A sovereign was one pound: This was reintroduced by Charles II as the commonwealth had removed the sovereign - both king and coin - from circulation. In cockney slang, one pound is a "sov", though a gold sovereign coin is worth far more than its £1 face value. When a £1 coin was introduced a few years ago, it was nicknamed the Thatcher, because it was thick, brassy, and thought it was a sovereign.
Ox Cheek as described above, sounds very like tête de veau (calf's head) I have eaten in France. The cheek is fine, it is the eyebrows and nostrils that are off-putting.
Aspirin is acetyl-salicylic acid. The salicylic from the root word salix = willow. Willow bark is a traditional analgesic, the active ingredient of which was synthesised and marketed by Beyer as Aspirin (a trademark.)
Re: "the finished strips of meat were also known as “boucan”" Smoke cured meat (pork); This sounds very much like "bacon" to me. Is there an etymological link? (I have lost my SOED disc, so can't check myself)
Re: "Nakedness/scanty dress wasn’t as common then as now, not even in private." Not so during the Restoration. Maybe during the Interregnum and certainly later, during the Victorian period. Earlier annotations and Liza Picard both suggest that it was normal to sleep naked then, so Sam would certainly have seen at least Beth in her birthday suit, and maybe the servants too, in their own home. We also know that Restoration theatre was not shy in showing scantily clad people on stage. Women's fashions also often showed off the breasts; a kerchief being the only covering in many cases. It was not a big thing then, so wouldn't draw too much comment from Sam. Prudity goes in cycles; it is not a steadily eroding phenomenon, so we are not necessarily less prudish than folks in the 17th century.
Git: As well as Alf Garnett calling Cherie Blair's father a Scouse git, another scouser, John Lennon, used it in "I'm So Tired" (White Album): "... Although I'm so tired I'll have another cigarette And curse Sir Walter Raleigh He was such a stupid git."
Knight's Castile soap was certainly still available in the 1950's, ( http://www.scienceandsociety.co.u… ) probably beyond, though I haven't seen it lately.
Coupe-papier: Some hardback books are still sold in France with the edges uncut, My beau-pere (Father-in-law) always had a coupe-papier at his elbow when reading a new book. Yes, it was also used for opening letters.
Spelling: There is a theory that English spelling started to standardise with the introduction, and monopolisation, of the printing press by Caxton in the 15th century. What he printed was the only (Middle) English spelling some readers saw, as most manuscripts were in Latin; though, even he wasn't consistent with his spelling. When other presses started printing, they poached Caxton's workers, so spreading the word - literally in this case - as they carried Caxton's spelling with them. The fact that the Book of Common Prayer and the King James Bible were printed rather than hand-written, helped to crystalise standard spellings and present them to a wider audience. We know though, from our own readings, that there was still quite some flexibility in spelling in the 17th century. Finally, good old Dr. Johnson published his definitive - for the time - list of spellings; until Noah Webster and the compilers of the OED came along, that is. Centuries of moves toward standardisation seem to be dissolving away with the internet and phone texting. It now seems "you are" is abbreviated to "your" instead of "you're", and University graduates don't know the difference between sour and soar, or lever and leaver. (Seen this week.)
Imaginary wards? Exchange Ward was a real ward in the City of Westminster, District of St Martins in the field, in the 17th century, and at least until the 19th. This use of ward is also in OED - 2nd noun form. Directional -ward is usually shown either conjoined - eastward - or with a hyphen - port-ward, and would be "I to Change-ward..." rather than "I to THE Change ward..." Exchange Ward includes the Strand.
Re: Plough Sunday/Monday: After the blessing, the locals plough-boys would drag the plough around the village (fortified by a few pints) demanding money or food from inhabitents. If none was forthcoming, the ground in front of the door would be ploughed up, making it difficult for those within to enter and exit over the furrows. (think trick-or-treat)
Servants: I would like to agree about WW II being the end of general use of servants. My maternal grandmother and great-grandmother were "in service" (as parlour-maids I think) until they married. This was the norm for working class girls in the early part of last century, often starting work at 10-11 years old. However, my mother left school during the war and worked as a clerk at the local mine - a job that would have been a male preserve before the war. A similar thing happened with my father's sisters. None of my relatives since the war have worked as servants. The use of servants by the middle classes has also disappeared since the war - if you discount au pairs and cleaning ladies!
