Oh dear! Thanks for the correction, Terry. Missed by a mile. And thanks for her age. I had a feeling she wasn't that old by our standards...or perhaps I should say my standards.
Per Helena's annotation it apparently wasn't just his unusual rise to power that went against Cranfield, but the fact that in order to straighten out James' money problems he was trying to rid the government of the very system of payments and bribes that you all keep remarking on. Buckingham was his patron initially and then turned on him when he tried to clean up government. Most everyone turned on him since he was threatening a nice source of income for them all, as Sam can now confirm. But Cranfield was by now beyond their reach. It's his widow who deserves our concern.
I have been unable to ascertain exactly how old 'my old Lady Middlesex" was at this point, but myself entering the age of incontinence, I feel for her. LBJ's "never miss an opportunity" might not have helped in this instance. It would be horrible enough to have an accident in front of King and Court, but this poor lady's mishap has, thanks to Sam, been sent down through the ages so that people 350 or so years later still know about it. Talk about not being able to live something down.
I am fascinated by the sleeping habits of the time. Sam often mentions sleeping in the same bed with someone, whether relative or aquaintance, when at someone else's house or an inn, more recently in the 'pressed bed' with the judge advocate. And someone else pointed out how often people are addressed while they are still abed, doing business, etc. And now inns where both sexes sleep together in the same room. Amazing! I'm with johng...were there any rules governing one's behavior in the latter situation? I could see it leading to all sorts of problems.
It is surprising to me, as well, that Pepys had little to say regarding his first meeting with Charles II. Here he is, a participant in the very Restoration of the English Monarchy, but he seems more interested in sight-seeing and shopping like a tourist. I completely understand his interests in seeing the sights, but you'd think that the meeting with the King would be of equal interest. Add to this the fact that he keeps foisting off 'the child' to others while he travels about. Yes, he was worried, but apparently not that worried, since he kept on sight-seeing and after finally finding him (through no effort on his part) soon passes him off to his 'uncle Pickering' who he runs into in the street, while he goes off with an old chum to drink and party. Apparently the first time the child disappeared didn't scare him enough that it kept him from leaving Edward with another person the first chance he gets. It is obvious where his interests lie.
I have posted an excerpt from the following website regarding the age of "Greensleeves". My impression has always been that it was even older than the 1580 date mentioned. Perhaps this is just the first time it was written down and had previously existed for generations as an oral tradition. ?? http://www.contemplator.com/engla…
The April 23 1660 page has some comments regarding the age of "Greensleeves". This is from the following website: http://www.contemplator.com/engla….
"There is an entry in the Stationers' Register in 1580 licensing Richard Jones to print A new Northern Dittye of the Lady Green-Sleeves. The earliest lyrics that survive are in A Handful of Pleasant Delights (1584) (see link below to those lyrics). The tune first appears in 1652. Legend has it that Henry VIII wrote it for Anne Boleyn during their courtship (circa 1530). This has never been substantiated and is probably not true due to the fact that the Italian style used in the tune did not arrive in England until after his death.
It has beens suggested that the "Greensleeves" refers to courtesans, or prostitutes. According to Wikipedia, "at the time, the word "green" had sexual connotations, most notably in the phrase "a green gown", a reference to the way that grass stains might be seen on a woman's dress if she had engaged in sexual intercourse out-of-doors."
Shortly after the Civil War William Chatterton Dix wrote the Christmas carol What Child is This to the tune.
A reading of the lyrics shows it is not a sweet, innocuous love song, but a plea from a 16th century gentleman to his bored mistress. There are countless versions of the lyrics, including fourteen Cavalier songs and John Gay wrote lyrics to the tune for The Beggar's Opera. And there are countless verses. This page leaves out several of them."
As someone who has just found this diary not quite two years since the last comment, and almost twelve since the original postings, I quite agree that commentors should refrain from spoilers. Obviously we all know Charles II was eventually restored to the throne, but how it all came down, as well as the occurrences of Sam's life are unknown to me. The fun is in the details, along with the devil.
As someone who has just found this diary not quite two years since the last comment, and almost twelve since the original postings, I quite agree that commentors should refrain from spoilers. Obviously we all know Charles II was eventually restored to the throne, but the how and when as well as the occurrences of Sam's life are unknown to me. The fun is in the details, along with the devil.
