John Graunt has several hypotheses about the lower fertility rate of Londoners vs those in the country, i.a. CHAP. VII.8. "the minds of men in London are more thoughtfull and full of business then in the Country, where their work is corporal Labour, and Exercizes. All which promote Breedings, whereas Anxieties of the minde hinder it." http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/Gr…
Today -just as Graunt said - away on business while he could be, Mr. Pepys seems to have spent a long evening with his wife, but he was protecting himself against a further chill, i.e., against illness, and we know 'twas in the mornings that he attempted Breeding with the Mrs.
I suppressed an impulse to describe the attitude of many of us regarding (statistically) most diseases and infections (that we treat with off the shelf remedies, and get over relatively quickly, not to mention those for which we have received innoculations) - namely, that it is cavalier - and then the 17c connotation of the word occurred to me.
Robert, thanks very much for reminding us how what we would regard as the slightest thing could be fatal in Pepys's age, and how germane were John Graunt's *Bills of Mortality* (1662). http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/Gr… which lists the oddest things as an apparent cause of death, and John Evelyn's F U M I F U G I U M (1661) http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Le…
"Up...and so got me ready, with my clothes, breeches and warm stockings...[at dinner-time] at home and shifted myself" - remarking on the dressing and changing clothes, perhaps because he's understandably so preoccupied with the cold and dark, as it impinges on what he can accomplish this day.
"This day Sir G. Carteret did tell us at the table, that the Navy (excepting what is due to the Yards upon the quarter now going on, and what few bills he hath not heard of) is quite out of debt;"
Ah - the parenthetical phrase. Nice riff on that, Robert, and on what war budgets still require, 343 years on, as Todd pointed out.
Recall the many ships' crews that have been paid by "tickets" - promissory notes like pawnshop receipts, redeemed on the open market at a percentage of their face value - and the tumult that resulted, both from below and above. No wonder Pepys ends this day's entry glad at news that might bring the Navy Office "some peace and creditt."
In light of what Glyn rightly says about the Navy Board's generally good husbandry, I know not what to make of L&M's comment that Sir G. Carteret exaggerates and cite sources. They also cite a Navy debt in November 1660 of over £1,5 Ml., but give no further balance-sheet numbers.
St Andrews Day, Nov. 30, a major feast day in Great Britain - is designated a Collar Day by the Sovereign and a Red Letter Day on the legal calendar. http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/cu…
On the model of what referees do suggested by Jesse (which makes sense), we can expect Messrs. Pepys and Clerke to meet however long it takes to negotiate a settlement; today the introductions and the differences are explored in brief.
"it was about taking of a mulct upon a purser for not keeping guard at Chatham when I was there"
Penn was bringing up something that happened at Chatham when Pepys was trying to show Commissioner Pett how to maintain proper order in a shipyard - the latter had been willing to excuse lax conduct by folks in what were, in effect, his clientele/extended family. Penn is siding with Pett, who'd been up to London, and to the Navy Office to review what had occurred at Chatham.
"Admiral William Penn....loaned large sums to the King's ambitious building programme but, after his death, the cash strapped King could not repay the loan, when requested to do so by Penn's son (also named William). So the monarch offered him land in America instead, provided that it would be named after the favoured late Admiral. Thus the state of Pennsylvania came into being. Its [fraudulent] arms still incorporate those of the man whose name it bears." http://www.history.uk.com/article…
Comments
First Reading
About Mr Gentleman (a)
Terry F • Link
Mr. Gentleman's daughter, Jane, was Elizabeth Pepys's chambermaid, as of 31 August 1663.
About Jane Gentleman
Terry F • Link
Jane Gentleman, Elizabeth Pepys's chambermaid as of 31 August 1663; recommended by her kinswoman Mrs. Mary Harper. http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
Daughter of Mr. Gentleman http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
About Saturday 5 December 1663
Terry F • Link
Todd, your are correct: L&M say of "my book of tales" - "Untraced."
About Friday 4 December 1663
Terry F • Link
Pepys, business and childlessness
John Graunt has several hypotheses about the lower fertility rate of Londoners vs those in the country, i.a. CHAP. VII.8. "the minds of men in London are more thoughtfull and full of business then in the Country, where their work is corporal Labour, and Exercizes. All which promote Breedings, whereas Anxieties of the minde hinder it."
http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/Gr…
Today -just as Graunt said - away on business while he could be, Mr. Pepys seems to have spent a long evening with his wife, but he was protecting himself against a further chill, i.e., against illness, and we know 'twas in the mornings that he attempted Breeding with the Mrs.
