Todd Bernhardt

Encyclopedia topics

Todd Bernhardt has written a summary for this topic:

Annotations and comments

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

Comments

First Reading

About Monday 3 December 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"She dined with me, my wife being ill of her months in bed."

Sure she is, Sam. She probably hasn't recovered from last night's coach ride yet. (The same can probably be said of the "very averse" Mrs. Burrows...)

About Sunday 2 December 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

This is an astounding entry to me. If I'm reading this correctly -- and I've read it several times now, to make sure I am -- there were only four people in the coach: the Mitchells and the Pepys. Betty and Sam are on one end of the coach, while Elizabeth and Michael on the other. The coach can't have been that big, it can't have been *that* dark, yet Sam still gets a handjob -- to the point of orgasm! -- *in front of his wife and the husband of the woman giving it to him*.

Granted, it's under a good deal of clothing, and "without much effort," but *still*. I know it was the Swinging (16)60s, but it seems that there's something more going on here. Something about the mores of the times and/or situation? Betty obviously didn't mind too much, since she played along -- the slightest resistance would have been noted, after all.

And, as others have noted, Sam brings Elizabeth into right into the Lion's Den -- a social situation that includes *both* his Betties. Wow.

About Friday 30 November 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

For Don and others who don't know about this, the software behind this blog will include any punctuation that you put in after a link, thus "breaking" the link, so if you need to put a period, comma, etc., after a link, make sure to insert a space between it and the link, so the link "works."

About Friday 30 November 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

re: Mrs. Burroughs' mother

Ralph, I don't think he's referring to activities with her mother; rather, it's that he found Mrs. Burroughs at her mother's house.

As for "tumble," I've always understood as denoting a lower level of sexual activity (think of today's "fooling around") rather than denoting lower social order or importance of relationship...

About Thursday 22 November 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"Here we did give one another the lie too much, but were presently friends"

CGS, I don't think Sam means "lie" in the sense of telling an untruth, but I also am not sure exactly what he *does* mean! Could someone please shed light on this?

About Friday 23 November 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"Then, discoursing of matters of the House of Parliament, he tells me that it is not the fault of the House, but the King’s own party, that have hindered the passing of the Bill for money, by their popping in of new projects for raising it: which is a strange thing"

As Terry says, nearly 350 years on, and nothing has changed!

About Sunday 18 November 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

Thanks, Jeannine. I was wondering if the "big signature" theory was correct or not. Now that we've seen it isn't, anyone have an answer for Puzzled's query (which I also am wondering about)?

About Wednesday 31 October 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"Such is our case, that every body fears an invasion the next yeare; and for my part, I do methinks foresee great unhappiness coming upon us"

Prescient...

I do think Sam's pain in his cods is caused by his underlying condition. If I recall correctly, his biographer Tomalin points out that they discovered upon his death (or possibly earlier?) that the incision from his surgery for the bladder stone never fully healed, so I imagine that any trauma to that area -- even something as apparently benign as being in a cramped position for too long, without being able to "adjust himself" in a socially acceptable way -- would cause longer-lasting effects than would be experienced by other men.

About Sunday 28 October 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"being very merry, in abusing my aunt with Dr. Venner"

Anybody able to explain why they're able to abuse Aunt Wight with (what I assume is talk of) Dr. Venner?

Also, can anyone explain what "the Dyamond’s being overset in the careening at Sheernesse" means?

Thanks in advance.

About Saturday 13 October 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"and in short did end thus, that he has never shewn so much of the pigeon in all his life as in his innocence to Sir G. Carteret at this time"

Does Pepys mean that Coventry is playing the part of a meek "pigeon" by not talking about want of money and getting the Parliament further riled up about Carteret?

About Friday 12 October 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"and so to the Hall a while, and thence to Mrs. Martin’s lodging and did what I would with her. She is very big, and resolves I must be godfather"

Well, Sam *did* make her an offer she couldn't refuse...

About Sunday 7 October 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

"Thence, having been informed that, after all this pains, the King hath found out how to supply us with 5 or 6000l., when 100,000l. were at this time but absolutely necessary, and we mentioned 50,000l.. This is every day a greater and greater omen of ruine."

Going through my own budget battles now, and I know just what you mean, Sam...

About Saturday 6 October 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

re: "Sir W. Coventry told me, it is much to be pitied that the King should lose the service of a man so able and faithfull; and that he ought to be brought over, but that it is always observed, that by bringing over one discontented man, you raise up three in his room; which is a State lesson I never knew before. But when others discover your fear, and that discontent procures favour, they will be discontented too, and impose on you."

Could someone help me parse this? I think I have an idea of its meaning, but am not sure.

Also, re: the footnote -- I'm thinking Minnes' removal should be *next* January 21st?

About Wednesday 3 October 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

Great look at how capable our man really is ... here he sits, all day long, able to talk to the entirety of the Navy's finances to a knowledgeable group of men sent to examine the books. How good he must feel at the end of the day (it's fantastic when the switch clicks in your head about a job, and you realize that you really know the business).

How interesting to see the partnership forming between that "false rogue" Penn and Pepys! Wonder how long it'll last.

About Tuesday 2 October 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

What a fantastically written entry -- full of drama, wonderfully paced and realized. Almost written like a serial ... a complete story today, with its own resolution, but what will happen tomorrow regarding the bigger story? Tune in, same time, same Web site, to find out!

About Monday 1 October 1666

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

Some mighty interesting turns of phrase today:
"and find him simply mighty busy"
"and sent them mighty wisely out again"

Haven't seen Sam use "simply" and "wisely" in these ways before ... have we?

Love the image of him going forward into the breech, so to speak...