The listing of expenses is perhaps a useful memory aid for Sam when writing up his diary. He's money centric after all. Each item will prompt his recollection of circumstances and details. Could this be part of his normal diary routine and he's simply not had the oomph to put it together these past few days? Prosaic and dull admittedly.
Thanks Sarah. I wasn't aware that there was history between Holmes and Bess (or I'd forgotten more like). I too googled the phrase and came up with this from Chaucer's Pardoner's Tale "Oh no,” said the Host. “Christ send me to hell first! I’ll never give you anything as long as I live. You’d call your own pants a relic and make me kiss them even though they’re soiled with crap!"
It would have made more sense to me if Sam had said Holmes should have dismissed the idea of the marriage by kicking her breech or that she would have to kiss his before he would even consider it.
"that he should have kissed her breech before he should have had her"
I don't understand this remark. It's presumably some kind of an insult but what is its literal meaning? It seems to me unlike Sam to to be so indiscreetly disparaging, even if we know he's capable of such thoughts. And then he says he's sorry for the girl.
Pen and Monck are a war worn pair, pragmatic and probably thick skinned so they may not be too upset or embarrassed by the Duchess's invective. Perhaps even amused by it. Oh to have been a fly on the wall, I mean a mouse under the floorboards. As you say, Stephane, Pen will be more concerned about what others are saying.
You're clearly not impressed Gerald. Me too, it's no show stopper. I listened to it a few times and it didn't change my first impressions. I wonder why he confined himself to putting Jonson's lyrics to music. The Spotify link gives a range of the contemporary music that Sam may have listened to and from which he might have got his inspiration to write.
Does Pepys ever compose another song? I have had it with It is Decreed!
Here's an interesting link to the Pepys Library, Cambridge, where we can listen to "Beauty Retire", Sam's other masterpiece, as well as seeing examples of his "pricking out of (his) song"
It is indeed a touching moment in the diary and another example of how much the briefest of entries can tell us about Sam. It's perhaps remiss of him not to identify the music but Terry in his 29/09/19 post takes us forward in the diary to 13/08/1668 and to Matthew Locke. It's surely no coincidence that Locke is court composer to Charles II and wrote music for the stage, and that Sam wants to learn to play his music, examples of which are on YouTube
"Ah, for the times when the devil was in the tritone..."
Kircher was a Jesuit scholar. I can imagine that there will be a chapter or two on the morality of certain musical forms. Wandering off the subject a little I found this article, with some interesting comments attached.
"and there did buy Kircher’s Musurgia, cost me 35s.,"
During the month Sam has been organising his books to his great satisfaction, being "fain to lay by several books to make room for better" (2nd Feb) and now he's bought this door stopper. Reading on in the diary the last mention of the book is on 4th March, when he brings home the bound copy. It's beautifully illustrated but appears to be in Latin, and is 745 pages long. Perhaps he never read it.
I picked up this link from a 13/03/2011 annotation by Michael Robinson
I've passed Gawsworth Hall several times not knowing its fascinating history. The website isn't great but there are some photos of the pile in its present state and of the family currently in residence.
"and so away to bed, weary and mightily pleased, and have the happiness to reflect upon it as I do sometimes on other things, as going to a play or the like, to be the greatest real comfort that I am to expect in the world, and that it is that that we do really labour in the hopes of; and so I do really enjoy myself, and understand that if I do not do it now I shall not hereafter, it may be, be able to pay for it, or have health to take pleasure in it, and so fill myself with vain expectation of pleasure and go without it."
Joyce is an indirect and unrecorded victim of the fire, as are so many Covid victims today. In the 9th Jan entry Sam wanted more time to consider the 350l loan that Joyce had sought but he doesn't reflect on how that delay may have impinged on his state of mind.
"John Evelyn's Diary - 9th January, 1668. Went to see the revels at the Middle Temple, which is also an old riotous custom, and has relation neither to virtue nor policy."
And regarding the availability of news and general awareness of who was the current Pope etc it surprised me in yesterday's diary that Sam didn't spell Prynne's name correctly.
There have been some wonderful diary entries of late. In Sam's descriptions of the High Mass in the Park on Dec 24 and of the gamblers at Groome-Porters on Jan 1 he closely observes the behaviour of others. In today's diary entry Sam is so wrapped up in his own enjoyment of his party that he doesn't give us that detail. Instead his "hav(ing) the happiness to reflect upon" and other thoughts at the end of his day are an observation of himself.
