"Wouldn't it be easier...to find a new chambermaid than another good cook?"
Perhaps not: if the chambermaid is to be Elizabeth's intimate and companion on some trips abroad (shopping, etc..), Elizabeth is seeking a compatible and Samuel her contentment? Personality upstairs, technical skills down.
"But it was pleasant to hear the boys, and particularly one little one, that I demanded the business. He told me that that had never been done in the city since it was a city, two prentices put in the pillory, and that it ought not to be so."
What a splendid, fearless and direct news-reporter is our Mr. Pepys!
"to hang up a Presbyter John (a short coat and a long gowne interchangeably) in all the Courts of England."
The short coat and long gown I take to refer to the Puritans and Bishops, respectively. I take it Creighton regards them as equally (interchangeanly) bad rulers, and the "Presbyter John" effigy to be a constant reminder of a better way.
(21) Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, [even] the way [which] thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. (22) How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.
I too wondered, Australian Susan. In what capacity John, Sr., and Tom Pepys paid chimney-tax on the house is unclear from the L&M Companion. Age 60, Papa moved to Brampton in 1661 as soon as he inherited it from his brother Robert; now the controlling interest in the London house apparently reverts to him on Tom's death. I wonder still.
"my father...coming to advise with me about Tom's house"
This had been the house-with-tailor-shop-in-front in St. Bride's parish, off Fleet St., that John, the paterfamilias, had himself succeeded his master in - had owned and occupied, with his wife Margaret & family, during his time in the trade. Not a light-hearted matter for him, for sure. Who will take possession of the place? John, Jr., perhaps?
Comments
First Reading
About Monday 28 March 1664
Terry F • Link
"We had excellent good table-talke, some of which I have entered in my book of stories."
Rats! And the rest? Love the rambling entries full of tales and rumor!
About Sunday 27 March 1664
Terry F • Link
"Wouldn't it be easier...to find a new chambermaid than another good cook?"
Perhaps not: if the chambermaid is to be Elizabeth's intimate and companion on some trips abroad (shopping, etc..), Elizabeth is seeking a compatible and Samuel her contentment? Personality upstairs, technical skills down.
About Sunday 27 March 1664
Terry F • Link
"But it was pleasant to hear the boys, and particularly one little one, that I demanded the business. He told me that that had never been done in the city since it was a city, two prentices put in the pillory, and that it ought not to be so."
What a splendid, fearless and direct news-reporter is our Mr. Pepys!
About Sunday 27 March 1664
Terry F • Link
"it being fine moonshine with my wife an houre in the garden"
Mais ou sont les plombes d'antan?
Before the renovations they would walk on the leads, and talk.
About Saturday 26 March 1664
Terry F • Link
Wheatley's Monarch had no cods
It has seemed to me that the Queen's person was being protected by the gendered squeamishness of her subjects. Pepys was not of that mind.
About Saturday 26 March 1664
Terry F • Link
"a map of Tangier...drawn by Jonas Moore"
L&M say the only extant copy is in the British Museum, but it seems to be in the British Library: http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/EU8ANTIM…
About Saturday 26 March 1664
Terry F • Link
Stone feast today
A meal worthy of the occasion, family fireworks, drums and trained bands!
And the weather celebrates in is way....
And Grahamt's annote: http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
About Friday 25 March 1664
Terry F • Link
"to hang up a Presbyter John (a short coat and a long gowne interchangeably) in all the Courts of England."
The short coat and long gown I take to refer to the Puritans and Bishops, respectively. I take it Creighton regards them as equally (interchangeanly) bad rulers, and the "Presbyter John" effigy to be a constant reminder of a better way.
Or am I way off base?!
About Friday 25 March 1664
Terry F • Link
"It was the worst sermon I ever heard him make..., and yet it was good"
Might the fault found be how off-topic of the Virgin Birth the sermon was, and its merit how scenic and pointed the excursus were?!
(Jane Shore, indeed!)
About Friday 25 March 1664
Terry F • Link
Lady Day
Today is the first day of (fiscal) 1664. No more 1663/64.
About Friday 25 March 1664
Terry F • Link
"the proceeding of the Long Parliament against my Lord Strafford."
For the story of the history and fate of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom…
About Friday 25 March 1664
Terry F • Link
Jeremiah 31:21-22
(21) Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, [even] the way [which] thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. (22) How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.
As Pepys notes, a proof-text of the Virgin Birth.
About Thursday 24 March 1663/64
Terry F • Link
I too wondered, Australian Susan. In what capacity John, Sr., and Tom Pepys paid chimney-tax on the house is unclear from the L&M Companion. Age 60, Papa moved to Brampton in 1661 as soon as he inherited it from his brother Robert; now the controlling interest in the London house apparently reverts to him on Tom's death. I wonder still.
About Thursday 24 March 1663/64
Terry F • Link
"my father...coming to advise with me about Tom's house"
This had been the house-with-tailor-shop-in-front in St. Bride's parish, off Fleet St., that John, the paterfamilias, had himself succeeded his master in - had owned and occupied, with his wife Margaret & family, during his time in the trade. Not a light-hearted matter for him, for sure. Who will take possession of the place? John, Jr., perhaps?
About Thursday 24 March 1663/64
Terry F • Link
"And thence walked back, Captain Grove with me, talking;"
Punctuation being "almost all editorial," as L&M remind us, their comma clarifies.
About Wednesday 23 March 1663/64
Terry F • Link
limed and smiling
I retract 'raped': this bitch is 'proud' (in season for mating).
About Wednesday 23 March 1663/64
Terry F • Link
How many merchants in Parliament?
L&M count in Commons 20-24 and another 7 who had been, of nearly 500 (? - http://www.econlib.org/library/YP… - correction welcome).
About Wednesday 23 March 1663/64
Terry F • Link
"by holding down the bitch helped him to lime her"
so transcribe L&M the bitch-rape....
About Tuesday 22 March 1663/64
Terry F • Link
"proud"
3. Excited by sexual desire; -- applied particularly to the females of some animals. --Sir T. Browne.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) http://www.dictionary.net/proud
In the U.S., Southerners commonly say they are "proud" when they are "glad."
I really doubt they are usually aware of the meaning Pepys intends.
About Tuesday 22 March 1663/64
Terry F • Link
"she was helping him to lime her" (L&M)
lime (v.) = to mate (L&M Select Glossary)