Annotations and comments

Terry Foreman has posted 16,447 annotations/comments since 28 June 2005.

Comments

First Reading

About Sunday 12 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

"Mrs. Becky Allen, who hath been married, and is this day churched, after her bearing a child."

In the 1559 and 1662 Book of Common Prayer "The Thanksgiving of Women after Child-Birth, Commonly called Churching of Women." http://www.eskimo.com/~lhowell/bc…

This rite was previously reported and discussed in annotations on
27 September 1661 http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… and
16 November 1662 http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

About Saturday 11 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

On umbrellas from John Evelyn

"The general use of the parasol in France and England was adopted, probably from China, about the middle of the seventeenth century. At that period, pictorial representations of it are frequently found, some of which exhibit the peculiar broad and deep canopy belonging to the large parasol of the Chinese Government officials, borne by native attendants.

"John Evelyn, in his Diary for June 22, 1664, mentions a collection of rarities shown him by one Thompson, a Catholic priest, sent by the Jesuits of Japan and China to France. Among the curiosities were 'fans like those our ladies use, but much larger, and with long handles, strangely carved and filled with Chinese characters,' which is evidently a description of the parasol." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Para…

About Saturday 11 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

Umbrellas may have been available, but likely not for Pepys

"Starting in the 16th century umbrella became popular to the western world, especially in the rainy weather of northern Europe. At first it was considered only an accessory suitable for women." http://inventors.about.com/librar…

About Saturday 11 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

The creeks at Portsmouth

L&M say the Navy Board had ordered the creeks "to be used for 4th-, 5th-, rate ships", presumably expanding the reach of Portsmouth yards.

doubtful

dubious
1548, from L. dubiosus "doubtful," from dubium "doubt," neuter of dubius "doubtful," from duo "two," in the sense of "of two minds, undecided between two things." O.E. also used tweo "two" to mean "doubt." http://www.etymonline.com/index.p…

i.e., methinks Commissioner Pett is worried.

About Saturday 11 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

Sam's "fishy" business at Chatham exposed.

L&M note that he had conducted an extensive correspondence with Commissioner Pett, whose venue this is, about "the progress of the repairs" to 'The Prince' and its launch date. The other Navy Board members may have been out of this loop; but our man would also have wanted - would have been expected by them - to inspect the yard.

About Friday 10 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

"Sam grumbles and grouses in private but in public his face to Sir Will is a lot more subordinate than he’s led us to believe."

Probably so, and he surely doesn't call Sir J. Mennes "coxcomb" to his face. In this instance, protocol likely requires him to seek the acquiescence of the others to be away from the office.

About Friday 10 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

"So far, [C Rex II] has fathered a daughter (Mary, b. 1662) and it would be assumed he was likely to father sons"

Aus. Sue, what about James Crofts, ah, James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and of Buccleuch?

About Wisbech, Cambridgeshire

TerryF  •  Link

Wisbech

"Before this area of fenland was reclaimed in the 17th century the region was about as inhospitable and as unsuitable for agriculture as you could find in England. Yet the rich soil beneath the watery fens provided a great boost to the fruit and flower growing industries, and Wisbech grew in size and importance.

"In the medieval period Wisbech was an active river port, only 4 miles from the sea, but the passage of time has extended the coastline so that Wisbech now rests 11 miles from open water...." http://www.britainexpress.com/cou…

About Friday 10 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

3rd. Of course, Pepys's account passed through other heads and a day until this Journall entry was recorded.

About Friday 10 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

E. of Clarendon accused of High Treason by the Earl of Bristol.
This Day the Earl of Bristol exhibited a Charge into this House, containing Articles of High Treason, and other heinous Misdemeanors, against Edward Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor of England: Which were read; and then the Earl of Bristol subscribed his Name thereunto.
"Articles of High Treason, and other heinous Misdemeanors, against Edward Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor of England

From: 'House of Lords Journal Volume 11: 10 July 1663', Journal of the House of Lords: volume 11: 1660-1666, pp. 554-57. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/… Date accessed: 10 July 2006.

There follow 20 Articles against him, anorder that the articles be sent the King, etc.

About Thursday 9 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

Dirk, thanks for the summary of the Trice's biz.

Still puzzling are the L&M note that in 1661, Pepys's affadavit (his "bill") charged that the defenant [T. Trice?] had failed to give proler notice to the plaintiffs [the Pepyses?] and that ther were further witnesses in Hunts. to "examine"; and now this: "I found my bill against Tom Trice dismissed, which troubles me, it being through my neglect, and will put me to charges." - i.e., that it will cost him because there was a time limit on examining further witnesses?

About Thursday 9 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

Beverages and Potions from the Elder

Elderflower wine is traditionally the most popular of Britain's country wines, having a clean and distinctive 'nose'. Connoisseurs say that it has a hint of Muscadelle in the finish. It should be served well-chilled and is a good accompaniment to light meals and salads.
Method and recipe; Elderberry wine, &c.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A37…

About Wednesday 8 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

There are doors with locks in the cellar, but the layout's unclear.

See 2 June, 1663 - "To-night I took occasion with the vintner’s man, who came by my direction to taste again my tierce of claret, to go down to the cellar with him to consult about the drawing of it; and there, to my great vexation, I find that the cellar door hath long been kept unlocked, and above half the wine drunk. I was deadly mad at it, and examined my people round, but nobody would confess it" http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

About Wednesday 8 July 1663

TerryF  •  Link

"Mrs. Turner...did bring us...some spirits of her making"

I assume this is a non-grape wine. A friend makes as a Christmas gift every year a lovely dandelion wine, but not, I suspect, Mrs. Turner. There are clues in the Wikipedia article on wine - “Wine is an alcoholic beverage produced by the fermentation of fruit, typically grapes though a number of other fruits are also quite popular - such as plum, elderberry and blackcurrant. Non-grape wines are called fruit wine or country wine….” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine

About Ludovic Stuart (10th Seigneur d'Aubigny)

TerryF  •  Link

"Ludovic Stuart, 10th Seigneur d'Aubigny was born on 14 October 1619 in March House, Drury Lane, London, England. He was the son of Esmé Stuart, 3rd Duke of Lennox and Katherine Clifton, Baroness Clifton of Leighton Bromswold....He was educated in Port-Royal des Champs. He succeeded to the title of 10th Seigneur d'Aubigny, de Berry [France, 1423] on 23 October 1642. He held the office of Chief Almoner to the Queen Dowager of England. He held the office of a Canon of Nôtre Dame, Paris. He held the office of Abbé of Haute Fontaine....He died on 11 November 1665 at age 46. He was buried in Church of the Chartreux, Paris, France." http://www.thepeerage.com/p530.htm