About Friday 4 December 1663
Terry F • Link
I suppressed an impulse to describe the attitude of many of us regarding (statistically) most diseases and infections (that we treat with off the shelf remedies, and get over relatively quickly, not to mention those for which we have received innoculations) - namely, that it is cavalier - and then the 17c connotation of the word occurred to me.
About Friday 4 December 1663
Terry F • Link
Robert, thanks very much for reminding us how what we would regard as the slightest thing could be fatal in Pepys's age, and how germane were John Graunt's *Bills of Mortality* (1662). http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/Gr… which lists the oddest things as an apparent cause of death,
and John Evelyn's F U M I F U G I U M (1661) http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Le…
About Friday 4 December 1663
Terry F • Link
Pepys still has no boy at home
"Up...and so got me ready, with my clothes, breeches and warm stockings...[at dinner-time] at home and shifted myself" - remarking on the dressing and changing clothes, perhaps because he's understandably so preoccupied with the cold and dark, as it impinges on what he can accomplish this day.
About Thursday 3 December 1663
Terry F • Link
Carteret's Qualification's not to be overlooked
"This day Sir G. Carteret did tell us at the table, that the Navy (excepting what is due to the Yards upon the quarter now going on, and what few bills he hath not heard of) is quite out of debt;"
Ah - the parenthetical phrase. Nice riff on that, Robert, and on what war budgets still require, 343 years on, as Todd pointed out.
Recall the many ships' crews that have been paid by "tickets" - promissory notes like pawnshop receipts, redeemed on the open market at a percentage of their face value - and the tumult that resulted, both from below and above. No wonder Pepys ends this day's entry glad at news that might bring the Navy Office "some peace and creditt."
About Thursday 3 December 1663
Terry F • Link
In light of what Glyn rightly says about the Navy Board's generally good husbandry, I know not what to make of L&M's comment that Sir G. Carteret exaggerates and cite sources. They also cite a Navy debt in November 1660 of over £1,5 Ml., but give no further balance-sheet numbers.
About Thursday 3 December 1663
Terry F • Link
"a Runlett of Tent"
A cask of red wine (vino tinto) - Select Glossary.
About St Andrew's Day
Terry F • Link
St Andrews Day, Nov. 30, a major feast day in Great Britain - is designated a Collar Day by the Sovereign and a Red Letter Day on the legal calendar. http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/cu…
About Wednesday 2 December 1663
Terry F • Link
On the model of what referees do suggested by Jesse (which makes sense), we can expect Messrs. Pepys and Clerke to meet however long it takes to negotiate a settlement; today the introductions and the differences are explored in brief.
About Wednesday 2 December 1663
Terry F • Link
Mr. Bland vs. Mr. Custis
Cf. 25 November "Mr. Bland came to me and had good discourse, and he has chose me a referee for him in a business," http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
A "referee" in this context seems to be something like a "second" in a duel, since Mr. Custis has Mr. Clerke as his referee.
About Tuesday 1 December 1663
Terry F • Link
So a sol is a Sou is 5 centimes = a nickel X 20 = US $1 - a nice drunk at that time, depending on how many split the payoff?
About Tuesday 1 December 1663
Terry F • Link
Alderman William Crowe
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
About Tuesday 1 December 1663
Terry F • Link
"he did give the pilotts 20 sols to drink"
A bribe too cheap? What country used a sol in the 17th century? How much was it worth?
The sol was used in Argentina and is still used in Peru. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol(…
About Monday 30 November 1663
Terry F • Link
We've also seen Pepys's opinion/demonstrations of how incompetent Penn and the other Old Sea Dogs are when it comes to managing the other shipyards.
About Monday 30 November 1663
Terry F • Link
"it was about taking of a mulct upon a purser for not keeping guard at Chatham when I was there"
Penn was bringing up something that happened at Chatham when Pepys was trying to show Commissioner Pett how to maintain proper order in a shipyard - the latter had been willing to excuse lax conduct by folks in what were, in effect, his clientele/extended family. Penn is siding with Pett, who'd been up to London, and to the Navy Office to review what had occurred at Chatham.
About Admiral William Penn
Terry F • Link
"Admiral William Penn....loaned large sums to the King's ambitious building programme but, after his death, the cash strapped King could not repay the loan, when requested to do so by Penn's son (also named William). So the monarch offered him land in America instead, provided that it would be named after the favoured late Admiral. Thus the state of Pennsylvania came into being. Its [fraudulent] arms still incorporate those of the man whose name it bears." http://www.history.uk.com/article…
About Monday 30 November 1663
Terry F • Link
Bradford, L&M read as Wheatley does, save for the editorial [be?].