And Bill, regarding the surgery. I too wondered that more wasn't made of it and wondered how and what happened. I found more information than I needed on the "Bladder and kidney stones" page of the Encyclopedia here on this site. I can't imagine going through that. As far as I'm concerned Sam has earned the right to 'gloat' as much as he wants, though, like Sasha, I don't consider it gloating.
"Early to my Lord, where infinity of business to do, which makes my head full; and indeed, for these two or three days, I have not been without a great many cares and thoughts concerning them."
I'm not surprised. I have been amazed from the beginning of this diary at the amount of work, or should I say lack of work, that Samuel does. Typically he goes to his office where there is nothing to do and then winds up in a nearby tavern drinking with friends until it's time for dinner, after which he may check back in the office where there is still nothing to do and thereby meets someone in the Hall and winds up at another pub until supper, or maybe two. What a job! I kept thinking what a contrast to today where we work long hours and have our nose to the grindstone, multi-tasking our way through 8 to 12 hours. Of course I live in America and I hear we are considered 'workaholics' by other civilized nations. Believe me, it's not by choice.
But now, his Lord has asked him to be his secretary and go to sea and suddenly Sam is finding out what it is to actually have work to do; lots of it. Quite a shock to go from nothing to full on.
I second the last annotation. I've wanted to read this diary for many years, and finally got an ebook version, but was having difficulty figuring out the cast of characters and meanings of many entries. In trying to research these I came upon this fabulous website and although I was up to August, I too have started over. What a difference! Now I have come back to Day One just to thank Phil and everyone who has made an entry thoughout these past ten years. Looking forward to the next ten.
Comments
Second Reading
About Friday 22 June 1660
meech • Link
Oh dear! Thanks for the correction, Terry. Missed by a mile. And thanks for her age. I had a feeling she wasn't that old by our standards...or perhaps I should say my standards.
About Friday 22 June 1660
meech • Link
Per Helena's annotation it apparently wasn't just his unusual rise to power that went against Cranfield, but the fact that in order to straighten out James' money problems he was trying to rid the government of the very system of payments and bribes that you all keep remarking on. Buckingham was his patron initially and then turned on him when he tried to clean up government. Most everyone turned on him since he was threatening a nice source of income for them all, as Sam can now confirm. But Cranfield was by now beyond their reach. It's his widow who deserves our concern.
I have been unable to ascertain exactly how old 'my old Lady Middlesex" was at this point, but myself entering the age of incontinence, I feel for her. LBJ's "never miss an opportunity" might not have helped in this instance. It would be horrible enough to have an accident in front of King and Court, but this poor lady's mishap has, thanks to Sam, been sent down through the ages so that people 350 or so years later still know about it. Talk about not being able to live something down.
About Thursday 24 May 1660
meech • Link
I would like to know how he got seven people and himself in the carpenter's cabin all at the same time. Must have been cozy.
About Sunday 20 May 1660
meech • Link
I am fascinated by the sleeping habits of the time. Sam often mentions sleeping in the same bed with someone, whether relative or aquaintance, when at someone else's house or an inn, more recently in the 'pressed bed' with the judge advocate. And someone else pointed out how often people are addressed while they are still abed, doing business, etc. And now inns where both sexes sleep together in the same room. Amazing! I'm with johng...were there any rules governing one's behavior in the latter situation? I could see it leading to all sorts of problems.
About Saturday 19 May 1660
meech • Link
It is surprising to me, as well, that Pepys had little to say regarding his first meeting with Charles II. Here he is, a participant in the very Restoration of the English Monarchy, but he seems more interested in sight-seeing and shopping like a tourist. I completely understand his interests in seeing the sights, but you'd think that the meeting with the King would be of equal interest. Add to this the fact that he keeps foisting off 'the child' to others while he travels about. Yes, he was worried, but apparently not that worried, since he kept on sight-seeing and after finally finding him (through no effort on his part) soon passes him off to his 'uncle Pickering' who he runs into in the street, while he goes off with an old chum to drink and party. Apparently the first time the child disappeared didn't scare him enough that it kept him from leaving Edward with another person the first chance he gets. It is obvious where his interests lie.