Doting, I was taking the meaining of doting as: "extravagantly or foolishly loving and indulgent" as in doting parents, doting lover, etc. I had only seen dotage and dotard in the "foolish" sense, not doting.
The closest English equivalent of haute bourgeois is upper-middle class, i.e. those in the professions, (lawyers, academics, etc.) as opposed to trade (middle class)or inherited wealth (upper class) $65/£40 per head for a meal? Yes that is about right for an upper middle class dinner party, but cheap for a restaurant. I would think Pepys is still firmly middle class, but mixing much more with all strata of society, from peasant to king, than his modern equivalent would. Of course these fine class distinctions really only came into use in the 19th century. Before that it was "us and them", and Cromwell even tried (unsuccessfully) to get rid of "them".
In the UK cider is always "hard" (else it is apple juice - clear or cloudy) It was originally apple wine with a high alcholic content, but was made weaker to avoid paying high excise duties. Now supermarket cider is between 2% and 5% alcholol, but West Country "Scrumpy" is much stronger. It was said the West Country pubs wouldn't sell "foreigners" (anyone without a west country accent) more than two pints.
Comments
First Reading
About Friday 27 March 1663
GrahamT • Link
A sovereign was one pound:
This was reintroduced by Charles II as the commonwealth had removed the sovereign - both king and coin - from circulation.
In cockney slang, one pound is a "sov", though a gold sovereign coin is worth far more than its £1 face value.
When a £1 coin was introduced a few years ago, it was nicknamed the Thatcher, because it was thick, brassy, and thought it was a sovereign.
About London birthday meet up, 25th Feb
Grahamt • Link
My version of the same event:
(People in the same place)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7906…
About Saturday 28 February 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Ox Cheek as described above, sounds very like tête de veau (calf's head) I have eaten in France. The cheek is fine, it is the eyebrows and nostrils that are off-putting.
About Wormwood
Grahamt • Link
Aspirin is acetyl-salicylic acid. The salicylic from the root word salix = willow. Willow bark is a traditional analgesic, the active ingredient of which was synthesised and marketed by Beyer as Aspirin (a trademark.)
About Monday 23 February 1662/63
Grahamt • Link
Re: "the finished strips of meat were also known as “boucan”"
Smoke cured meat (pork); This sounds very much like "bacon" to me. Is there an etymological link? (I have lost my SOED disc, so can't check myself)
About Monday 23 February 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Sorry,
That should have been Claire Tomalin, not Liza Picard. Apologies to both 17th century historians.
About Monday 23 February 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Re: "Nakedness/scanty dress wasn’t as common then as now, not even in private."
Not so during the Restoration. Maybe during the Interregnum and certainly later, during the Victorian period. Earlier annotations and Liza Picard both suggest that it was normal to sleep naked then, so Sam would certainly have seen at least Beth in her birthday suit, and maybe the servants too, in their own home. We also know that Restoration theatre was not shy in showing scantily clad people on stage. Women's fashions also often showed off the breasts; a kerchief being the only covering in many cases. It was not a big thing then, so wouldn't draw too much comment from Sam. Prudity goes in cycles; it is not a steadily eroding phenomenon, so we are not necessarily less prudish than folks in the 17th century.
About Monday 23 February 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Up by times:
Is this a mis-scan for "Up betimes" (early), or another form of the same thing?
About Monday 23 February 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
bends in the hams...
I think Wim has it. That makes much more sense.
About London birthday meet up, 25th Feb
GrahamT • Link
I hope to make it, if the weather doesn't become too bad.
About Sunday 22 February 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Git:
As well as Alf Garnett calling Cherie Blair's father a Scouse git, another scouser, John Lennon, used it in "I'm So Tired" (White Album):
"...
