Todd Bernhardt

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Todd Bernhardt has posted 946 annotations/comments since 8 January 2003.

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First Reading

About Tuesday 8 September 1663

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Why does washing day lead to a "a good pie baked of a leg of mutton"?

And I trust someone with access to L&M will help explain the Treasurer's disbursements ... please?

About Monday 7 September 1663

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re: the cruise by the "sluts"

I find this an interesting insight into Sam's views on sexuality, especially when combined with his assessment of Betty Lane on Sept. 4 (she "who seems desirous to have me come to see her and to have her company as I had a little while ago, which methinks if she were very modest, considering how I tumbled her and tost her, she should not").

At this point in his life, Sam is obviously drawn to, and fantasizes about, the attractions of "ready sex," but when push comes to, ahem, shove, what he values most is love (yes, I'm a poet and not even aware of it); the prospect of the fantasy, of the "zipless f*ck," quickly sours when he gets close enough to see the reality of it all.

About Saturday 5 September 1663

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"But it happens well that Holmes is come home into the Downes, where he will meet my Lady, and it may be do her more good than she looked for."

And what, pray tell, does he mean by *that*?

From 3 Sept:
"besides that she is mighty troublesome on the water."

And all this time, I thought he was writing about the ship...

About Thursday 3 September 1663

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"Methinks she makes over much of her husband’s ward, young Mr. Griffin, as if she expected some service from him when he comes to it, being a pretty young boy."

What exactly does Sam mean by this? Sounds salacious to me, but that's probably my filthy mind, and not Sam's...

About Sunday 30 August 1663

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"and made up my accounts; which to my great content arise to 750£ clear Creditor, the most I have had yet"

Aqua, from this phrase it looks to me as if your theory of Sam's reckoning of his net worth (that he doesn't include the money owed to him by Sandwich) is correct...

About Wednesday 26 August 1663

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re: the receipt

I think so. I think the dispute may have had to do with Moore being reticent to give Sam a receipt for loaning him money, when in fact it may have been rightful payment (of wages, etc.) to Moore from Montagu, with Sam merely supplying the funds. If that's the case, should Moore sign a receipt saying that Sam gave him the money? Why should he (he perhaps reasons), when the deal is actually between Sam and Montagu?

In any case, it's a little sad to see these two old allies at odds with each other.

And Aqua, good point about the co-mingling of finances ... perhaps Sam does not include funds lent to Montagu when reckoning his own worth, though this approach would certainly be against principles of modern accounting ... wouldn't it?

About Monday 24 August 1663

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Thanks for the clarification on the "Iching," Terry. Now, can anyone help with this?

"Besides I put him upon having some took off upon white sattin, which he ordered presently."

Tried to parse it, still can't.

I'm a little concerned that Sam is putting most of his nest eggs in Montagu's basket ... seems rather to me like someone investing the bulk of their pension/401(k) in their company's stock ... (Enron, anyone?)

About Saturday 22 August 1663

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Sam continues to amuse me:

"we drank a cup of strong water, which I did out of pure conscience to my health, and I think is not excepted by my oaths, but [JUST IN CASE YOU'RE READING THIS, GOD] it is a thing I shall not do again, hoping to have no such occasion."

About Saturday 22 August 1663

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"but bade me beware of a John and a Thomas, for they did seek to do me hurt"

Well, we all know that Sam may someday get in trouble because of John Thomas, so she's not too far off the mark...

About Wednesday 19 August 1663

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"and a note under his hand to drink wine with my beere, without which I was obliged, by my private vowe, to drink none a good while, and have strictly observed it"

This is *hilarious*. Sam's gotten a note from the doctor to excuse him from the vows he's made to God ... wonder how he's going to show this note to "teacher."

About Wednesday 19 August 1663

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re: "talk about double standards"

Miss Ann, I get the impression from Sam's writing that, though he feels inwardly proud at his accomplishments and the way he's treated by the people who work for him (directly and indirectly), he endeavors to not show this pride outwardly. I think this public display of pride is what causes Sam to label Marsh a "coxcombe."

About Tuesday 18 August 1663

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re: "Bedtime prayers? On a Tuesday?"

DFF, I'd wager that bedtime prayers occur every night of the week, except Sam usually doesn't mention them. Perhaps he mentions them more often on a Sunday because they're longer and more involved then.

About Saturday 15 August 1663

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re: "He joyed me in my condition"

Schadenfreude from Sam? Or is this another way of saying that Palmer congratulated Sam on his rise in life?

About Tuesday 4 August 1663

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re: evidence about the desire for children

Laura, look at the Diary's first entry, and you'll see the following:
"My wife, after the absence of her terms for seven weeks, gave me hopes of her being with child, but on the last day of the year she hath them again" (Pepys refers to her period as her "terms").

On 28 June 1661, he writes of having "our bed set up in our room that we called the Nursery," which seems to show that they did indeed have hopes for a child (or children). Does Sam continually fret or stew about it in the pages of the Diary? No, not in what I've read so far. But I think he and Elizabeth did want children.

About Wednesday 12 August 1663

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"Only I do see by them, that speaking in matters distasteful to him that we write to, it is best to do it in the plainest way and without ambages or reasoning, but only say matters of fact, and leave the party to collect your meaning."

YES, Sam! If only more government officials believed and acted this way...

About Tuesday 11 August 1663

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"(but I did not carry them up to my ladies)"

Interesting that Sam is able to keep his relations downstairs, filling their glasses, while his ladies remain in waiting upstairs ... what did he tell his relations and, (I assume) separately, the ladies? ("Oh, it's just my poor old uncle ... let me go downstairs and give him and auntie a glass or three, and they'll soon be overflowing with kindness and ready to do whatever I ask them ... which will be to be on their way!")

Interesting, too, that he's able to take the ladies (quite the day out, but again, here we see Sam the political animal) into Povey's and show them around while Povey's not there...