"Thence by coach to the Temple, and it being a holyday, a fast-day, there ‘light, and took water, being invited, and down to Greenwich, to Captain Cocke’s, where dined"
So it's a fast-day at the Temple, but not at Greenwich? Maybe because Greenwich didn't get hit (so hard) by the plague? Or are Sam and company simply ignoring the fast?
To Michael L - Soon after Pepys became Clerk of the Acts, and thus a member of the Navy Board, he learned that Penn was trying to dilute or dissolve his authority, and have him function as a mere clerk to the Board, not a voting member. He has never forgiven him for that.
I've thought about this too, Glyn. My guess, based on what I've read so far, is that his wagon was hitched too tightly to James II, and after 1688 that was a serious liability. Possibly also Sam was too old by the time of William's reign to perform the kinds of service that would gain him royal notice (that's pure speculation on my part). If anyone has read better informed explanations in Tomalin or elsewhere, I'd be interested to hear about them. I do find it curious that James didn't knight him while he could.
I don't get the financial transaction with Mrs. Lane (the second transaction I understand very well, thank you). It sounds like he lent her 5L against 4L1S in gold. Why didn't he just lend her a pound?
Today's entry reinforces RG's guess yesterday that it was Hill's portrait that underwhelmed Sam, and not Elizabeth's, "which pleases me well." But it sounds like he is also suspecting Hayls of misrepresentation or even forgery in the portrait of Lady Peters, which is a better painting than Sam now thinks Hayls is capable of.
"the privileges of Parliament , which, he says, are few to the Commons’ House, and those not examinable by them, but only by the House of Lords."
OED re "examinable," def. 2: 2. Law. Subject to examination or inquiry; competent to be examined or inquired into; cognisable. 1594 West Symbol ii. Chancery §71 That it be such as is examinable in this court. 1666 Pepys Diary 21 Feb., The privileges of Parliament+are few to the Commons' house, and those not examinable by them, but only by the House of Lords. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. xviii. 471 His determinations are final, and examinable in no other court whatsoever. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 300 A fine+is properly examinable in that court only where it is entered. 1884 Sir C. S. C. Bowen in Law Rep. Q. Bench XIII. 87 His intentions are examinable to this extent.
Even though today's passage is cited, I still don't have a very clear idea of what it means for one house to "examine" the privileges of the other. I'm guessing it means that the House of Lords has the power to revoke the privileges of the Commons, but I would welcome instruction on the point.
Terry, I read Prynne's comment as a complaint, not an endorsement of the situation. Prynne was a complaining kind of guy, after all. I'm surprised Sam spoke well of his "discourse."
OED: The first or preparatory layer of colour in a painting. So "dead-colour" v. trans., to paint in dead colour; "dead-colouring" vbl. n.
1658 W. Sanderson Graphice 63 First to speak of dead-colours. 1672 in H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting (1786) III. 128, 5 June, Dr. Tillotson sat+to Mr. Lely for him to lay in a dead colour of his picture. 1788 Sir J. Reynolds Disc. xiv. (1876) 94 That lightness of hand which was in his dead colour, or first painting. c1843 H. Greenough in Flagg Life W. Allston (1893) 182 This dead color I paint solidly, with a good body of color.
1658 W. Sanderson Graphice 64 Pictures by a good Master, begun, and dead-coloured only. 1668 Excellency of Pen & Pencil 82 In this Dead-colouring you need not be over curious+the colours may be mended at the second Operation. Ibid. 101 For a light-red Garment, first dead-colour it with Vermilion. c1790 J. Imison Sch. Art. II. 58 After the student has covered over, or as artists term it, has dead-coloured the head. 1859 Gullick & Timbs Paint. 230 The Dead-colouring is the first or preparatory painting, and is so termed because the colours are laid cold and pale to admit of the after-paintings.
5. Const. inf.: To hesitate or be reluctant (to do something), esp. on conscientious grounds, or out of regard for what is fit and proper. (The current use.)
1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 357 Fathers not scrupling to make their own children victims. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 997 He scrupl'd not to eat Against his better knowledge. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. ii. 119 The Muletors scrupuled to let us have Mules to Ride on. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxxv. 279 The lords for some time scrupled to pass this clause. 1864 Bryce Holy Rom. Emp. x. (1875) 164 The Pope did not scruple to preach a crusade against the Emperor himself. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus p. xix, Nor have I scrupled to forsake the ancient quantity in proper names.
