For Royal Navy sailors and British soldiers in the West Indies during the 18th century, rum was a refuge for the discomforts of the duties of the day. The rum also may have been killing them. It wasn’t the alcohol, but the way it was distilled that proved deadly.
A group of scientists from Lakeland University, Ontario have examined 31 bodies found in the Royal Naval Hospital cemetery in English Harbor, Antigua.
As reported by the Daily Mail: ‘Excessive drinking and lead poisoning have been suggested as being serious health issues for the navy of the period, but this idea had never been tested on the remains of individuals serving in the navy at the time. Previous work in this area includes the testing of the skeletal remains of enslaved laborers from a sugar plantation in Barbados. But not with SR-XRF that we have been using,’ said Professor Varney.
The concentrations ranged from between 13 and 336 parts per million, where a ‘normal’ range of lead is 5 to 30 ppm. A person with more than 80 ppm of lead in their bones normally shows symptoms of lead poisoning.
There were many other ways sailors and soldiers could have been exposed to lead, as it was used in almost everything at the time. Nevertheless, rum was a particularity effective way to get lead poisoning.
Rum was distilled from sugar using stills with lead condensing coil tubes. ‘Rum was both formally and informally distilled using lead worms (condensation coils) on stills, and it was consumed in quantity by naval personnel who were entitled and accustomed to at least their daily allotment of rum, a well-established tradition in the Royal Navy,‘ Varney said.
I'm having mixed results with this link today. The article is by Chris Durston, published in History Today Volume 37 Issue 10 October 1987.
If it gives you trouble, copy, paste and relink this entire link (I've put a break in the middle so the Pepys site doesn't cut it short): http://www.historytoday.com/chris… signs-and-wonders-and-english-civil-war
John Gadbury defined a prodigy as, ‘a thing that comes to pass beyond the altitude of man’s imagination and begets in him a miraculous contemplation, yea, often horror and amazement’.
Incidents in reports fell into categories.
The ‘celestial wonders’ involved apparitions of pitched battles, swords and balls of fire, irregular planetary occurrences, duplicate suns and moons, rainbows at night, comets, meteors and blazing stars.
Earthly wonders included freak weather, such as rain turning to blood.
Deformed births or 'monstrous' animals and children were popular, and another category covered 'strange accidents', such as sudden or painful illness and death, which were punishments from God.
Most 17th-century observers agreed on the meaning of these wonders. They were signs of divine displeasure, and warnings of imminent disaster, or, as the Parliamentarian John Vicars explained, 'most apparent prints and even visible footsteps of God's highly conceived indignation and provoked patience'.
Inevitably events of the 1640s and 1650s led to interest in prodigies. As the English sought explanations for the civil war, regicide, the overturning of cherished traditional beliefs and customs, reports of wonders proliferated, and the urge to interpret them became intense.
In Discourse Concerning Prodigies, Spencer said: "... as for the common sort of people, Prodigy hath always appeared to them a word clothed about with death, and a comet creates in them more solemn thoughts than Hell doth."
Credulity was not confined to the lower class. Between 1640 and 1662, political and religious factions used reports of wonders to justify their own beliefs, and heap condemnation on their enemies; they invested money and effort, and often subjected themselves to danger, to produce amusing diversions. Those who reported wonders may have believed in them, and relied on a high level of credulity among their readership. However, by tying wonders to partisan positions, they undermined that credulity.
The first to assault belief in prodigies and their significance as divine messages was Spencer's Discourse Concerning Prodigies.
Influenced by the uses made of wonders during the previous 25 years, Spencer commented: "Men's minds, disturbed with love or hatred (as it often falls out in religious differences), each party superstitiously interprets all accidents in favor of itself ..."
Spencer likened prodigies to 'mercenary soldiers', which 'may be easily brought to fight on either side in any case', and counselled his readers to: "... leave off ... the entailing salvation solely upon their own Party, and not to go about to hedge in the Holy Dove by appropriating the graces and influences thereof to themselves. For then they would not be so prone to believe God's judgments design no higher than the service of their sorry passions, parties and persuasions."
John Gadbury defined a prodigy as, ‘a thing that comes to pass beyond the altitude of man’s imagination and begets in him a miraculous contemplation, yea, often horror and amazement’.
Incidents in reports fell into categories.
The ‘celestial wonders’ involved apparitions of pitched battles, swords and balls of fire, irregular planetary occurrences, duplicate suns and moons, rainbows at night, comets, meteors and blazing stars.
Earthly wonders included freak weather, such as rain turning to blood.
Deformed births or 'monstrous' animals and children were popular, and another category covered 'strange accidents', such as sudden or painful illness and death, which were punishments from God.
Most 17th-century observers agreed on the meaning of these wonders. They were signs of divine displeasure, and warnings of imminent disaster, or, as the Parliamentarian John Vicars explained, 'most apparent prints and even visible footsteps of God's highly conceived indignation and provoked patience'.
Inevitably events of the 1640s and 1650s led to interest in prodigies. As the English sought explanations for the civil war, regicide, the overturning of cherished traditional beliefs and customs, reports of wonders proliferated, and the urge to interpret them became intense.