Although I'm so tired I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid git."
About Thursday 12 February 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Knight's Castile soap was certainly still available in the 1950's, ( http://www.scienceandsociety.co.u… ) probably beyond, though I haven't seen it lately.
About Friday 6 February 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Coupe-papier:
Some hardback books are still sold in France with the edges uncut, My beau-pere (Father-in-law) always had a coupe-papier at his elbow when reading a new book. Yes, it was also used for opening letters.
About Saturday 31 January 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Spelling:
There is a theory that English spelling started to standardise with the introduction, and monopolisation, of the printing press by Caxton in the 15th century. What he printed was the only (Middle) English spelling some readers saw, as most manuscripts were in Latin; though, even he wasn't consistent with his spelling. When other presses started printing, they poached Caxton's workers, so spreading the word - literally in this case - as they carried Caxton's spelling with them.
The fact that the Book of Common Prayer and the King James Bible were printed rather than hand-written, helped to crystalise standard spellings and present them to a wider audience. We know though, from our own readings, that there was still quite some flexibility in spelling in the 17th century.
Finally, good old Dr. Johnson published his definitive - for the time - list of spellings; until Noah Webster and the compilers of the OED came along, that is.
Centuries of moves toward standardisation seem to be dissolving away with the internet and phone texting. It now seems "you are" is abbreviated to "your" instead of "you're", and University graduates don't know the difference between sour and soar, or lever and leaver. (Seen this week.)
About Tuesday 30 December 1662
Grahamt • Link
Imaginary wards?
Exchange Ward was a real ward in the City of Westminster, District of St Martins in the field, in the 17th century, and at least until the 19th.
This use of ward is also in OED - 2nd noun form. Directional -ward is usually shown either conjoined - eastward - or with a hyphen - port-ward, and would be "I to Change-ward..." rather than "I to THE Change ward..." Exchange Ward includes the Strand.
About Wednesday 21 January 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Re: Plough Sunday/Monday:
After the blessing, the locals plough-boys would drag the plough around the village (fortified by a few pints) demanding money or food from inhabitents. If none was forthcoming, the ground in front of the door would be ploughed up, making it difficult for those within to enter and exit over the furrows. (think trick-or-treat)
About Tuesday 13 January 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Servants:
I would like to agree about WW II being the end of general use of servants. My maternal grandmother and great-grandmother were "in service" (as parlour-maids I think) until they married. This was the norm for working class girls in the early part of last century, often starting work at 10-11 years old. However, my mother left school during the war and worked as a clerk at the local mine - a job that would have been a male preserve before the war. A similar thing happened with my father's sisters. None of my relatives since the war have worked as servants. The use of servants by the middle classes has also disappeared since the war - if you discount au pairs and cleaning ladies!
About Saturday 10 January 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Doting,
I was taking the meaining of doting as:
"extravagantly or foolishly loving and indulgent" as in doting parents, doting lover, etc. I had only seen dotage and dotard in the "foolish" sense, not doting.
About Tuesday 13 January 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
The closest English equivalent of haute bourgeois is upper-middle class, i.e. those in the professions, (lawyers, academics, etc.) as opposed to trade (middle class)or inherited wealth (upper class)
$65/£40 per head for a meal? Yes that is about right for an upper middle class dinner party, but cheap for a restaurant. I would think Pepys is still firmly middle class, but mixing much more with all strata of society, from peasant to king, than his modern equivalent would.
Of course these fine class distinctions really only came into use in the 19th century. Before that it was "us and them", and Cromwell even tried (unsuccessfully) to get rid of "them".
About Cider
Grahamt • Link
In the UK cider is always "hard" (else it is apple juice - clear or cloudy)
It was originally apple wine with a high alcholic content, but was made weaker to avoid paying high excise duties. Now supermarket cider is between 2% and 5% alcholol, but West Country "Scrumpy" is much stronger. It was said the West Country pubs wouldn't sell "foreigners" (anyone without a west country accent) more than two pints.