"I ... do not discern, but the Duke of Albemarle is my friend ..."
I can't find a reading of "discern" that makes sense in this passage. Possible guess: remove the comma, and take it to mean "I discern that the Duke ..."
"It was only in the late 17th century that silver tarnished with polluted air and needed cleaning."
Susan, that's a very interesting claim, which I never heard before. I tried to find out more on Wikipedia, but found no reference. Can you provide a source?
"No-one has ever seemed to have ever asked if Tangier was worth it."
Susan, Terry gave the appropriate answer (Gibraltar superseded). But I can't resist noting that the phenomenon is all too familiar in our own time, when the people at the head of a government develop a fixation on some foreign conquest and spare no blood or treasure to achieve it, even when the cost-benefit calculus marks it as folly.
"I went to enquire after my father, whom we did give over for lost coming from Holland."
The rather off-hand nature of this comment startles me. If Sam thought his father had just died in a shipwreck, one would expect a stronger expression of emotion. I wonder if "lost" here is to be taken less direly, perhaps meaning delayed or rerouted.
Or maybe we wouldn't have had a diary at all, children requiring as much time and attention as they do. Of course, Sam and Elizabeth had people for that, so maybe it wouldn't have made any difference.
"At last, very late, and supper done, she came undressed"
I presume the "she" here is Mrs. Knipp, and that the "undressed" doesn't mean she arrived in the nude, but rather in ordinary house clothes rather than party clothes. But wrt Robert Gertz's comment, if she had shown any signs of physical abuse, Sam would probably have mentioned it.
Comments
First Reading
About Wednesday 7 March 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"Thence by coach to the Temple, and it being a holyday, a fast-day, there ‘light, and took water, being invited, and down to Greenwich, to Captain Cocke’s, where dined"
So it's a fast-day at the Temple, but not at Greenwich? Maybe because Greenwich didn't get hit (so hard) by the plague? Or are Sam and company simply ignoring the fast?
About Friday 2 March 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
I'm surprised that by this time nobody had figured out how to print pre-ruled paper. Michael Robinson, any thoughts?
About Saturday 3 March 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
To Michael L -
Soon after Pepys became Clerk of the Acts, and thus a member of the Navy Board, he learned that Penn was trying to dilute or dissolve his authority, and have him function as a mere clerk to the Board, not a voting member. He has never forgiven him for that.
About Thursday 1 March 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"Sam never will [be knighted]"
I've thought about this too, Glyn. My guess, based on what I've read so far, is that his wagon was hitched too tightly to James II, and after 1688 that was a serious liability. Possibly also Sam was too old by the time of William's reign to perform the kinds of service that would gain him royal notice (that's pure speculation on my part). If anyone has read better informed explanations in Tomalin or elsewhere, I'd be interested to hear about them. I do find it curious that James didn't knight him while he could.
About Wednesday 28 February 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
I don't get the financial transaction with Mrs. Lane (the second transaction I understand very well, thank you). It sounds like he lent her 5L against 4L1S in gold. Why didn't he just lend her a pound?
About Friday 23 February 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
Today's entry reinforces RG's guess yesterday that it was Hill's portrait that underwhelmed Sam, and not Elizabeth's, "which pleases me well." But it sounds like he is also suspecting Hayls of misrepresentation or even forgery in the portrait of Lady Peters, which is a better painting than Sam now thinks Hayls is capable of.
About Wednesday 21 February 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"the privileges of Parliament , which, he says, are few to the Commons’ House, and those not examinable by them, but only by the House of Lords."
OED re "examinable," def. 2:
2. Law. Subject to examination or inquiry; competent to be examined or inquired into; cognisable.
1594 West Symbol ii. Chancery §71 That it be such as is examinable in this court. 1666 Pepys Diary 21 Feb., The privileges of Parliament+are few to the Commons' house, and those not examinable by them, but only by the House of Lords. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. xviii. 471 His determinations are final, and examinable in no other court whatsoever. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 300 A fine+is properly examinable in that court only where it is entered. 1884 Sir C. S. C. Bowen in Law Rep. Q. Bench XIII. 87 His intentions are examinable to this extent.
Even though today's passage is cited, I still don't have a very clear idea of what it means for one house to "examine" the privileges of the other. I'm guessing it means that the House of Lords has the power to revoke the privileges of the Commons, but I would welcome instruction on the point.
