Since I asked about arising early ten years ago, I have noticed several people, my wife amongst them, who have well-tuned internal clocks for rising early, especially on days with important appointments. I agree that shutters would be kept closed to keep out night vapours.
Oh my, I am trying to imagine riding in petticoat breeches. I suppose that walking or cantering would be fine but posting with all that fabric would seem to lead to fabric becoming between leg and saddle. I gather not much posting was done.
Annotaters have oft remarked on Pepys leaving out the commonplace and recording the uncommon. Here may be a case: "musique in my chamber alone at night".
This whole business of using a pumice stone to remove hair (and, no doubt, upper layers of dermis -- at a time of sepsis) continues to intrigue and perplex me. Yet the OED has this entry under pumice, v. : 1647 R. Stapylton Juvenal, Sat. viii. 154 note, The Italians to this day have the fashion of pumicing their skin to get off the haire.
My OED actually lists truckle-bed, thusly: "A low bed running on truckles or castors, usually pushed beneath a high or ‘standing’ bed when not in use; a trundle-bed. So truckle bedstead. "
The following quote may be of interest: 1662 Pepys Diary 1 May, To bed all alone, and my Will in the truckle bed.
A century later, Jane Austen would write to the effect that one attended parties to flirt with the opposite sex. (I cannot remember the exact quote -- too many decades.)
Today's entry on blood-letting made me strongly aware that we are reading from the past (especially as I had blood-work done yesterday and I cannot imagine Mr Holliard having the same level of prophylaxis as the technician who took my sample).
It is unfortunate that Pepys only comments on the appearances of the various renovations done over the years and not on the actual mechanics. i.e. how was the cellar wall shored up during construction, what sort of lintels were used, framing, and so on, as well what informal building codes were followed.
"My Lady" is Lady Sandwich and see Alan's comment on the use of "very merry".
Spellings of words have changed over the past few centuries and oftimes there was no standard spelling then. (The OED lists dozens of variations over the centuries.)
I like the green. What was the reason for that? (As a side issue, I followed the original but was waylaid for a few years. This time, I intend on reading all of it.)
How to sit with a sword is an interesting question. The billets are long enough to allow you to sit without unhooking but my recollection is that you always hold the pommel and the sword is beside you. I would guess that the confines of a carriage physically preclude that so he had to unhook it.
Methinks this is a tempest that erupted from being made to wait Tuesday at the Privy Seal's pleasure. That "vexed" him then and probably stayed with him, resulting in displaced aggession.
Comments
Second Reading
About Sunday 29 June 1662
john • Link
Since I asked about arising early ten years ago, I have noticed several people, my wife amongst them, who have well-tuned internal clocks for rising early, especially on days with important appointments. I agree that shutters would be kept closed to keep out night vapours.
About Thursday 12 June 1662
john • Link
Oh my, I am trying to imagine riding in petticoat breeches. I suppose that walking or cantering would be fine but posting with all that fabric would seem to lead to fabric becoming between leg and saddle. I gather not much posting was done.
About Friday 6 June 1662
john • Link
How often did Pepys trust Will to deliver money? Is this a matter of growing trust in Will to be noted?
About Tuesday 27 May 1662
john • Link
Annotaters have oft remarked on Pepys leaving out the commonplace and recording the uncommon. Here may be a case: "musique in my chamber alone at night".
About Sunday 25 May 1662
john • Link
This whole business of using a pumice stone to remove hair (and, no doubt, upper layers of dermis -- at a time of sepsis) continues to intrigue and perplex me. Yet the OED has this entry under pumice, v. : 1647 R. Stapylton Juvenal, Sat. viii. 154 note, The Italians to this day have the fashion of pumicing their skin to get off the haire.
About Thursday 22 May 1662
john • Link
"This morning comes an order [...]" I cannot infer what the thought of the matter but he could hardly refuse the order (or worse, falsify the record).
About Thursday 15 May 1662
john • Link
Ten years too late to point out to our salty commentator that the Norse and others fished in the Grand Banks, not New England.
About Thursday 1 May 1662
john • Link
My OED actually lists truckle-bed, thusly:
"A low bed running on truckles or castors, usually pushed beneath a high or ‘standing’ bed when not in use; a trundle-bed. So truckle bedstead. "
The following quote may be of interest: 1662 Pepys Diary 1 May, To bed all alone, and my Will in the truckle bed.
About Tuesday 29 April 1662
john • Link
A century later, Jane Austen would write to the effect that one attended parties to flirt with the opposite sex. (I cannot remember the exact quote -- too many decades.)
About Thursday 17 April 1662
john • Link
Today's entry on blood-letting made me strongly aware that we are reading from the past (especially as I had blood-work done yesterday and I cannot imagine Mr Holliard having the same level of prophylaxis as the technician who took my sample).
About Friday 21 March 1661/62
john • Link
Bill, where may one fine the 1675 edition of Bailey? Searching only revealed much later editions.
About Sunday 16 March 1661/62
john • Link
Baz: You would be correct. See the information at the site's encyclopedia entry http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
About Thursday 6 February 1661/62
john • Link
It is unfortunate that Pepys only comments on the appearances of the various renovations done over the years and not on the actual mechanics. i.e. how was the cellar wall shored up during construction, what sort of lintels were used, framing, and so on, as well what informal building codes were followed.
About Friday 24 January 1661/62
john • Link
"My Lady" is Lady Sandwich and see Alan's comment on the use of "very merry".
Spellings of words have changed over the past few centuries and oftimes there was no standard spelling then. (The OED lists dozens of variations over the centuries.)
About A new design
john • Link
I like the green. What was the reason for that? (As a side issue, I followed the original but was waylaid for a few years. This time, I intend on reading all of it.)
About Wednesday 1 January 1661/62
john • Link
How to sit with a sword is an interesting question. The billets are long enough to allow you to sit without unhooking but my recollection is that you always hold the pommel and the sword is beside you. I would guess that the confines of a carriage physically preclude that so he had to unhook it.
About Saturday 28 December 1661
john • Link
This entry also shows just how well the accounts are now. To draw up the entire debts in one day -- even a "speedy estimate" -- is impressive.
About Thursday 19 December 1661
john • Link
Methinks this is a tempest that erupted from being made to wait Tuesday at the Privy Seal's pleasure. That "vexed" him then and probably stayed with him, resulting in displaced aggession.
About Saturday 7 December 1661
john • Link
The sword clearly more ceremonial than lethal.
About Wednesday 4 December 1661
john • Link
How did Pepys know that the man drowned yesterday or even that he drowned?