I also add my thanks, to annotators past and present for their insights and observations and to Phil and Sam especially for making it possible. The Diary has become an enjoyable and indispensable daily routine for me and I wish I'd come across it sooner. Merry Christmas to all.
"This makes me think Pepys was basically more of a Puritan than he lets on,"
My impression of Sam, admittedly only formed over a year of Diary reading, is that he isn't religious and therefore doesn't lean one way or the other. He is careful not to discuss his views because of the times he lives in, his job and his attachment to the Duke of York. In tomorrow's diary he is amused and content to just listen to Hollier's strong and excitable opinions. He attends church most weeks but not all and only tends to comment on the sermons or the fine ladies in the congregation, and he might indulge in some predatory behaviour. His interest in science and astronomy illustrates an open mind.
Fascinating background, Sarah. I'd not heard of Symon Patrick before, and from a quick search of the The Diary neither has Sam. I wonder if Patrick got the recognition for his contribution to the preservation of the C of E at the time. Perhaps he wasn't looking for it, more a lifter than a leaner.
"looking over my plate, which indeed is a very fine quantity"
Surely no coincidence that Sam received some plate a few days ago from Lady Montagu / Sandwich. He was unsure at the time that this was intended to secure the £200 loan to her husband. Does he regard the plate as his now for keeps?
This had me chuckling to myself for a few minutes. A "More tea, vicar?" moment. Contemplating what thoughts came into Sam's and Betty's heads adds to my amusement, especially after Sam's first impressions of the handsome and esoteric Mrs Hunt.
Comments
Second Reading
About Thursday 16 April 1668
Harry R • Link
The listing of expenses is perhaps a useful memory aid for Sam when writing up his diary. He's money centric after all. Each item will prompt his recollection of circumstances and details. Could this be part of his normal diary routine and he's simply not had the oomph to put it together these past few days? Prosaic and dull admittedly.
About Wednesday 8 April 1668
Harry R • Link
Thanks Sarah. I wasn't aware that there was history between Holmes and Bess (or I'd forgotten more like). I too googled the phrase and came up with this from Chaucer's Pardoner's Tale "Oh no,” said the Host. “Christ send me to hell first! I’ll never give you anything as long as I live. You’d call your own pants a relic and make me kiss them even though they’re soiled with crap!"
It would have made more sense to me if Sam had said Holmes should have dismissed the idea of the marriage by kicking her breech or that she would have to kiss his before he would even consider it.
About Wednesday 8 April 1668
Harry R • Link
"that he should have kissed her breech before he should have had her"
I don't understand this remark. It's presumably some kind of an insult but what is its literal meaning? It seems to me unlike Sam to to be so indiscreetly disparaging, even if we know he's capable of such thoughts. And then he says he's sorry for the girl.
About Sunday 29 March 1668
Harry R • Link
Pen and Monck are a war worn pair, pragmatic and probably thick skinned so they may not be too upset or embarrassed by the Duchess's invective. Perhaps even amused by it. Oh to have been a fly on the wall, I mean a mouse under the floorboards. As you say, Stephane, Pen will be more concerned about what others are saying.
About Friday 27 March 1668
Harry R • Link
You're clearly not impressed Gerald. Me too, it's no show stopper. I listened to it a few times and it didn't change my first impressions. I wonder why he confined himself to putting Jonson's lyrics to music. The Spotify link gives a range of the contemporary music that Sam may have listened to and from which he might have got his inspiration to write.
https://open.spotify.com/album/6i…
About Friday 27 March 1668
Harry R • Link
Does Pepys ever compose another song? I have had it with It is Decreed!
Here's an interesting link to the Pepys Library, Cambridge, where we can listen to "Beauty Retire", Sam's other masterpiece, as well as seeing examples of his "pricking out of (his) song"
https://www.magd.cam.ac.uk/pepys/…
About Thursday 27 February 1667/68
Harry R • Link
It is indeed a touching moment in the diary and another example of how much the briefest of entries can tell us about Sam. It's perhaps remiss of him not to identify the music but Terry in his 29/09/19 post takes us forward in the diary to 13/08/1668 and to Matthew Locke. It's surely no coincidence that Locke is court composer to Charles II and wrote music for the stage, and that Sam wants to learn to play his music, examples of which are on YouTube
About Saturday 22 February 1667/68
Harry R • Link
"Ah, for the times when the devil was in the tritone..."
