy has befallen Sam. See http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…:
"The boy failing to call us up as I commanded, I was angry, and resolved to whip him for that and many other faults...I called the boy ... and there I reckoned all his faults, and whipped him soundly, but the rods were so small that I fear they did not much hurt to him, but only to my arm, which I am already, within a quarter of an hour, not able to stir almost."
I found the 1662 incident even more amusing, in a way. To me, these are fine illustrations of the perplexity of authority: it is harder than one thinks to impose dominance on another without doing more damage to oneself than to her/him. We have seen numerous instances where Elizabeth has had the best of it when Sam, just trying to do as husband is supposed to, tries to establish his authority over her. He's sometimes even struck her, but he's never broken her spirit.
My guess is that Pepys' (sorry, Kenth, it's how I was taught) anger comes from the humiliation of being seen by others (Mr. Kinnaston) not being able to control his inferiors.
cgs • Link
Samuell must have had a discussion with Issac N. on how every action begets a reaction. History be full of Punishment begets Punishment so it be noted Cromwell's descendants.
Mark Peaty [aka xodarap] • Link
Would the tune not actually be "Little Bo Peep?"
Scans near perfectly.
Second Reading
Phil C. • Link
What, am I the only one here who would punish someone sent to get papers who decided to stop for lunch? Nowadays they would face firing or an end to any chance of promotion: a clip round the ear-hole might be preferable.
Louise Hudson • Link
Mary: Mr Kinaston
I don't think that this is the same man as the famous actor of that name.
No, the actor’s name is Kinison, but Pepys and he share the same first name.
Background Lurker • Link
Louise: Mary was referring to the 17th Century actor Edward Kynaston. SP also wrote his name as "Kinaston". See https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
Comic Sam Kinison remains firmly in the 20th Century.
Jonathan V • Link
"cape henry on 21 Jan 2009 • Link • Flag
Did anyone else burst out laughing as I just did?"
Ten years on, yes, I did. He conjures a great image, even if it's less-than-flattering to our eyes.
Frank • Link
21st century bs. Why do we inflict our morals on poor Pepys. He lived his life well and we don't in my humble opinion. And we are paying for our ideals, more wars, conflicts and political disarray.
john • Link
Phil C., methinks the point is: "and to be kept from my fellows in the office longer than was fit". He made his boss look bad in public and so his ears were boxed. Being made to look bad in public by a servant was not desirable.