On the Parish: My father (born 1917) often referred to being in receipt of unemployment benefits (i.e. on the dole) as "on the Parish", so the idea of the parish helping when you had no other source of income lasted well into the 20th century, even though the government had taken over that responsibility.
I knew that farmers and other country folk always got "up with the lark" as animals can't tell the time, so need milking, feeding etc. just after dawn. Here, though, we see that town folk also had their working hours ruled by the sun, not the clock, even though church clocks must have been fairly common by this time.
"...there eat a bit of roast meat off of the spit." He could still get this in most parts of London. We now call it a Donner Kebab, the food of choice for late night revellers.
half-square method: My theory: (using Wim's quotation) In the days before calculators, logarithm tables (Newton and Liebnitz were still to publish their ideas) and universal mathematics education, calculating the area or volume of a board would be a major undertaking for anyone other than a specialist. There would though be tables of squares, I assume, as that is a common and manageable multiplication subset. A complete multiplication table of anything other than small integers, i.e. the "Times tables", would be huge. So, to find the area of an arbitary rectangle, the unwitting (or unscrupulous) would add together the long and short sides, half the sum (i.e. take the average length) then look up the area in a table of squares. It works when the two lengths are similar, but gets more inaccurate as the lengths differ, so by this method a board 10'6" by 9'6" would give an area of 100 sq ft = (9.5 + 10.5)/2 = 20/2 = 10 squared (against 99 3/4 sq ft actual) Whereas a board 40" by 20" gives a half-square method area of 900 sq inches against an actual of 800 sq inches. In both cases the buyer gets less than he pays for.
We should be discussing Pepys' diary, not the Rev. Josselin's but for (off-topic) clarification, buggery can mean either: Anal intercourse (sodomy) or sexual congress with an animal (bestiality). I think it is the latter here, so not comparable with the "sailor's vice". Another example of this naval stereotype is the rendering of "Wine, women and song" into the sailors' ironic "Rum, bum and concertina"
Who would be Lady Castlemaine's equivalent today? Let’s see: Charles having a semi-public married mistress while being himself married to a publicly acceptable trophy bride? Why does the name Parker Bowles spring to mind?
If you look at the old maps: http://www.motco.com/map/81002/Se… (1742, but most churches were rebuilt after the great fire) you can see churches on almost every block: As well as St Olaves, there are: All Hallows, St Dunstans, 2 x St Catherines, St Mary at hill, St Margaret Patron, St Dionisis, St Gabriel, etc. within bell ringing distance of Seething lane. Surely at least one chimed the hours.
How large was the hole? Like others, I think, I assumed this was a drilled peep-hole. (drills and augers did exist) Perhaps the "hole" is actually an unglazed internal window or hatchway into the next office, large enough for him to see the whole office without pressing his eye to the wall. That would explain why it took an hour to make. If it is for keeping an eye on the clerks, it doesn't have to be secret.
"Up while the chimes went four" If it was an alarm, it wouldn't need to strike four. My bet is that this is the church clock (St Olave's?) chiming so he knows it is four. He says "While the chimes..." not "When the chimes..." so probably getting up while (i.e. during the time that) it struck, not because of it.
Re: waking up at 4 O'Clock I live near London. Recently I have been waking up regularly at 5:00 BST or 4:00 GMT like Sam. It is a combination of the sunrise and the dawn chorus. There were probably even more birds singing in Pepys day than now. It is staying asleep through the light and noise, not waking, that is difficult at this time of year.
Judicial birching of young offenders: Abolished in mainland Britain in 1948, but remained until 1976 in the Isle of Man. (but law not repealed until 1993!) See http://www.corpun.com/manx.htm for pictures of the vicious hazel birches. Wayneman probably got off lighter than someone birched in the 1960/70s. The cane in British (private) schools lasted even longer.
...we are very near the longest day of the year. Because of the 10 days difference between Pepys' calendar and the actual seasons, The summer solstice/longest day was on his 10/11th June, so he is on the long downward slope to winter. Winter draw(er)s on.
"Up by 4 o'clock in the morning, and read…” sunrise is at 03:40ish (allowing for transit times and innaccurate 17th century time keeping) on this day, just two days after the solstice, so he wouldn’t even need to light a candle to do his reading. He has 16 hours 42 mins of daylight (plus a long twilight) to do his daily business, and have plenty of time for a pleasant walk to Half-way House. The joys of midsummer.
...wind do now and then torment me..: All those peas he has been eating? "Hark, hark, I hear thunder, Must be the pease I ate last Sundah..." Cumgranissalis is probablby old enough to remember this old childrens rhyme (and its crude ending!)
Comments
First Reading
About Thursday 18 September 1662
GrahamT • Link
On the Parish:
My father (born 1917) often referred to being in receipt of unemployment benefits (i.e. on the dole) as "on the Parish", so the idea of the parish helping when you had no other source of income lasted well into the 20th century, even though the government had taken over that responsibility.
About Sunday 24 August 1662
GrahamT • Link
I knew that farmers and other country folk always got "up with the lark" as animals can't tell the time, so need milking, feeding etc. just after dawn. Here, though, we see that town folk also had their working hours ruled by the sun, not the clock, even though church clocks must have been fairly common by this time.
About Monday 25 August 1662
GrahamT • Link
"...there eat a bit of roast meat off of the spit."
He could still get this in most parts of London. We now call it a Donner Kebab, the food of choice for late night revellers.