Kircher was a Jesuit scholar. I can imagine that there will be a chapter or two on the morality of certain musical forms. Wandering off the subject a little I found this article, with some interesting comments attached.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazi…
About Saturday 22 February 1667/68
Harry R • Link
"and there did buy Kircher’s Musurgia, cost me 35s.,"
During the month Sam has been organising his books to his great satisfaction, being "fain to lay by several books to make room for better" (2nd Feb) and now he's bought this door stopper. Reading on in the diary the last mention of the book is on 4th March, when he brings home the bound copy. It's beautifully illustrated but appears to be in Latin, and is 745 pages long. Perhaps he never read it.
I picked up this link from a 13/03/2011 annotation by Michael Robinson
http://echo.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/E…
.
About Friday 21 February 1667/68
Harry R • Link
I've passed Gawsworth Hall several times not knowing its fascinating history. The website isn't great but there are some photos of the pile in its present state and of the family currently in residence.
https://www.gawsworthhall.com/
About Monday 3 February 1667/68
Harry R • Link
Sarah & Nicholas - this too, from 06/01/67:
"and so away to bed, weary and mightily pleased, and have the happiness to reflect upon it as I do sometimes on other things, as going to a play or the like, to be the greatest real comfort that I am to expect in the world, and that it is that that we do really labour in the hopes of; and so I do really enjoy myself, and understand that if I do not do it now I shall not hereafter, it may be, be able to pay for it, or have health to take pleasure in it, and so fill myself with vain expectation of pleasure and go without it."
About Tuesday 21 January 1667/68
Harry R • Link
Joyce is an indirect and unrecorded victim of the fire, as are so many Covid victims today. In the 9th Jan entry Sam wanted more time to consider the 350l loan that Joyce had sought but he doesn't reflect on how that delay may have impinged on his state of mind.
About Thursday 9 January 1667/68
Harry R • Link
Referring to some old and well aired annotations:
"John Evelyn's Diary - 9th January, 1668. Went to see the revels at the Middle Temple, which is also an old riotous custom, and has relation neither to virtue nor policy."
The Middle Temple Revels continue to this day, what would Evelyn make of that? https://www.middletemple.org.uk/c…
And regarding the availability of news and general awareness of who was the current Pope etc it surprised me in yesterday's diary that Sam didn't spell Prynne's name correctly.
About Monday 6 January 1667/68
Harry R • Link
There have been some wonderful diary entries of late. In Sam's descriptions of the High Mass in the Park on Dec 24 and of the gamblers at Groome-Porters on Jan 1 he closely observes the behaviour of others. In today's diary entry Sam is so wrapped up in his own enjoyment of his party that he doesn't give us that detail. Instead his "hav(ing) the happiness to reflect upon" and other thoughts at the end of his day are an observation of himself.
About Monday 23 December 1667
Harry R • Link
I also add my thanks, to annotators past and present for their insights and observations and to Phil and Sam especially for making it possible. The Diary has become an enjoyable and indispensable daily routine for me and I wish I'd come across it sooner. Merry Christmas to all.
About Saturday 21 December 1667
Harry R • Link
"This makes me think Pepys was basically more of a Puritan than he lets on,"
My impression of Sam, admittedly only formed over a year of Diary reading, is that he isn't religious and therefore doesn't lean one way or the other. He is careful not to discuss his views because of the times he lives in, his job and his attachment to the Duke of York. In tomorrow's diary he is amused and content to just listen to Hollier's strong and excitable opinions. He attends church most weeks but not all and only tends to comment on the sermons or the fine ladies in the congregation, and he might indulge in some predatory behaviour. His interest in science and astronomy illustrates an open mind.
About Saturday 21 December 1667
Harry R • Link
Fascinating background, Sarah. I'd not heard of Symon Patrick before, and from a quick search of the The Diary neither has Sam. I wonder if Patrick got the recognition for his contribution to the preservation of the C of E at the time. Perhaps he wasn't looking for it, more a lifter than a leaner.
About Sunday 15 December 1667
Harry R • Link
"looking over my plate, which indeed is a very fine quantity"
Surely no coincidence that Sam received some plate a few days ago from Lady Montagu / Sandwich. He was unsure at the time that this was intended to secure the £200 loan to her husband. Does he regard the plate as his now for keeps?
About Saturday 7 December 1667
Harry R • Link
(which was pretty odde)
This had me chuckling to myself for a few minutes. A "More tea, vicar?" moment. Contemplating what thoughts came into Sam's and Betty's heads adds to my amusement, especially after Sam's first impressions of the handsome and esoteric Mrs Hunt.
About Thursday 5 December 1667
Harry R • Link
And thanks from me too, Sarah, for all of your detailed input generally. It really adds to my understanding of the life and times.