About Monday 23 April 1660
meech • Link
Sorry, forgot to mention, I posted it to the Encyclopedia under "The Blacksmith" in "Songs".
About Monday 23 April 1660
meech • Link
I have posted an excerpt from the following website regarding the age of "Greensleeves". My impression has always been that it was even older than the 1580 date mentioned. Perhaps this is just the first time it was written down and had previously existed for generations as an oral tradition. ?? http://www.contemplator.com/engla…
About The Blacksmith
meech • Link
The April 23 1660 page has some comments regarding the age of "Greensleeves". This is from the following website: http://www.contemplator.com/engla….
"There is an entry in the Stationers' Register in 1580 licensing Richard Jones to print A new Northern Dittye of the Lady Green-Sleeves. The earliest lyrics that survive are in A Handful of Pleasant Delights (1584) (see link below to those lyrics). The tune first appears in 1652.
Legend has it that Henry VIII wrote it for Anne Boleyn during their courtship (circa 1530). This has never been substantiated and is probably not true due to the fact that the Italian style used in the tune did not arrive in England until after his death.
It has beens suggested that the "Greensleeves" refers to courtesans, or prostitutes. According to Wikipedia, "at the time, the word "green" had sexual connotations, most notably in the phrase "a green gown", a reference to the way that grass stains might be seen on a woman's dress if she had engaged in sexual intercourse out-of-doors."
Shortly after the Civil War William Chatterton Dix wrote the Christmas carol What Child is This to the tune.
A reading of the lyrics shows it is not a sweet, innocuous love song, but a plea from a 16th century gentleman to his bored mistress. There are countless versions of the lyrics, including fourteen Cavalier songs and John Gay wrote lyrics to the tune for The Beggar's Opera. And there are countless verses. This page leaves out several of them."
About Saturday 7 April 1660
meech • Link
Good one, Lisa Liss!
About Friday 30 March 1660
meech • Link
As someone who has just found this diary not quite two years since the last comment, and almost twelve since the original postings, I quite agree that commentors should refrain from spoilers. Obviously we all know Charles II was eventually restored to the throne, but how it all came down, as well as the occurrences of Sam's life are unknown to me. The fun is in the details, along with the devil.
About Friday 30 March 1660
meech • Link
As someone who has just found this diary not quite two years since the last comment, and almost twelve since the original postings, I quite agree that commentors should refrain from spoilers. Obviously we all know Charles II was eventually restored to the throne, but the how and when as well as the occurrences of Sam's life are unknown to me. The fun is in the details, along with the devil.
About Monday 26 March 1660
meech • Link
Hear, hear, Sasha!
And Bill, regarding the surgery. I too wondered that more wasn't made of it and wondered how and what happened. I found more information than I needed on the "Bladder and kidney stones" page of the Encyclopedia here on this site. I can't imagine going through that. As far as I'm concerned Sam has earned the right to 'gloat' as much as he wants, though, like Sasha, I don't consider it gloating.
About Monday 19 March 1659/60
meech • Link
"Early to my Lord, where infinity of business to do, which makes my head full; and indeed, for these two or three days, I have not been without a great many cares and thoughts concerning them."
I'm not surprised. I have been amazed from the beginning of this diary at the amount of work, or should I say lack of work, that Samuel does. Typically he goes to his office where there is nothing to do and then winds up in a nearby tavern drinking with friends until it's time for dinner, after which he may check back in the office where there is still nothing to do and thereby meets someone in the Hall and winds up at another pub until supper, or maybe two. What a job! I kept thinking what a contrast to today where we work long hours and have our nose to the grindstone, multi-tasking our way through 8 to 12 hours. Of course I live in America and I hear we are considered 'workaholics' by other civilized nations. Believe me, it's not by choice.
But now, his Lord has asked him to be his secretary and go to sea and suddenly Sam is finding out what it is to actually have work to do; lots of it. Quite a shock to go from nothing to full on.
About Sunday 1 January 1659/60
meech • Link
I second the last annotation. I've wanted to read this diary for many years, and finally got an ebook version, but was having difficulty figuring out the cast of characters and meanings of many entries. In trying to research these I came upon this fabulous website and although I was up to August, I too have started over. What a difference! Now I have come back to Day One just to thank Phil and everyone who has made an entry thoughout these past ten years. Looking forward to the next ten.