"I went to the Theatre, and saw “Elder Brother” ill acted; "
L&M: A comedy by John Fletcher, probably revised by Philip Massinger; written c. 1625, published in 1637; now at the TR, Vere St. The cast listed by Downes (p.6) includes Burt as Charles, Kynaston as Eustache, and Miss Rutter and Miss Boutel as the leading ladies.
"In my way and at home, my wife making a sad story to me of her brother Balty’s condition, and would have me to do something for him, which I shall endeavour to do, but am afeard to meddle therein for fear I shall not be able to wipe my hands of him again, when I once concern myself for him."
L&M: BIG SPOILER: Balthasar St Michel seems to have been feckless and improvident at this time, although in Pepys's opinion he improved later. Pepys had him appointed muster-master in 1666, and he rose in the service of the navy to become Commissioner at Deptford and Woolwich, 1686-8.
"I called in at the Crane tavern at the Stocks by appointment, and there met and took leave of Mr. Fanshaw"
L&M: Cf. https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… The Abbe Walter Mountagu (who was to take charge of them in France) had sent a man to conduct them on the journey: Carte 73.
"Hence to my father, where he and I and Thomas together setting things even,"
L&M: An inventory of the goods left in the house in Salisbuty Court on loan by John Pepys to his son Thomas is in Rawl. A 182, f. 311r in the hand of Thomas Pepys; dated 25 August, and witnessed by Pepys and William Hewer: (printed in fFamily Letters, pp. 13-15).
"I made even with my maid Jane, who has this day been my maid three years, and is this day to go into the country to her mother."
L&M: Jane Birch twice returned to Pepys's service, in March1662, for almost a year, and in March 1666, until in 1669 she married his manservant, Tom Edwards. She always remained a favourite with the Pepyses.
"so again to church with her, and had a very good and pungent sermon of Mr. Mills, discoursing the necessity of restitution."
L&M: Cf. Acts, iii, 21: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.(KJV)
"At night fell to read in “Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity,” which Mr. Moore did give me last Wednesday very handsomely bound; and which I shall read with great pains and love for his sake."
"and then to walk in St. James’s Park, and saw great variety of fowl which I never saw before"
L&M: The modern Birdcage Walk preserves the memory of the aviary, which was greatly extended, if not founded, by Charles II. Most of the birds were water-birds living on the ponds or in a decoy; others -- e.g. the exotic varieties presented by the E. India Company -- were kept in a 'poultry-house'. In 1661 there were parrots and cassowaries; in 1663 pelicans, Indian ducks, Muscovy ducks and white crows. Descriptions in Mundy, v. 156-8[1663]; Monconys, ii. 22-3, 58 [1663]; Evelyn, 9 February 1665; Magalotti, p. 168 [1669]. For its history, see Sir William Foster, John Company, pp. 89-90. , etc.
"the King and Duke and Duchess were there (who dined to-day with Sir H. Finch, reader at the Temple, in great state);"
L&M: Sir Heneage Finch, Solicitor-General, was Treasurer and autumn Reader of the Inner Temple (4-17 August). The Dinner is described in Sir W. Dugdale, Origines Juridiciales (1680), pp. 157-8. The King had sent venison for it: M. H. Nicolson (ed.) Conway Letters, p. 189. The costliness of these feasts was one of the reasons for the abandonment c. 1680 of public readings: R. North, Life of . . . Guilford (1742/0, pp. 74-6; Sir W. Holdsworth, Hist. Engl. law, vi. (1924), pp. 491-2.
"Thence to the Opera, which begins again to-day with “The Witts,” never acted yet with scenes;"
L&M: A comedy by Davenant, first acted in 1634 and published in 1636. The cast listed in Downes (p. 21) includes Betterton as 'elder Pallatine', Underhill as Sir Morglay Thwack, and Mrs Davenport as Lady Ample. The '/opera' was the new theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields which made use of movable painted scenery: cf. https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
"I walked to the Wardrobe and dined with my Lady, and there told her, of my Lord’s sickness (of which though it hath been the town-talk this fortnight, she had heard nothing) "
"[The Duke of York] is much troubled at it, and will speak to the King and Council of it this morning."
L&M: Presumably a committee meeting: the Council itself did not meet this day. A statement of the navy debts at the end of this year revealed a deficit of £374,000: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
"my Lord Hinchingbroke is fallen ill, which I fear is with the fruit that I did give them on Saturday last at my house:"
L&M: Some fevers, as well as colic, were attributed to the easting of fruit. '/in Summer time crude Humors breed...by eating of fruit, and over-much drinking [which] being mixed with Choller, do breed bastard Tertians': L. Riverius, The practice of physic...(1672), p. 580. The sale of certain fruits was forbidden in London during plague-time: C. Hole, Engl. home-life, 1500-1800, p. 13. See also Priv. Corr., ii. 63, 85; Burton's Anat. of melancholy (ed. Shilleto), i. 253-4; ii. 29.
"I met with Ned Pickering, who told me what a great match of hunting of a stagg the King had yesterday; and how the King tired all their horses, and come home with not above two or three able to keep pace with him."
