‘ there with some bland counsel of his we discuss our matters, but I find men of so different minds that by my troth I know not what to trust to.’ Based on a lifetime of working as a tax adviser, never trust what ‘my mate in the pub’ says, Sam!
I’m slightly surprised that in the earlier comments about the meaning of ‘troth’ , no one referred to the traditional English marriage vows. ‘I, (name), take thee, (name), to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.’
No mention of Will for the past few days so he may have been left in charge of the house and making sure everything was kept safe. In which case ‘Serves him right’ is a very understandable reaction to Will’s loss of his cloak.
Alter Kacker It’s about 3 miles from the Navy Office to St James’ Palace so about an hour’s walk these days. By water would depend on the way the tide was flowing on the Thames.
Re ‘the three nations’ mentioned in Evelyn’s diary entry quoted by San Diego Sarah on 19/6/2022. They would be Scotland, Ireland and “England and Wales”. England and Wales are still classed as the same country for legal purposes such as domicile at date of death.
A knot garden is a garden of formal design in a square frame, consisting of a variety of aromatic plants and culinary herbs including germander, marjoram, thyme, southernwood, lemon balm, hyssop, costmary, acanthus, mallow, chamomile, rosemary, Calendula, Viola and Santolina. Wikipedia
The copy of the King’s letter which was read out to the Navy by Samuel Pepys is being auctioned again at Sotheby’s in The Coronation Sale closing at 2pm BST on 4 May 2023. No bids yet with 12 hours to go.
In the 2 lists of the Great 12 livery companies above, eagle-eyed readers may notice the transposition at numbers 6 and 7 of the Skinners and Merchants Taylors companies. They were in dispute about which should take precedence and be at number 6, which is the origin of the phrase ‘to be at sixes and sevens’ .
There is still a court building in London called The Rolls Building where the Chancery Court sits. The senior judge is called the Master of the Rolls. Wikipedia says: The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the President of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and Head of Civil Justice. As a judge, he or she is the second in seniority in England and Wales only to the Lord Chief Justice.
Recent comments in my newspaper about putting toothpaste on brush suggest that Prince Charles had hurt one arm playing polo which was why he couldn’t put his own toothpaste on his brush.
From the entry for Monday 11 October: to the King’s playhouse, and I afterwards by water with them, and there we did hear the Eunuch (who, it seems, is a Frenchman, but long bred in Italy) sing, which I seemed to take as new to me, though I saw him on Saturday last, but said nothing of it;
A glimpse into today? A visit to the theatre which Bess knew nothing about? Or maybe Saturday 3rd?
Milford and Pembroke. Milford Haven is in Pembrokeshire. I suspect that might be the explanation for John Howell apparently sending letters from different addresses.
Comments
Third Reading
About Tuesday 17 September 1661
JayW • Link
I think Sam and Elizabeth would have wanted a bed for themselves rather than one they shared with about 10 others! There were many inns here in Ware.
About Thursday 12 September 1661
JayW • Link
‘ there with some bland counsel of his we discuss our matters, but I find men of so different minds that by my troth I know not what to trust to.’
Based on a lifetime of working as a tax adviser, never trust what ‘my mate in the pub’ says, Sam!
About Monday 9 September 1661
JayW • Link
I’m slightly surprised that in the earlier comments about the meaning of ‘troth’ , no one referred to the traditional English marriage vows.
‘I, (name), take thee, (name), to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.’
About Wednesday 24 July 1661
JayW • Link
No mention of Will for the past few days so he may have been left in charge of the house and making sure everything was kept safe. In which case ‘Serves him right’ is a very understandable reaction to Will’s loss of his cloak.
About Monday 24 June 1661
JayW • Link
We’ve just been staying with relatives in Finland and celebrated Juhannus (Midsummer Day) with them on 21 June.
About Wednesday 6 February 1660/61
JayW • Link
‘Lousy cattle’. Could mean infested with lice.
About Monday 28 January 1660/61
JayW • Link
There is an annual parade by The King’s Army to commemorate the death of Charles I. Further information here: https://www.historic-uk.com/event….
About Saturday 10 November 1660
JayW • Link
I assumed it would be written out neatly by a clerk and then signed off by Sir William Batten.
About Tuesday 14 August 1660
JayW • Link
I do not like thee, Doctor Fell, The reason why - I cannot tell. But this I know, and know full well; I do not like thee, Doctor Fell.
About Thursday 2 August 1660
JayW • Link
Alter Kacker
It’s about 3 miles from the Navy Office to St James’ Palace so about an hour’s walk these days. By water would depend on the way the tide was flowing on the Thames.
About Friday 22 June 1660
JayW • Link
Re ‘the three nations’ mentioned in Evelyn’s diary entry quoted by San Diego Sarah on 19/6/2022. They would be Scotland, Ireland and “England and Wales”. England and Wales are still classed as the same country for legal purposes such as domicile at date of death.
About Friday 18 May 1660
JayW • Link
A knot garden is a garden of formal design in a square frame, consisting of a variety of aromatic plants and culinary herbs including germander, marjoram, thyme, southernwood, lemon balm, hyssop, costmary, acanthus, mallow, chamomile, rosemary, Calendula, Viola and Santolina. Wikipedia
About Thursday 3 May 1660
JayW • Link
The copy of the King’s letter which was read out to the Navy by Samuel Pepys is being auctioned again at Sotheby’s in The Coronation Sale closing at 2pm BST on 4 May 2023. No bids yet with 12 hours to go.
About Tuesday 6 March 1659/60
JayW • Link
In the 2 lists of the Great 12 livery companies above, eagle-eyed readers may notice the transposition at numbers 6 and 7 of the Skinners and Merchants Taylors companies. They were in dispute about which should take precedence and be at number 6, which is the origin of the phrase ‘to be at sixes and sevens’ .
About Wednesday 22 February 1659/60
JayW • Link
As someone born in London, I would still call myself a Londoner even though now living in Hertfordshire.
Second Reading
About Monday 15 March 1668/69
JayW • Link
There is still a court building in London called The Rolls Building where the Chancery Court sits. The senior judge is called the Master of the Rolls.
Wikipedia says:
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the President of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and Head of Civil Justice. As a judge, he or she is the second in seniority in England and Wales only to the Lord Chief Justice.
About Wednesday 10 February 1668/69
JayW • Link
SDS - I think it’s no coincidence that CABAL contains the initials of the people involved. I have previously heard that is how the word developed.
About Friday 6 November 1668
JayW • Link
Recent comments in my newspaper about putting toothpaste on brush suggest that Prince Charles had hurt one arm playing polo which was why he couldn’t put his own toothpaste on his brush.
About Saturday 10 October 1668
JayW • Link
From the entry for Monday 11 October:
to the King’s playhouse, and I afterwards by water with them, and there we did hear the Eunuch (who, it seems, is a Frenchman, but long bred in Italy) sing, which I seemed to take as new to me, though I saw him on Saturday last, but said nothing of it;
A glimpse into today? A visit to the theatre which Bess knew nothing about? Or maybe Saturday 3rd?
About Wednesday 30 September 1668
JayW • Link
Milford and Pembroke.
Milford Haven is in Pembrokeshire. I suspect that might be the explanation for John Howell apparently sending letters from different addresses.