About Monday 18 August 1662
GrahamT • Link
half-square method:
My theory: (using Wim's quotation) In the days before calculators, logarithm tables (Newton and Liebnitz were still to publish their ideas) and universal mathematics education, calculating the area or volume of a board would be a major undertaking for anyone other than a specialist. There would though be tables of squares, I assume, as that is a common and manageable multiplication subset. A complete multiplication table of anything other than small integers, i.e. the "Times tables", would be huge.
So, to find the area of an arbitary rectangle, the unwitting (or unscrupulous) would add together the long and short sides, half the sum (i.e. take the average length) then look up the area in a table of squares. It works when the two lengths are similar, but gets more inaccurate as the lengths differ, so by this method a board 10'6" by 9'6" would give an area of 100 sq ft = (9.5 + 10.5)/2 = 20/2 = 10 squared (against 99 3/4 sq ft actual)
Whereas a board 40" by 20" gives a half-square method area of 900 sq inches against an actual of 800 sq inches. In both cases the buyer gets less than he pays for.
About Sunday 20 July 1662
GrahamT • Link
We should be discussing Pepys' diary, not the Rev. Josselin's but for (off-topic) clarification, buggery can mean either:
Anal intercourse (sodomy) or sexual congress with an animal (bestiality). I think it is the latter here, so not comparable with the "sailor's vice". Another example of this naval stereotype is the rendering of "Wine, women and song" into the sailors' ironic "Rum, bum and concertina"
About Wednesday 16 July 1662
GrahamT • Link
Who would be Lady Castlemaine's equivalent today?
Let’s see: Charles having a semi-public married mistress while being himself married to a publicly acceptable trophy bride?
Why does the name Parker Bowles spring to mind?
About Thursday 17 July 1662
GrahamT • Link
(A)Quittance:
Release from a debt, an obligation, or a penalty. (Dictionary.com)
Quittance is still used in legal documents.
About Wednesday 2 July 1662
GrahamT • Link
If you look at the old maps:
http://www.motco.com/map/81002/Se…
(1742, but most churches were rebuilt after the great fire) you can see churches on almost every block:
As well as St Olaves, there are:
All Hallows, St Dunstans, 2 x St Catherines, St Mary at hill, St Margaret Patron, St Dionisis, St Gabriel, etc. within bell ringing distance of Seething lane. Surely at least one chimed the hours.
About Sunday 13 July 1662
GrahamT • Link
Nowadays, we give someone, with whom we are angry, a piece of our mind, but Sam goes one better: "...I told him my whole mind..."
About Wednesday 9 July 1662
GrahamT • Link
How large was the hole?
Like others, I think, I assumed this was a drilled peep-hole. (drills and augers did exist) Perhaps the "hole" is actually an unglazed internal window or hatchway into the next office, large enough for him to see the whole office without pressing his eye to the wall. That would explain why it took an hour to make.
If it is for keeping an eye on the clerks, it doesn't have to be secret.
About Wednesday 2 July 1662
Grahamt • Link
"Up while the chimes went four"
If it was an alarm, it wouldn't need to strike four. My bet is that this is the church clock (St Olave's?) chiming so he knows it is four. He says "While the chimes..." not "When the chimes..." so probably getting up while (i.e. during the time that) it struck, not because of it.
About Sunday 29 June 1662
GrahamT • Link
Re: waking up at 4 O'Clock
I live near London. Recently I have been waking up regularly at 5:00 BST or 4:00 GMT like Sam. It is a combination of the sunrise and the dawn chorus. There were probably even more birds singing in Pepys day than now. It is staying asleep through the light and noise, not waking, that is difficult at this time of year.
About Leads
Grahamt • Link
Pronounced "led" as in the metal lead (Pb) which covered the roof. I got this wrong when I first read it.
About Sunday 22 June 1662
GrahamT • Link
Dropped a child:
Still common in British slang as "dropped a sprog" usually meant in a more or less derogatory way.
About Saturday 21 June 1662
GrahamT • Link
Judicial birching of young offenders:
Abolished in mainland Britain in 1948, but remained until 1976 in the Isle of Man. (but law not repealed until 1993!) See http://www.corpun.com/manx.htm for pictures of the vicious hazel birches. Wayneman probably got off lighter than someone birched in the 1960/70s.
The cane in British (private) schools lasted even longer.
About Saturday 21 June 1662
GrahamT • Link
Master Birch birched:
Wayneman has the wrong surname for a rascal. It could put the idea into his master's mind.
About Tuesday 17 June 1662
GrahamT • Link
...we are very near the longest day of the year.
Because of the 10 days difference between Pepys' calendar and the actual seasons, The summer solstice/longest day was on his 10/11th June, so he is on the long downward slope to winter. Winter draw(er)s on.
About Friday 13 June 1662
GrahamT • Link
"Up by 4 o'clock in the morning, and read…”
sunrise is at 03:40ish (allowing for transit times and innaccurate 17th century time keeping) on this day, just two days after the solstice, so he wouldn’t even need to light a candle to do his reading.
He has 16 hours 42 mins of daylight (plus a long twilight) to do his daily business, and have plenty of time for a pleasant walk to Half-way House. The joys of midsummer.
About Saturday 31 May 1662
GrahamT • Link
de claro:
Clear: as in I have £350 clear, i.e. after all debts are … cleared.
About Saturday 31 May 1662
GrahamT • Link
...wind do now and then torment me..:
All those peas he has been eating?
"Hark, hark, I hear thunder,
Must be the pease I ate last Sundah..."
Cumgranissalis is probablby old enough to remember this old childrens rhyme (and its crude ending!)