In Discourse Concerning Prodigies, Spencer said: "... as for the common sort of people, Prodigy hath always appeared to them a word clothed about with death, and a comet creates in them more solemn thoughts than Hell doth."
Credulity was not confined to the lower class. Between 1640 and 1662, political and religious factions used reports of wonders to justify their own beliefs, and heap condemnation on their enemies; they invested money and effort, and often subjected themselves to danger, to produce amusing diversions.Those who reported wonders may have believed in them, and relied on a high level of credulity among their readership. However, by tying wonders to partisan positions, they undermined that credulity.
The first to assault belief in prodigies and their significance as divine messages was Spencer's Discourse Concerning Prodigies.
Influenced by the uses made of wonders during the previous 25 years, Spencer commented: "Men's minds, disturbed with love or hatred (as it often falls out in religious differences), each party superstitiously interprets all accidents in favor of itself ..."
Spencer likened prodigies to 'mercenary soldiers', which 'may be easily brought to fight on either side in any case', and counselled his readers to: "... leave off ... the entailing salvation solely upon their own Party, and not to go about to hedge in the Holy Dove by appropriating the graces and influences thereof to themselves. For then they would not be so prone to believe God's judgments design no higher than the service of their sorry passions, parties and persuasions."
William and Mary Joyce -- William and his brother Anthony Joyce were tallow chandlers. They "were made free of the Leathersellers' by patrimony in 1654, and inherited their father's business. William seems to have prospered; in 1665 he had a house in Russell St., Covent Garden, and in the poll-tax of 1667 paid tax on three servants.
Since Pepys is walking through Covent Garden today, it is possible William and Mary already live in the Russell Street house.
"Kensington and Chelsea were not part of London in the 17th century but rather separate villages on the Thames, albeit within easy reach of the city. Both were very fashionable. " http://www.holmans-estates.co.uk/…... -- which sadly seems no longer leads you to this information. Sorry!
WHERE Kensington high o’er the neighboring lands Midst greens and sweets a regal fabric stands, And sees each spring, luxuriant in her bowers, A snow of blossoms and a wild of flowers, The dames of Britain oft in crowds repair 5 To groves and lawns and unpolluted air. Here, while the town in damps and darkness lies, They breathe in sunshine, and see azure skies; Each walk, with robes of various dyes bespread, Seems from afar a moving tulip-bed, 10 Where rich brocades and glossy damasks glow, And chintz, the rival of the showery bow. Here England’s daughter, darling of the land, Sometimes, surrounded with her virgin band, Gleams through the shades. She, towering o’er the rest, 15 Stands fairest of the fairer kind confessed, Formed to gain hearts, that Brunswick’s cause denied, And charm a people to her father’s side. Long have these groves to royal guests been known, Nor Nassau first preferred them to a throne. 20 Ere Norman banners waved in British air, Ere lordly Hubba with the golden hair Poured in his Danes, ere elder Julius came, Or Dardan Brutus gave our isle a name, A prince of Albion’s lineage graced the wood, 25 The scene of wars, and stained with lovers’ blood.
"... but straight home and to supper (the first time I have done so this summer), ..."
so he had supper early ... he usually has supper right before going to bed. Any ideas on why this should be a summer activity? And from Josselyn and the recent cold rain showers, we know this May hasn't exactly been a warm early summer.
'"the King was at my Lady Castlemayne’s lodgings (over the hither-gates at Lambert’s lodgings) "
'The Holbein gatehouse at Whitehall Palace, occupied by Maj.-Gen. Lambert during the Protectorate. (L&M footnote)'
From Simon Thurley's Whitehall Palace: An Architectural History of the Royal Apartments, 1240 to 1699:
"New galleries and chambers were built, extensive gardens, jousting and tennis yards, a bowling green, cock-fighting pit and, of course, the magnificent Holbein gatehouse, with its checkered pattern and fleur de lis. Historians believe that on the upper floor of this gatehouse, in January 1536, Henry and Anne married in secret."
And now Barbara Villiers Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine has the apartment. How romantic.
Now Rev. Josselyn and I are confused: Why did everyone "celebrate" Restoration Day yesterday??? Charles II didn't take the day off today -- he was signing bills recalling seamen.
I thought their idea of having a day off was to go to church to give thanks, and then to do some gambling or gamboling.
'"Pepys and Povy been at loggerheads" Samuel has kept his opinion to himself and only revealing his version to his diary.'
I don't agree with Cumsalisgrano on this one. Pepys has been quite open with his opinion that Povy is incompetent:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… Saturday 21 May 1664 Up, called by Mr. Cholmely, and ... to another Committee of Tangier, as we did meet as we did use to do, to see more of Povy’s folly, and so broke up, ...
"So up into, the house and with him to the King’s closett, whither by and by the King came, my Lord Sandwich carrying the sword. A Bishopp preached, but he speaking too low for me to hear behind the King’s closett, ..."
This sounds as if Charles II was involved in some sort of ceremony, with Sandwich carrying an official sword of state. A Bishop preached a sermon in Charles' private office. Pepys wanted to watch, but there was no room, so he unsuccessfully tried to hear from the hallway.
