When I walk along Ware High Street this morning I shall look at the old houses and think of John Pepys riding through. The milestones now in Ware show it’s still 22 miles to London.
The Henery. The Cockney pronunciation of Henry as in the music hall song I learned as a child from my mother: I'm 'Enery the Eighth, I am, 'Enery the Eighth I am, I am! I got married to the widow next door, She's been married seven times before And every one was an 'Enery She wouldn't have a Willie nor a Sam I'm her eighth old man named 'Enery 'Enery the Eighth, I am! For a version by Herman’s Hermits: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q…
I am reminded of Franz Kafka's wonderful two sentence short story, "From the Gallery", which gives two visions of the same circus performer from the same man in the gallery, one view is that which we wish to see, and the other that which is. Updated link: http://www.kafka-online.info/up-i…
David G , the servants would have been aware that Sam had been in. That’s probably how he discovered that Bess had gone to see her parent. As no dinner had been made ready, it wa to be expected that he would seek food elsewhere. It doesn’t seem as if people expected to know where everyone was then in the same way we do now.
For another example of moving government offices, the colonial government in India used to move every year from the heat of Delhi up to Shimla, in the hills. Eventually they built a railway but at first they (and their files) travelled by carts or on horseback.
SDS - I think it’s more of an insight into the effects of the plague than ‘Pepys' [lack of] character’. The disease could kill in hours. The house could have been shut up with everyone inside it, probably a death sentence for all of them. If it was just a headache he could go home. If worse, better he died there than in Sam’s bed! Interesting that he bought new linen for it.
I suspect Australian Susan didn’t mean there was a lack of food - more likely that since Hampton Court was in the country, there was a lack of places to eat it.
“I remember an Argentinian buffon (Tato Bores), always making risky jokes but still surviving during the Junta years. He said (on TV) that he never changed the policies he defended and had only one line and that was the government line. He could not be blamed that government changed...”
Did anyone else think of the Vicar of Bray when reading this comment?
Possibly..... Geordie the drinker = George I Anne the eater = Queen Anne Mary the daughter = Mary II William the cheater = William III
Mary was daughter of James II. She and her husband William took the throne in the Glorious Revolution. Anne was a stout lady. Was George I a drinker? Does this verse come from the time of George I?
StanB the sermon was originally given on the anniversary. Sam is reading a published version - see Michael Robinson’s first comment above from 13 March 2008.
I didn’t realise that there was a connection between The Royal Society and Gresham College. I’ve been using their podcasts for some time. Many lectures on a huge range of subjects can be found online at:
Gresham College https://www.gresham.ac.uk Exists to provide free public lectures which have been given for over 400 years. Includes a guide to subjects and digital archive of past lectures.
We are reading this today in the light of the #MeToo campaign. It’s 350 years or so since Pepys was meeting Mrs Lane and Mrs Bagwell but the world hasn’t changed. Even if women succeed in improving their position and demanding respect in the US and U.K. there will be many others around the world who will still be exploited.
There are frequent reports in the U.K. now of people moving into towns and villages, complaining about chiming clocks and bells keeping them awake, and petitioning local councils and churches for them to be silenced at night. Longstanding local residents usually object. However, despite an outcry from British MPs, the Westminster chimes of Big Ben have just been silenced while restoration work is carried out over the next five years.
Comments
Second Reading
About Wednesday 30 May 1666
JayW • Link
When I walk along Ware High Street this morning I shall look at the old houses and think of John Pepys riding through. The milestones now in Ware show it’s still 22 miles to London.
About Sunday 6 May 1666
JayW • Link
“So after evened I have gone”
I read ‘evened’ as a reference to the settling of monies owed between Gauden and Sam.
About Friday 27 April 1666
JayW • Link
The Henery. The Cockney pronunciation of Henry as in the music hall song I learned as a child from my mother:
I'm 'Enery the Eighth, I am,
'Enery the Eighth I am, I am!
I got married to the widow next door,
She's been married seven times before
And every one was an 'Enery
She wouldn't have a Willie nor a Sam
I'm her eighth old man named 'Enery
'Enery the Eighth, I am!
For a version by Herman’s Hermits:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q…
About Tuesday 27 March 1666
JayW • Link
I sympathise with Sam, having had many late nights trying to balance a set of accounts!
