Mary, I think he is using wife as in common law wife, i.e. more than a mistress. Naturally if she is still married she cannot be his lawfully wed wife, but they can live together as husband and wife. As they are so open about their affection, Pepys promotes her from private mistress to public wife.
On 5th February, Pepys wrote: "...there met Mr. Hill, newly come to town, and with him the Houblands, preparing for their ship’s and his going to Tangier..." So maybe Tangier rather than Lisbon this time.
Major Thompson was mentioned in relation to Samuel Pepys last night on "Who Do You Think You Are", a genealogy programme on the BBC. The passage above mentioning him was read out. He was an ancestor of actor Kevin Whately, who British readers may remember from "Morse" and "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet"
Mary, If you use Windows, Times New Roman contains eth - ð and thorn - þ. They are also available in any Icelandic font. The similarity of written eth to a small d may have helped the transition from murðer to murder. I thought the initial th sound was usually thorn as in þe = the, which, when printed with a Latin character set not containing thorn, became ye, as in ye olde pizza shoppe ;-)
@Robin Peters: Good point about the ebbing tide, but this is upstream from Teddington so not likely to have had much effect. Kingston is downstream from Hampton court though, so a quick, easy row for the boatman anyway. The Kingston Bridge was definitely there between Hampton Wick and Kingston. There has been a bridge since the 13th Century, and it was the next bridge upstream from London bridge until 1729, so was a very important crossing place (and still is). Hampton court is on the Hampton Wick side of the river, so Kingston bridge is the only river crossing required to get from there to Kingston. (If you know the area, you will have realised the pointer for Kingston on the linked map is in the wrong place by about two kilometres.)
Re: "we took boat, and by water to Kingston" He could probably have walked quicker straight past Bushey Park, along what is now Hampton Court Road. The river has a huge bend between Kingston and Hampton court, trebling the direct route distance. Maybe he was just enjoying the view. Even today it is quite an attractive stretch of river. The Kingston area was obviously very popular with royalty, having three royal parks within walkng distance: Hampton Court, Bushey Park and Richmond Park.
"Here late till poor Dr. Merriot was drunk..." and the note against his name says he was a pioneer in the production of sparkling wine. Obviously a man with an enthusiasm for booze.
The first musical instruments that British children are taught to play at school is the Descant Recorder. From hearing my children practising when younger, I thought descant meant discordant!
Re: "making up my Journall for 8 or 9 days" I think we discussed this in the past. Pepys used to take notes on slips of paper in rough, then write them up in his diary in shorthand, presumably embelishing the notes with triggered memories. On 11th December 1665 we had an example where a slip of paper was put into the diary as an addendum "which I took in writing from his mouth" This perhaps explains his "prodigous memory", while in no way belittling his talent for reporting and story telling.
Cromwell's New Model Army was indeed the model for a British standing army. This is recognised in the modern name The British Army, (not Royal, though some regiments are) in contrast to the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines. The trained bands still existed (at least until The Great War) in name, if not in their original form, e.g. The Honourable Artillary Company, The City of London Regiment, the Coldstream Guards (Monck was their first Colonel) etc.
Re: (God) Damn me. As an expletive, it was/is blasphemous, even when euphemised by leaving off the "God". No religious person, whether Quaker, Anabaptist or Catholic would find that acceptable language. I suppose Sir Philip was trying to get a reaction out of the men and make them angry enough to recant their previous promises to be faithful to the King. It appears to have worked in at least one case: “But such a one (the plotter) did at last bid them remember that he had not told them what King he would be faithfull to.”
Having recently read "The Plot Against Pepys", it appears that justice was often served by entrapping non-conformist suspects (including using torture and bribed witnesses) rather than investigating the truth of the matter.
"A fine way ... to persuade..." I believe this is used in the ironic sense as in; "That's a fine way to behave" that my father used to say to me when I did something particularly stupid.
