No free press in the religiously "tolerant" Netherlands
Spinoza to Oldenburg, July 17/27, 1663
Distinguished Sir,
I have at length received your long wished for letter, and am at liberty to answer it. But, before I do so, I will briefly tell you, what has prevented my replying before.
....While [in Amsterdam] certain friends asked me to impart to them a treatise containing, in brief, the second part of the principles of Descartes treated geometrically....[,] to compose a similar treatise on the first part...[and] for leave to print it, which I readily granted on the condition that one of them should, under my supervision,...add a little preface warning readers that I do not acknowledge all the opinions there set forth as my own....
....It may be that on this occasion some of those, who hold the foremost positions in my country, will be found desirous of seeing the rest of my writings, which I acknowledge as my own; they will thus take care that I am enabled to publish them without any danger of infringing the laws of the land. If this be as I think, I shall doubtless publish at once; if things fall out otherwise, I would rather be silent than obtrude my opinions on men, in defiance of my country, and thus render them hostile to me.... http://bdsweb.tripod.com/en/lette…
Spinoza's magnum opus, his *Ethica Ordine Geometrico Demonstrata* (Ethics) was published after his death in 1677.
"As the Americans like to say after their independence: "all equal under God". (So you need a God to be equal...)"
Ruben, you have been misled. The phrase "under God" was added only in the early 1950's at a time of anti-Communist enthusiasm to the American Pledge of Allegiance, writ first by socialist author and Baptist minister Francis Bellamy only on September 7, 1892. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pled…
Spinoza's getting "the OtB from the local Synagogue [1656], and be[ing] exiled for his agnostic view"
In what I deem the best understanding of his ostracism, Rebecca Goldstein argues that Spinoza had fashioned a philosophy that was a surmounting of one's concrete historical identity, in his case his Jewishness. He did express his relief that the synagogue pronounced the separation for him. See "BETRAYING SPINOZA: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity," Schocken 2006: http://www.randomhouse.com/schock…
Phil's link may go to Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, Lord Treasurer of England, because of an L&M note that I've quoted: "The Lord Treasurer was responsible for royal forests" -- which Carteret surely was not -- and Pepys refers to Carteret as "Sir G. Carteret" rather than as "my Lord Treasurer."
Perhaps my Lord Chancellor is esp. piqued at Sir G. Carteret because he expected his friend to have protected his interest, whereas Pepys was the unknown on whom he could have counted least to have played such a role, but whom he now shrewdly afrights into lining up on his side in whatever the Navy Board should discuss?
Pepys is at first blamed by Sir Edward Hyde for the marking of his standing trees with the King's arrow to be cut for the navy purveyors; but Pepys protests, not knowing Hyde's property (interest) was involved, he was but a member of the Navy Board who have but done the bidding of the Lord Treasurer, Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton , who was responsible for royal forests.
"AUTHORIZED??? That's the first time I've ever heard there was such a thing as an "authorized" edition of the Bible."
DonB, look at the title page of the King James Version of the Bible. By his authority it was compiled, and its 1611 title page states that it is "Appointed to be read in Churches" -- sc. Anglican Churches -- , known for 350 years as the "Authorized Version" and the phrase routinely printed on its title page. Google (AV bible).
In fact "The Great Bible [of 1539] was the first authorised edition of the Bible in English, authorised by King Henry VIII of England to be read aloud in the church services of the Church of England." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grea…
"Per L&M - who reproduce the Hinchingbrooke version, vol. V opposite p. 200." -- perhaps, Michael, in your hardback edition, but not in my PB. I gather the Lely that sold July 5th. 2007, "Portrait of a young woman and child, as Venus and Cupid, the young woman almost certainly either Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, and Duchess of Cleveland (1640-1709), or Nell Gwyn (1650-1687), full-length, naked, beside an urn, a landscape beyond," is not the Lely Pepys saw.
Comments
First Reading
About Friday 15 July 1664
Terry F • Link
"-- besides his building and goods that he hath bought."
L&M have this in the Diary text, noting that the MS has "good goods".
About Friday 17 July 1663
Terry F • Link
No free press in the religiously "tolerant" Netherlands
Spinoza to Oldenburg, July 17/27, 1663
Distinguished Sir,
I have at length received your long wished for letter, and am at liberty to answer it. But, before I do so, I will briefly tell you, what has prevented my replying before.
....While [in Amsterdam] certain friends asked me to impart to them a treatise containing, in brief, the second part of the principles of Descartes treated geometrically....[,] to compose a similar treatise on the first part...[and] for leave to print it, which I readily granted on the condition that one of them should, under my supervision,...add a little preface warning readers that I do not acknowledge all the opinions there set forth as my own....
....It may be that on this occasion some of those, who hold the foremost positions in my country, will be found desirous of seeing the rest of my writings, which I acknowledge as my own; they will thus take care that I am enabled to publish them without any danger of infringing the laws of the land. If this be as I think, I shall doubtless publish at once; if things fall out otherwise, I would rather be silent than obtrude my opinions on men, in defiance of my country, and thus render them hostile to me.... http://bdsweb.tripod.com/en/lette…
Spinoza's magnum opus, his *Ethica Ordine Geometrico Demonstrata* (Ethics) was published after his death in 1677.