L&M: For Charles II's interest in hunting and his prowess in riding (he had been well taught by the Marquess of Newcastle), see 'Sabretache' (A. S. Barrow), Monarchy and the chase, pp. 87-96. He won several horse-races at Newmarket.
'the Quakers do still continue, and rather grow than lessen."
L&M: Joseph Besse records a [Quaker] meeting at Baldock in 1661 and others elsewhere in the county: Collections of sufferings (1753), vol. i, ch. xvii. 'Many hundreds' gathered at Baldock in 1661 to hear George Fox: Fox, Journal (ed. Penney, ii. 119).
"I went to the Castle Hill, where the judges were at the Assizes;"
L&M: The assizes were held in Shire House, Castle Hill, until 1747: VCH, Cambs., iii. 118. Roger Pepys attended as Recorder of the borough. --------------- Assizes The courts of assize, or assizes (/əˈsaɪzɪz/), were periodic courts held around England and Wales until 1972, when together with the quarter sessions they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court. The assizes exercised both civil and criminal jurisdiction, though most of their work was on the criminal side.[1] The assizes heard the most serious cases, which were committed to it by the quarter sessions (local county courts held four times per year), while the more minor offences were dealt with summarily by justices of the peace in petty sessions (also known as magistrates' courts).
The word assize refers to the sittings or sessions (Old French assises) of the judges, known as "justices of assize", who were judges who travelled across the seven circuits of England and Wales on commissions of "oyer and terminer", setting up court and summoning juries at the various assize towns. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ass…
"In the lobby I spoke with Mr. George Montagu, and advised about a ship to carry my Lord Hinchingbroke and the rest of the young gentlemen to France, and they have resolved of going in a hired vessell from Rye, and not in a man of war. He told me in discourse that my L"
Comments
Second Reading
About Mary (a, Pepys' cookmaid)
Terry Foreman • Link
Mary left Pepys's employ on 16 October 1661.
About Friday 6 September 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"I went to the Theatre, and saw “Elder Brother” ill acted; "
L&M: A comedy by John Fletcher, probably revised by Philip Massinger; written c. 1625, published in 1637; now at the TR, Vere St. The cast listed by Downes (p.6) includes Burt as Charles, Kynaston as Eustache, and Miss Rutter and Miss Boutel as the leading ladies.
About Tuesday 27 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"In my way and at home, my wife making a sad story to me of her brother Balty’s condition, and would have me to do something for him, which I shall endeavour to do, but am afeard to meddle therein for fear I shall not be able to wipe my hands of him again, when I once concern myself for him."
L&M: BIG SPOILER: Balthasar St Michel seems to have been feckless and improvident at this time, although in Pepys's opinion he improved later. Pepys had him appointed muster-master in 1666, and he rose in the service of the navy to become Commissioner at Deptford and Woolwich, 1686-8.
About Tuesday 27 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"I called in at the Crane tavern at the Stocks by appointment, and there met and took leave of Mr. Fanshaw"
L&M: Cf. https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… The Abbe Walter Mountagu (who was to take charge of them in France) had sent a man to conduct them on the journey: Carte 73.
About Monday 26 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"Hence to my father, where he and I and Thomas together setting things even,"
L&M: An inventory of the goods left in the house in Salisbuty Court on loan by John Pepys to his son Thomas is in Rawl. A 182, f. 311r in the hand of Thomas Pepys; dated 25 August, and witnessed by Pepys and William Hewer: (printed in fFamily Letters, pp. 13-15).
About Monday 26 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"I made even with my maid Jane, who has this day been my maid three years, and is this day to go into the country to her mother."
L&M: Jane Birch twice returned to Pepys's service, in March1662, for almost a year, and in March 1666, until in 1669 she married his manservant, Tom Edwards. She always remained a favourite with the
Pepyses.
About Sunday 25 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"so again to church with her, and had a very good and pungent sermon of Mr. Mills, discoursing the necessity of restitution."
L&M: Cf. Acts, iii, 21: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.(KJV)
About Sunday 18 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"At night fell to read in “Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity,” which Mr. Moore did give me last Wednesday very handsomely bound; and which I shall read with great pains and love for his sake."
L&M: See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Pepys retained the 1666 edition: PL 2499 This also is 'very handsomely bound', possibly in the style pf Moore's, in black morocco, with gilt-panelled covers and an unusually large number of bands on the spine.
About Sunday 18 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"and then to walk in St. James’s Park, and saw great variety of fowl which I never saw before"
L&M: The modern Birdcage Walk preserves the memory of the aviary, which was greatly extended, if not founded, by Charles II. Most of the birds were water-birds living on the ponds or in a decoy; others -- e.g. the exotic varieties presented by the E. India Company -- were kept in a 'poultry-house'. In 1661 there were parrots and cassowaries; in 1663 pelicans, Indian ducks, Muscovy ducks and white crows. Descriptions in Mundy, v. 156-8[1663]; Monconys, ii. 22-3, 58 [1663]; Evelyn, 9 February 1665; Magalotti, p. 168 [1669]. For its history, see Sir William Foster, John Company, pp. 89-90. , etc.