Isn't it a bit of an assumption that it is Sam's reputation as a womaniser that draws these men to offer their daughters? We have no evidence that he has that reputation. His is the only record of his activities from this period, and I can't remember him mentioning any reputation of this sort. Could it not be that this was, if not common, an accepted practice for getting favours from powerful men? The threat of impending death through the plague, and the chance of getting sons/husbands a place away from the threat may have caused an increase in this activity - but that is also an assumption. In the case of Mrs Bagwell, Sam is already conducting an ad hoc affair with her, so it is puzzling why her father in law has got involved, unless it is to apply more pressure - in which case he, and presumably his son, know what is going on - or he doesn't know the score and thinks he has "persuaded" her to do this for his son. In either case it would be considered morally reprehensible in our day, but Sam doesn't turn a hair, though we know he does consider himself a moral man, especially compared to the courtiers. A case of not looking a gift horse in the mouth, perhaps.
"Wind" in this sense is intestinal gas. It is interesting that he is reporting what is now accepted wisdom; snatched meals while working are bad for the digestion. I don't think filling ones belly with food is currently recommended as a remedy for flatulence, though.
Hear, hear, Paul Chapin and Ruben. Sam not only lives according to the mores of his time, but interpretes them more humanely than many of his peers. Whether it be refusing to take a gift when he knows he can't do a favour in return, or "only" having men flogged when they could be hanged or pressed, he usually errs on the side of what we like to call morality. As for him being a lecherous young goat taking advantage of the hired help, I refer you, M'lud, to the case of Clinton vs Lewinsky. Wrong maybe, but neither unique nor surprising at any time in history.
Comments
First Reading
About Friday 16 March 1665/66
GrahamT • Link
“who without question must be my lord’s wife”
Mary, I think he is using wife as in common law wife, i.e. more than a mistress. Naturally if she is still married she cannot be his lawfully wed wife, but they can live together as husband and wife. As they are so open about their affection, Pepys promotes her from private mistress to public wife.
About Friday 2 March 1665/66
GrahamT • Link
Mr Hill departs, alternative;
On 5th February, Pepys wrote:
"...there met Mr. Hill, newly come to town, and with him the Houblands, preparing for their ship’s and his going to Tangier..."
So maybe Tangier rather than Lisbon this time.
About Tuesday 6 January 1662/63
GrahamT • Link
Major Thompson was mentioned in relation to Samuel Pepys last night on "Who Do You Think You Are", a genealogy programme on the BBC. The passage above mentioning him was read out.
He was an ancestor of actor Kevin Whately, who British readers may remember from "Morse" and "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet"
About Tuesday 30 January 1665/66
GrahamT • Link
Mary,
If you use Windows, Times New Roman contains eth - ð and thorn - þ. They are also available in any Icelandic font.
The similarity of written eth to a small d may have helped the transition from murðer to murder.
I thought the initial th sound was usually thorn as in þe = the, which, when printed with a Latin character set not containing thorn, became ye, as in ye olde pizza shoppe ;-)
About Sunday 28 January 1665/66
GrahamT • Link
@Robin Peters:
Good point about the ebbing tide, but this is upstream from Teddington so not likely to have had much effect. Kingston is downstream from Hampton court though, so a quick, easy row for the boatman anyway.
The Kingston Bridge was definitely there between Hampton Wick and Kingston. There has been a bridge since the 13th Century, and it was the next bridge upstream from London bridge until 1729, so was a very important crossing place (and still is). Hampton court is on the Hampton Wick side of the river, so Kingston bridge is the only river crossing required to get from there to Kingston.
(If you know the area, you will have realised the pointer for Kingston on the linked map is in the wrong place by about two kilometres.)
About Sunday 28 January 1665/66
GrahamT • Link
Re: "we took boat, and by water to Kingston"
He could probably have walked quicker straight past Bushey Park, along what is now Hampton Court Road. The river has a huge bend between Kingston and Hampton court, trebling the direct route distance. Maybe he was just enjoying the view. Even today it is quite an attractive stretch of river.
The Kingston area was obviously very popular with royalty, having three royal parks within walkng distance: Hampton Court, Bushey Park and Richmond Park.
About Monday 22 January 1665/66
GrahamT • Link
"Here late till poor Dr. Merriot was drunk..." and the note against his name says he was a pioneer in the production of sparkling wine. Obviously a man with an enthusiasm for booze.
About Thursday 4 January 1665/66
GrahamT • Link
The first musical instruments that British children are taught to play at school is the Descant Recorder. From hearing my children practising when younger, I thought descant meant discordant!
