Sasha Clarkson

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Sasha Clarkson has posted 752 annotations/comments since 16 February 2013.

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Second Reading

About Sunday 22 November 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

The Killigrew family was of Cornish origin, associated with Pendennis Castle, near Falmouth. Many years ago I read an excellent historical novel, 'Grove Of Eagles', about the family by Winston Graham, of Poldark fame. Graham's historical research was always meticulous. I'm very tempted to scout the online bookshops and see whether I can get a copy for my collection.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/sh…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gov…

About Friday 20 November 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

If anyone is interested in finding out more about Archangel, and its historical importance to Russia, I'd strongly recommend the following, very moving, book. (Personally I tend to read the Amazon reviews and buy elsewhere, as they neither treat their employees well nor pay their taxes - *or* see if it's available in your public library!)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Dv…

About Wednesday 18 November 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Look up Crutched Friars on Google maps: it's literally round the corner from the navy office in Seething Lane. Having tramped the streets there, I'd guess Will's new lodgings are two -three minutes walk, max, from Sam's.

About Tuesday 17 November 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

I make rye bread regularly with sourdough: it can be very nice if it's warm, fresh or toasted, but cold wholemeal rye bread is sour heavy and unpalatable; as Louise says an acquired taste.

I do use 100% rye flour, but that's so called "white" rye: Polish type 720, or German type 815. Anything else needs the addition of some white wheat (or spelt) flour if it's to rise.

"it being loosening" sounds like dark/wholemeal flour to me! :D

About Saturday 14 November 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

It's worth remembering how Wayneman came to be in his current condition. Against the advice of his own brother and sister Jane, the boy ran away because he was not prepared to accept normal discipline.. There is no evidence at all that Pepys was a harsh master by the standards of the day.

If Sam had signed a release for Wayneman, it would have meant keeping him under his roof and accepting responsibility for his good behaviour, which Pepys was no longer prepared to do. I doubt that Elizabeth wanted it either, or we'd have have known about it. Sam usually recorded their disagreements in the diary.

On 28th July, Jane asked Sam that, if he wouldn't take Wayneman back, could he send him to sea instead. Sam would have done this had there been an available ship.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
But the discipline on any ship would be as harsh as for an indentured labourer. So now, this might *seem* like a good solution to everyone (except Wayneman) - and he *does* have a chance to make good, even if we *fear* it.

Part of the tragedy of Wayneman might have been that Pepys expected too much of him, not work/obedience-wise but aptitude. On the day he ran away, and one other entry, the entries make clear that Sam had been trying to teach Wayneman to write, possibly more. If he had taken to his lessons and worked at them, Wayneman too might have had a chance of a career, and a future. Alas it was not to be.

However, the epilogue is, as the diary will show, that this episode di not preven future good relations between the Pepyses and Jane.

About Monday 9 November 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

"You shall have this captain turned a shoemaker; the lieutenant, a baker; this a brewer; that a haberdasher; this common soldier, a porter; and every man in his apron and frock, &c., as if they never had done anything else"

Thus those who, for religious and class reasons, were excluded from the Restoration political settlement, became the backbone of the economy, and, for good or ill, eventually created the Industrial Revolution and modern capitalism.

About Sunday 8 November 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

"Would be interesting to know if Coventry is hampered by such obligations...."

The Recusancy laws are being enforced again, and everyone (not ill) is expected to attend church *somewhere*, although not all the services. Coventry is also an MP, and his reputation with other Members would be adversely affected by any whiff of papism.

Why does Pepys endure the Scot? Remember that St Olave's is the Navy Board church, next to their office/lodgings, and that the Navy has paid for the pews. Therefore, Pepys, the Sir Williams and Minnes are, collectively, like the Lord Of The Manor in this parish, and have a social obligation to this church. This social obligation does not, however. seem to require that they remain awake during sermons!

About Thursday 5 November 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

We don't actually know what Will is doing to disturb the female servants. Perhaps Robert has got it all wrong, and Will is really gay, and amusing the servants with jokes and camp levity? Perhaps he idolises Sam and doesn't mind winding up Elizabeth by fomenting a little insubordination amongst the females?

All we know is that Will never marries and that he ends up providing a home for Sam, who prefers that to the ones he actually owns. What a shame Will never kept a diary too! ;)

About Saturday 31 October 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Why doesn't Sam walk more?

Why indeed? As well as the fact that he's very busy at the moment, and walking takes time, today is 10th November Gregorian, with approximately 9 hours and 40 minutes between sunrise and sunset. The streets are dark and dangerous for much longer than in the summer, even if the weather is clement, which often it isn't. So taking a coach to be punctual, safe, and appear respectable seems like a good investment.

About Friday 30 October 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

The sin of anachronism rears its ugly head again.

Just because one "can't imagine" something, doesn't mean it wasn't so. Whatever the Pepyes called each other in private, (and we have no evidence at all for that), it was the common practice in Pepys' day to refer to ones spouse and other social equals quite formally when using the third person.

This practice continued for another couple of hundred years, as any perusal of the literature of the various times, say Austen and Dickens, would confirm.

About Saturday 24 October 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Uncle Thomas is lucky, both that Sam is relatively relaxed about his forgery, and the time he lived in. Forgery, and uttering forgery (Passing off a forged document as genuine) were currently only Common Law offences. In the following century, after the founding of the Bank of England, Forgery and Uttering became felonies subject to capital punishment under what became known as the "Bloody Code".

https://hauntedpalaceblog.wordpre…

About Wednesday 21 October 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Of course Sam is merely following Biblical instructions:

"Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities."
1 Timothy, chapter 5, verse 23 (King James version).

About Monday 19 October 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Yes - words like "carriage", deportment, "attitude" etc have always had a double meaning: physical and to do with mental intention.

About Sunday 18 October 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Mrs Pembleton's 'good jewel at her breast' may not indicate that being a dancing master pays, but that she herself comes from a well-off family, and that they help keep him too.

Anyone who has walked around the area of Seething Lane cannot but notice the large number of churches within very easy walking distance. Before the Great Fire, there were 96 parishes in the "square mile" (actually 1.12 sq mi) of the City. So it's not unnatural that Sam looks with suspicion at Pembleton's apparent conversion to St Olave's. Of course, Pembleton *may* have been looking for introductions for more work or better social connections.

About Saturday 17 October 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Sam may get annoyed with Will sometimes, but he's a loyal boss, and will protect him against attack - especially if there's any whiff of it being a proxy attack against himself. Remember that the Blackborne connection has been used against Will, and Sam, too.

About Friday 16 October 1663

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

"intemperate money-management" could, and often did, lead to debtor's prison, even for the upper classes.

Admiral Sir William Penn's eponymous son, the Quaker founder of Pennsylvania, was imprisoned for debt in 1707, partly because he could not pay his own son's debts!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wil…