About Thursday 15 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"the King and Duke and Duchess were there (who dined to-day with Sir H. Finch, reader at the Temple, in great state);"
L&M: Sir Heneage Finch, Solicitor-General, was Treasurer and autumn Reader of the Inner Temple (4-17 August). The Dinner is described in Sir W. Dugdale, Origines Juridiciales (1680), pp. 157-8. The King had sent venison for it: M. H. Nicolson (ed.) Conway Letters, p. 189. The costliness of these feasts was one of the reasons for the abandonment c. 1680 of public readings: R. North, Life of . . . Guilford (1742/0, pp. 74-6; Sir W. Holdsworth, Hist. Engl. law, vi. (1924), pp. 491-2.
About Thursday 15 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"Thence to the Opera, which begins again to-day with “The Witts,” never acted yet with scenes;"
L&M: A comedy by Davenant, first acted in 1634 and published in 1636. The cast listed in Downes (p. 21) includes Betterton as 'elder Pallatine', Underhill as Sir Morglay Thwack, and Mrs Davenport as Lady Ample. The '/opera' was the new theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields which made use of movable painted scenery: cf. https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Thursday 15 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"I walked to the Wardrobe and dined with my Lady, and there told her, of my Lord’s sickness (of which though it hath been the town-talk this fortnight, she had heard nothing) "
L&M: She was about to give birth to a child: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Wednesday 14 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"[The Duke of York] is much troubled at it, and will speak to the King and Council of it this morning."
L&M: Presumably a committee meeting: the Council itself did not meet this day. A statement of the navy debts at the end of this year revealed a deficit of £374,000: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Monday 12 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"my Lord Hinchingbroke is fallen ill, which I fear is with the fruit that I did give them on Saturday last at my house:"
L&M: Some fevers, as well as colic, were attributed to the easting of fruit. '/in Summer time crude Humors breed...by eating of fruit, and over-much drinking [which] being mixed with Choller, do breed bastard Tertians': L. Riverius, The practice of physic...(1672), p. 580. The sale of certain fruits was forbidden in London during plague-time: C. Hole, Engl. home-life, 1500-1800, p. 13. See also Priv. Corr., ii. 63, 85; Burton's Anat. of melancholy (ed. Shilleto), i. 253-4; ii. 29.
About Sunday 11 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"I met with Ned Pickering, who told me what a great match of hunting of a stagg the King had yesterday; and how the King tired all their horses, and come home with not above two or three able to keep pace with him."
L&M: For Charles II's interest in hunting and his prowess in riding (he had been well taught by the Marquess of Newcastle), see 'Sabretache' (A. S. Barrow), Monarchy and the chase, pp. 87-96. He won several horse-races at Newmarket.
About Tuesday 6 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
'the Quakers do still continue, and rather grow than lessen."
L&M: Joseph Besse records a [Quaker] meeting at Baldock in 1661 and others elsewhere in the county: Collections of sufferings (1753), vol. i, ch. xvii. 'Many hundreds' gathered at Baldock in 1661 to hear George Fox: Fox, Journal (ed. Penney, ii. 119).
About Saturday 3 August 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"I went to the Castle Hill, where the judges were at the Assizes;"
L&M: The assizes were held in Shire House, Castle Hill, until 1747: VCH, Cambs., iii. 118. Roger Pepys attended as Recorder of the borough.
---------------
Assizes
The courts of assize, or assizes (/əˈsaɪzɪz/), were periodic courts held around England and Wales until 1972, when together with the quarter sessions they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court. The assizes exercised both civil and criminal jurisdiction, though most of their work was on the criminal side.[1] The assizes heard the most serious cases, which were committed to it by the quarter sessions (local county courts held four times per year), while the more minor offences were dealt with summarily by justices of the peace in petty sessions (also known as magistrates' courts).
The word assize refers to the sittings or sessions (Old French assises) of the judges, known as "justices of assize", who were judges who travelled across the seven circuits of England and Wales on commissions of "oyer and terminer", setting up court and summoning juries at the various assize towns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ass…
About Saturday 27 July 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"In the lobby I spoke with Mr. George Montagu, and advised about a ship to carry my Lord Hinchingbroke and the rest of the young gentlemen to France, and they have resolved of going in a hired vessell from Rye, and not in a man of war. He told me in discourse that my L"
L&M: For their journey and stay abroad, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
They sailed in late August: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
George, son of George Montague and grandson of the 1st Earl of Manchester, went with them: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Saturday 27 July 1661
Terry Foreman • Link
"I heard a Frenchman play, a friend of Monsieur Eschar's, upon the guitar, most extreme well, though at the best methinks it is but a bawble.”
L&M: For the growing popularity of the guitar, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Friday 8 June 1660
Terry Foreman • Link
"I troubled much with the King’s gittar,"
L&M: The guitar, easier to play than the lute, was coming into favour, especially among the English upper classes.