About Friday 22 December 1665
GrahamT • Link
Re: "making up my Journall for 8 or 9 days"
I think we discussed this in the past. Pepys used to take notes on slips of paper in rough, then write them up in his diary in shorthand, presumably embelishing the notes with triggered memories.
On 11th December 1665 we had an example where a slip of paper was put into the diary as an addendum "which I took in writing from his mouth"
This perhaps explains his "prodigous memory", while in no way belittling his talent for reporting and story telling.
About Friday 3 November 1665
GrahamT • Link
Cromwell's New Model Army was indeed the model for a British standing army. This is recognised in the modern name The British Army, (not Royal, though some regiments are) in contrast to the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines.
The trained bands still existed (at least until The Great War) in name, if not in their original form, e.g. The Honourable Artillary Company, The City of London Regiment, the Coldstream Guards (Monck was their first Colonel) etc.
About Wednesday 11 October 1665
GrahamT • Link
Demurre.
In the ocean shipping business, we still charge "Demurrage and Detention" to any customers a bit slow picking up their cargo from the quay.
About Sunday 1 October 1665
GrahamT • Link
One error begets another. That should have been careful not carful.
About Sunday 1 October 1665
GrahamT • Link
“a council of wary”
Brings to mind a group of men meeting together, but being very carful about what they say!
About Friday 15 September 1665
GrahamT • Link
“a piece of bread and butter and cheese and a bottle of beer and ale”
It only needed some (preferably pickled) onions, and Sam has invented the Ploughman's Lunch 300 years early!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A56…
About Saturday 16 September 1665
GrahamT • Link
Sam may not get a share of the prize ships, but his share of Mr Andrew's order must be a Quantum of Solace.
About Friday 1 September 1665
GrahamT • Link
Re: (God) Damn me.
As an expletive, it was/is blasphemous, even when euphemised by leaving off the "God". No religious person, whether Quaker, Anabaptist or Catholic would find that acceptable language. I suppose Sir Philip was trying to get a reaction out of the men and make them angry enough to recant their previous promises to be faithful to the King.
It appears to have worked in at least one case: “But such a one (the plotter) did at last bid them remember that he had not told them what King he would be faithfull to.”
Having recently read "The Plot Against Pepys", it appears that justice was often served by entrapping non-conformist suspects (including using torture and bribed witnesses) rather than investigating the truth of the matter.
About Friday 1 September 1665
GrahamT • Link
"A fine way ... to persuade..."
I believe this is used in the ironic sense as in; "That's a fine way to behave" that my father used to say to me when I did something particularly stupid.
About Saturday 12 August 1665
GrahamT • Link
Isn't it a bit of an assumption that it is Sam's reputation as a womaniser that draws these men to offer their daughters? We have no evidence that he has that reputation. His is the only record of his activities from this period, and I can't remember him mentioning any reputation of this sort.
Could it not be that this was, if not common, an accepted practice for getting favours from powerful men? The threat of impending death through the plague, and the chance of getting sons/husbands a place away from the threat may have caused an increase in this activity - but that is also an assumption.
In the case of Mrs Bagwell, Sam is already conducting an ad hoc affair with her, so it is puzzling why her father in law has got involved, unless it is to apply more pressure - in which case he, and presumably his son, know what is going on - or he doesn't know the score and thinks he has "persuaded" her to do this for his son. In either case it would be considered morally reprehensible in our day, but Sam doesn't turn a hair, though we know he does consider himself a moral man, especially compared to the courtiers. A case of not looking a gift horse in the mouth, perhaps.
About Friday 11 August 1665
GrahamT • Link
"Wind" in this sense is intestinal gas.
It is interesting that he is reporting what is now accepted wisdom; snatched meals while working are bad for the digestion. I don't think filling ones belly with food is currently recommended as a remedy for flatulence, though.
About Monday 7 August 1665
GrahamT • Link
Hear, hear, Paul Chapin and Ruben. Sam not only lives according to the mores of his time, but interpretes them more humanely than many of his peers. Whether it be refusing to take a gift when he knows he can't do a favour in return, or "only" having men flogged when they could be hanged or pressed, he usually errs on the side of what we like to call morality.
As for him being a lecherous young goat taking advantage of the hired help, I refer you, M'lud, to the case of Clinton vs Lewinsky. Wrong maybe, but neither unique nor surprising at any time in history.