About Monday 19 March 1665/66
JayW • Link
David’s comment on 20 Mar 2009:
I am reminded of Franz Kafka's wonderful two sentence short story, "From the Gallery", which gives two visions of the same circus performer from the same man in the gallery, one view is that which we wish to see, and the other that which is.
Updated link:
http://www.kafka-online.info/up-i…
About Thursday 1 February 1665/66
JayW • Link
David G , the servants would have been aware that Sam had been in. That’s probably how he discovered that Bess had gone to see her parent. As no dinner had been made ready, it wa to be expected that he would seek food elsewhere. It doesn’t seem as if people expected to know where everyone was then in the same way we do now.
About Saturday 2 December 1665
JayW • Link
Two guineas wasn't the same as two pounds. A guinea was £1.05 (one pound one shilling).
About Wednesday 18 October 1665
JayW • Link
Bess has come to stay overnight and has now gone home! Or rather, to her lodgings for the time being. No mention of Mercer today though.
About Wednesday 13 September 1665
JayW • Link
Thanks for the picture link Terry. No knowing if it’s the same one l suppose?
About Thursday 24 August 1665
JayW • Link
For another example of moving government offices, the colonial government in India used to move every year from the heat of Delhi up to Shimla, in the hills. Eventually they built a railway but at first they (and their files) travelled by carts or on horseback.
About Saturday 29 July 1665
JayW • Link
SDS - I think it’s more of an insight into the effects of the plague than ‘Pepys' [lack of] character’. The disease could kill in hours. The house could have been shut up with everyone inside it, probably a death sentence for all of them. If it was just a headache he could go home. If worse, better he died there than in Sam’s bed!
Interesting that he bought new linen for it.
About Sunday 23 July 1665
JayW • Link
I suspect Australian Susan didn’t mean there was a lack of food - more likely that since Hampton Court was in the country, there was a lack of places to eat it.
About Tuesday 18 July 1665
JayW • Link
“I remember an Argentinian buffon (Tato Bores), always making risky jokes but still surviving during the Junta years. He said (on TV) that he never changed the policies he defended and had only one line and that was the government line. He could not be blamed that government changed...”
Did anyone else think of the Vicar of Bray when reading this comment?
About Friday 19 May 1665
JayW • Link
Possibly.....
Geordie the drinker = George I
Anne the eater = Queen Anne
Mary the daughter = Mary II
William the cheater = William III
Mary was daughter of James II. She and her husband William took the throne in the Glorious Revolution.
Anne was a stout lady. Was George I a drinker? Does this verse come from the time of George I?
About Sunday 12 March 1664/65
JayW • Link
StanB the sermon was originally given on the anniversary. Sam is reading a published version - see Michael Robinson’s first comment above from 13 March 2008.
About Wednesday 15 February 1664/65
JayW • Link
I didn’t realise that there was a connection between The Royal Society and Gresham College. I’ve been using their podcasts for some time. Many lectures on a huge range of subjects can be found online at:
Gresham College
https://www.gresham.ac.uk
Exists to provide free public lectures which have been given for over 400 years. Includes a guide to subjects and digital archive of past lectures.
About Tuesday 6 December 1664
JayW • Link
We are reading this today in the light of the #MeToo campaign. It’s 350 years or so since Pepys was meeting Mrs Lane and Mrs Bagwell but the world hasn’t changed. Even if women succeed in improving their position and demanding respect in the US and U.K. there will be many others around the world who will still be exploited.
About Thursday 6 October 1664
JayW • Link
There are frequent reports in the U.K. now of people moving into towns and villages, complaining about chiming clocks and bells keeping them awake, and petitioning local councils and churches for them to be silenced at night. Longstanding local residents usually object. However, despite an outcry from British MPs, the Westminster chimes of Big Ben have just been silenced while restoration work is carried out over the next five years.
About Saturday 1 October 1664
JayW • Link
Thanks, Sasha, I’d forgotten the verse!
About Saturday 1 October 1664
JayW • Link
Yesterday I came across an old notebook in which my mother had recorded old song lyrics. One was very appropriate for today’s entry:
It’s the same the whole world over
It’s the poor wot gets the blame
It’s the rich wot gets the pleasure
Ain’t it all a blooming shame.
Poor soul indeed.