Todd Bernhardt

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

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First Reading

About Saturday 11 July 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

re: they get wet, very wet...

No doubt. :-)

That said, are there any 17th-century clothing experts out there that know how Sam & Co. protected their clothes, periwigs, etc., from the rain? Did they have rain garments, umbrellas, or...?

About Saturday 11 July 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"it raining as hard as it could pour down"

What does Sam (and others) do in situations like this? Do they all have rain-gear that they wear over their clothes? Certainly they're not using umbrellas...

About Sunday 5 July 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

re: "This sounds he felt the urge to urinate, but, in the event, couldn’t, or couldn’t completely."

I thought of that too, Terry, but the "I found a..." seemed strange phrasing to me. I thought perhaps a stone could be called a stopping, since it might stop-up your urethra. Then again, you may very well be right. Language Hat, others...?

About Sunday 5 July 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"only coming to make water I found a stopping, which makes me fearful of my old pain."

Does this mean he passed a stone while peeing?

"she mighty kind to me, and I have the way to please her."

Do you now, Sam? Anyone care to speculate on exactly what he means by this?

About Thursday 2 July 1663

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"So he and I to bed together."

You bring up a good point, Bradford -- I've wondered if the phrase above means that they're literally in bed together, or simply that Creed bunks down in another bed (possibly in the same room) at the same time as Sam goes to his. We know that Sam certainly has enough beds in his house that a guest wouldn't be forced to sleep with him, especially given how empty the house is now.

And LH, in Glyn's defense, I understand what he means sometimes -- I love the long, meaty entries, but sometimes when things are hectic and I'm pressed for time, I appreciate it when Sam's a bit more brief, giving me time to concentrate on the present rather than the past...

About Thursday 2 July 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"Eh bien, Monsieur, vous estes un fort bon amy donc"

Anyone care to translate? I can figure out most except the "amy donc"...

"and then he was, from a certainty of coming in two or three years’ time to be Mareschall of France (to which all strangers, even Protestants, and those as often as French themselves, are capable of coming, though it be one of the greatest places in France)"

I'd be most indebted to anyone who can shed light on this, too...

About Tuesday 30 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

re: Why exactly do they feel compelled to help Creed out?

Despite the fact that Sam wonders "why my Lord and I should be concerned to promote his profit with so much dishonour and trouble to us," I think there may be something in this for Sandwich (remember our discussions the other day about annuities ... perhaps Sandwich is trying to plump up Creed's accounts so he may one day be able to draw upon them?), and also believe there is something in it for Sam, in that he reinforces his relationships with both Sandwich and Creed, however distasteful the means are to him.

I love these "summation entries." Sam's brilliance as a writer really comes through in them -- they're so coherent and concise.

About Monday 29 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"God help them."

And you, my unfaithful friend, when Bess finds out about your tousing of very white but monstrous fat thighs...

(Great entry today. Very entertaining!)

About Saturday 27 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"where I staid two hours or more discoursing of the expense of the navy and the corruption of Sir W. Batten"

I wonder if other people bring up Batten and his "corruption" to Sam, prompting these conversations, or if he rails on about him at any possible opportunity. The latter would certainly paint Sam in a worse light to me, and possibly to those around him. It could get tiresome right quick, always talking about how others aren't doing the King's service as well as he...

J, B, and ADA, glad to see I'm not the only one who had scatological thoughts as soon as I read about the pills. Ah well, tomorrow is the Lord's Day ... something tells me Sam might be doing some praying, even if he doesn't make it to church!

About Tuesday 23 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

I dunno, Oz Sue, he sounds like a normal 12 (or so)-year-old boy to me. Remember, we're getting this only from Sam's perspective ... we know very little about Wayneman's motivations or point of view.

I bet he fled the house ("there I found that my boy had got out of doors") ... that's what I would have done if someone were going to beat me with a rope's end! He may be as glad to be quit of Sam as Sam is of him (though I bet they'll both miss each other eventually).

Interesting how this morning episode seems to set the tone for the rest of the day.

And Robert ... it's been TWO days without music! :-)

About Tuesday 23 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

See what happens when Sam doesn't get to play music?

Seriously, it's a much different Sam today, though he doesn't absolutely dig in his heels and refuse to sign the bill.

About Sunday 21 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

Speaking of playing ...

"meaning, I suppose, that I should discourse abroad of it, and vindicate him therein, which I shall with all my power do."

Sam realizes he's being played, but plays along anyway, since it's in his own interest and follows his own desire to help his friend.

About Sunday 21 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

Has anyone else noticed that part of the freedom he's enjoying now, as part of his "bachelor life," is the ability to play music when he wants? I bet this is also helping his attitude ... with the demands of a family, I rarely get the time to practice anymore. When I do get an opportunity to do it, and get some of my chops back, it makes a huge difference in how I feel about myself.

About Sunday 21 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

The change in Sam's character since Elizabeth's departure is very interesting. It's as if he feels free to concentrate on himself and his own development, and obviously is enjoying/benefiting from it. Even his attitude toward others is improved, as shown by his magnanimous remarks about Minnes, whom at most other times Sam views as a "mad coxcomb" and "fool."

About Saturday 13 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"though he sent me last night, as a bribe, a barrel of sturgeon"

Oh, so it's a *bribe* when you don't think the deal is a good one, eh?

This is the first time we've seen this word in connection with Sam's dealings, right?

About Saturday 13 June 1663

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"and in our way saw my Lady Castlemaine, who, I fear, is not so handsome as I have taken her for, and now she begins to decay something"

Ain't that always the way, Sam? Familiarity breed contempt, and time waits for no (wo)man.

Quite a fun entry today ... can't you just see the "made coachman" barreling through the streets?

About Saturday 6 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"drinking my morning draft of whay, by the way"

Okay, I know people have speculated on this before, and I've usually agreed with those who've said that such puns were the result of serendipity rather than linguistic playfulness, but this time I can almost see a smile chasing across Sam's lips as he writes this line.

About Thursday 4 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

re: Does Bess know that her secretive acts stir up Sam’s jealousy?

I've been wondering about this, too -- is she doing these things to keep Sam engaged in the relationship? -- but given the way he describes their interaction on May 27th:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
where she chides him for his "old disease of jealousy" and he leaves her "crying in a great discontent", I don't think so.

That said, watching Sam's self-torment and inner dialogue ("Yet my mind is troubled") is fascinating.

About Monday 1 June 1663

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

Estimable, and quicker on the draw than I, LH! :-)

That'll teach me to check for recent entries before clicking the Post button!