About Saturday 13 February 1663/64
Terry F • Link
"As the Americans like to say after their independence: "all equal under God". (So you need a God to be equal...)"
Ruben, you have been misled. The phrase "under God" was added only in the early 1950's at a time of anti-Communist enthusiasm to the American Pledge of Allegiance, writ first by socialist author and Baptist minister Francis Bellamy only on September 7, 1892. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pled…
About Sunday 18 January 1662/63
Terry F • Link
Spinoza's getting "the OtB from the local Synagogue [1656], and be[ing] exiled for his agnostic view"
In what I deem the best understanding of his ostracism, Rebecca Goldstein argues that Spinoza had fashioned a philosophy that was a surmounting of one's concrete historical identity, in his case his Jewishness. He did express his relief that the synagogue pronounced the separation for him. See "BETRAYING SPINOZA: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity," Schocken 2006: http://www.randomhouse.com/schock…
About Lady Mary Wood
Terry F • Link
Lady Mary Wood was attendant to two queens.
Maid of Honor to Henrietta-Maria Stuart
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
Dresser and woman of the bedchamber to Catherine of Braganza
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
About Thursday 14 July 1664
Terry F • Link
my Lord Treasurer and Carteret
Phil's link may go to Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, Lord Treasurer of England, because of an L&M note that I've quoted: "The Lord Treasurer was responsible for royal forests" -- which Carteret surely was not -- and Pepys refers to Carteret as "Sir G. Carteret" rather than as "my Lord Treasurer."
Perhaps my Lord Chancellor is esp. piqued at Sir G. Carteret because he expected his friend to have protected his interest, whereas Pepys was the unknown on whom he could have counted least to have played such a role, but whom he now shrewdly afrights into lining up on his side in whatever the Navy Board should discuss?
About Thomas Wriothesley (4th Earl of Southampton, Lord Treasurer 1660-7)
Terry F • Link
Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom…
About Thursday 14 July 1664
Terry F • Link
The issue
Pepys is at first blamed by Sir Edward Hyde for the marking of his standing trees with the King's arrow to be cut for the navy purveyors; but Pepys protests, not knowing Hyde's property (interest) was involved, he was but a member of the Navy Board who have but done the bidding of the Lord Treasurer, Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton , who was responsible for royal forests.
About Thursday 14 July 1664
Terry F • Link
A "little book of law" and the sound of "a psalm sung" are surely an auspicious start for the day of Samuel Pepys!
About Thursday 14 July 1664
Terry F • Link
"My mind being doubtful what the business should be...."
doubtful = suspicious
About Wednesday 13 July 1664
Terry F • Link
And Ferrers is not where Elizabeth Pepys is AND to be et is venison pasty!
About Tuesday 12 July 1664
Terry F • Link
"AUTHORIZED??? That's the first time I've ever heard there was such a thing as an "authorized" edition of the Bible."
DonB, look at the title page of the King James Version of the Bible. By his authority it was compiled, and its 1611 title page states that it is "Appointed to be read in Churches" -- sc. Anglican Churches -- , known for 350 years as the "Authorized Version" and the phrase routinely printed on its title page. Google (AV bible).
In fact "The Great Bible [of 1539] was the first authorised edition of the Bible in English, authorised by King Henry VIII of England to be read aloud in the church services of the Church of England."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grea…
About Monday 11 July 1664
Terry F • Link
Wind? Weather's scratching breath? Pepys rapt in his mind's winding sheet in the lonely night, entertains the shuffling sound of his mortal coil.
Robert, just brilliant! LOL evocative if our Sammy's terrors!
If ye've never once been frighted
by a sound or nighttime shadow,
then ye can read Robert's tale.
About Thursday 21 August 1662
Terry F • Link
Epsom and John Dryden's "MacFlecknoe"
Re the nice post by steveh, above, here's an article about and link to the poem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacF…
About Monday 11 July 1664
Terry F • Link
"my water working at least 7 or 8 times upon the road"
Does Barnett water give us as good a purge as water at Epsom? Yes!!!
About Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Terry F • Link
An article with links constantly maintained
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roya…
About Monday 11 July 1664
Terry F • Link
"this made me fear the more, lest they might be gaga;"
"gaga" GAGA?
The first attestation of this word in the OED is 1905. Have we another Pepys première?
Alas, no. L&M have "gag'd".
About Sunday 10 July 1664
Terry F • Link
"my Lady Castlemayne's picture, finely done"
"Per L&M - who reproduce the Hinchingbrooke version, vol. V opposite p. 200." -- perhaps, Michael, in your hardback edition, but not in my PB. I gather the Lely that sold July 5th. 2007, "Portrait of a young woman and child, as Venus and Cupid, the young woman almost certainly either Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, and Duchess of Cleveland (1640-1709), or Nell Gwyn (1650-1687), full-length, naked, beside an urn, a landscape beyond," is not the Lely Pepys saw.
About Sunday 10 July 1664
Terry F • Link
The missing morning
"Up and by water, towards noon, to Somersett House, and walked to my Lord Sandwich's, and there dined with my Lady and the children."
He surely would have recorded (a) a visit to the office; (b) studying shipbuilding; (c) play with the Mrs; (d) physique.
About St Giles-in-the-Field
Terry F • Link
The church's newer website
http://www.stgilesonline.org/inde…