About Wednesday 21 February 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"talking of my brother John to get a spiritual promotion for him, which I am now to looke after"
Does "spiritual promotion" mean a clerical position? How is Sam in a position to look after such a thing?
About Wednesday 21 February 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
Terry, I read Prynne's comment as a complaint, not an endorsement of the situation. Prynne was a complaining kind of guy, after all. I'm surprised Sam spoke well of his "discourse."
About Thursday 15 February 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"his [Hayls] very first dead colouring"
OED:
The first or preparatory layer of colour in a painting. So "dead-colour" v. trans., to paint in dead colour; "dead-colouring" vbl. n.
1658 W. Sanderson Graphice 63 First to speak of dead-colours. 1672 in H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting (1786) III. 128, 5 June, Dr. Tillotson sat+to Mr. Lely for him to lay in a dead colour of his picture. 1788 Sir J. Reynolds Disc. xiv. (1876) 94 That lightness of hand which was in his dead colour, or first painting. c1843 H. Greenough in Flagg Life W. Allston (1893) 182 This dead color I paint solidly, with a good body of color.
1658 W. Sanderson Graphice 64 Pictures by a good Master, begun, and dead-coloured only. 1668 Excellency of Pen & Pencil 82 In this Dead-colouring you need not be over curious+the colours may be mended at the second Operation. Ibid. 101 For a light-red Garment, first dead-colour it with Vermilion. c1790 J. Imison Sch. Art. II. 58 After the student has covered over, or as artists term it, has dead-coloured the head. 1859 Gullick & Timbs Paint. 230 The Dead-colouring is the first or preparatory painting, and is so termed because the colours are laid cold and pale to admit of the after-paintings.
About Monday 12 February 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
Per OED, "to cry out of" is to complain loudly or vehemently of (a matter).
About Monday 12 February 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"which I scrupled to pay"
OED re "scruple" (v.), definition 5:
5. Const. inf.: To hesitate or be reluctant (to do something), esp. on conscientious grounds, or out of regard for what is fit and proper. (The current use.)
1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 357 Fathers not scrupling to make their own children victims. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 997 He scrupl'd not to eat Against his better knowledge. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. ii. 119 The Muletors scrupuled to let us have Mules to Ride on. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxxv. 279 The lords for some time scrupled to pass this clause. 1864 Bryce Holy Rom. Emp. x. (1875) 164 The Pope did not scruple to preach a crusade against the Emperor himself. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus p. xix, Nor have I scrupled to forsake the ancient quantity in proper names.
About Tuesday 6 February 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"I ... do not discern, but the Duke of Albemarle is my friend ..."
I can't find a reading of "discern" that makes sense in this passage. Possible guess: remove the comma, and take it to mean "I discern that the Duke ..."
Any thoughts?
About Friday 2 February 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"It was only in the late 17th century that silver tarnished with polluted air and needed cleaning."
Susan, that's a very interesting claim, which I never heard before. I tried to find out more on Wikipedia, but found no reference. Can you provide a source?
About Wednesday 24 January 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
Thank you, Mary. Somehow I missed that reading, but you are surely correct.
About Thursday 25 January 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"No-one has ever seemed to have ever asked if Tangier was worth it."
Susan, Terry gave the appropriate answer (Gibraltar superseded). But I can't resist noting that the phenomenon is all too familiar in our own time, when the people at the head of a government develop a fixation on some foreign conquest and spare no blood or treasure to achieve it, even when the cost-benefit calculus marks it as folly.
About Thursday 25 January 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"about to o'clock"
Scanning error for 10 o'clock. We've seen this before.
About Wednesday 24 January 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"I went to enquire after my father, whom we did give over for lost coming from Holland."
The rather off-hand nature of this comment startles me. If Sam thought his father had just died in a shipwreck, one would expect a stronger expression of emotion. I wonder if "lost" here is to be taken less direly, perhaps meaning delayed or rerouted.
About Friday 19 January 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
Or maybe we wouldn't have had a diary at all, children requiring as much time and attention as they do. Of course, Sam and Elizabeth had people for that, so maybe it wouldn't have made any difference.
About Monday 15 January 1665/66
Paul Chapin • Link
"At last, very late, and supper done, she came undressed"
I presume the "she" here is Mrs. Knipp, and that the "undressed" doesn't mean she arrived in the nude, but rather in ordinary house clothes rather than party clothes. But wrt Robert Gertz's comment, if she had shown any signs of physical abuse, Sam would probably have mentioned it.