Some time later "Thence after sermon among the ladies on the Queene’s side; where I saw Mrs. Stewart, very fine and pretty, but far beneath my Lady Castlemayne."
I believe Francis Stuart and Barbara Villiers Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine were still both officially Ladies-in-Waiting to Queen Catherine. So presumably Pepys joins the throng after another church service to see and be seen.
I wonder what's happening tomorrow that they decided to officially celebrate Restoration Day and Charles II's birthday a day early?
"Has anyone else forgot that it is the King's birthday? The Rev. Josselyn: May. 29. This day. as a caution to forelook our ways, and to do things advisedly, I fell into a great error. bidding tomorrow for restoration day of the king which was this day. "
I'm with Rev. Josselyn. May 30th is Charles II's birthday, and the anniversary of the 1660 Restoration Day. Did they move the celebration up to Sunday so more people could participate, or something?
"... took my wife by coach, and she to my Lady Sandwich to see her."
This is the second day he has referred to my Lady Sandwich instead of My Lady. I wonder why. Does he have more than one My Lady these days? Who would this be? Odd.
"Thence to my wife, and carried her to the Old Bayly, and there we were led to the Quest House, by the church, where all the kindred were by themselves at the burial of my uncle Fenner; but, Lord! what a pitiful rout of people there was of them, but very good service and great company the whole was. And so anon to church, and a good sermon, ..."
Recently we had a conversation about women not going to funerals. This reads that Elizabeth was at Uncle Fenner's funeral.
"Wonder what reason prompted Sam to take a mid-week physique (besides the fact that it rhymes)? He usually saves this for the Lord's Day."
Sam has been working long hours, Sundays, and got very wet yesterday. My guess is he took what's now known as a "mental health day" and attended to the things that were worrying him. He will do his job better as a result of this. A wise move.
I wonder if he sent a condolence note to his Aunt Hester Fenner:
Sunday 19 January 1661/62 -- and thence into the Old Bayly ... to my uncle Fenner’s; ... he having lately married a midwife that is old and ugly, and that hath already brought home to him a daughter and three children, ... NAMELY AUNT HESTER FENNER.
Sunday 19 January 1661/62 -- and thence into the Old Bayly ... to my uncle Fenner’s; ... he having lately married a midwife that is old and ugly, and that hath already brought home to him a daughter and three children, ... NAMELY AUNT HESTER FENNER
"What's with all the sudden desire to take Bess everywhere? A special treat to see the ships launched, perhaps? Or has Madame being letting our hero know she resents his behavior or lack thereof towards dear Uncle and this is a form of guilt appeasement?"
On a couple of occasions, Pepys has noted that people are aware of his being away every Monday afternoon at meetings ... so I don't see this outing as appeasement. He may not be able to protecting her from more unwanted advances every Monday, but today he could. Also, Elizabeth might be getting bored again ... we haven't heard about her redecorating or self-improvement activities lately. He certainly doesn't want that Catholic priest successfully dropping in any more.
Comments
Second Reading
About Rum
San Diego Sarah • Link
for more information, see:
http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2017/0…
For Royal Navy sailors and British soldiers in the West Indies during the 18th century, rum was a refuge for the discomforts of the duties of the day. The rum also may have been killing them. It wasn’t the alcohol, but the way it was distilled that proved deadly.
A group of scientists from Lakeland University, Ontario have examined 31 bodies found in the Royal Naval Hospital cemetery in English Harbor, Antigua.
As reported by the Daily Mail:
‘Excessive drinking and lead poisoning have been suggested as being serious health issues for the navy of the period, but this idea had never been tested on the remains of individuals serving in the navy at the time. Previous work in this area includes the testing of the skeletal remains of enslaved laborers from a sugar plantation in Barbados. But not with SR-XRF that we have been using,’ said Professor Varney.
The concentrations ranged from between 13 and 336 parts per million, where a ‘normal’ range of lead is 5 to 30 ppm. A person with more than 80 ppm of lead in their bones normally shows symptoms of lead poisoning.
There were many other ways sailors and soldiers could have been exposed to lead, as it was used in almost everything at the time. Nevertheless, rum was a particularity effective way to get lead poisoning.
Rum was distilled from sugar using stills with lead condensing coil tubes. ‘Rum was both formally and informally distilled using lead worms (condensation coils) on stills, and it was consumed in quantity by naval personnel who were entitled and accustomed to at least their daily allotment of rum, a well-established tradition in the Royal Navy,‘ Varney said.
About Spencer's 'A discourse concerning prodigies...'
San Diego Sarah • Link
I'm having mixed results with this link today. The article is by Chris Durston, published in History Today Volume 37 Issue 10 October 1987.
If it gives you trouble, copy, paste and relink this entire link (I've put a break in the middle so the Pepys site doesn't cut it short): http://www.historytoday.com/chris… signs-and-wonders-and-english-civil-war
About Spencer's 'A discourse concerning prodigies...'
San Diego Sarah • Link
More: http://www.historytoday.com/chris…
John Gadbury defined a prodigy as, ‘a thing that comes to pass beyond the altitude of man’s imagination and begets in him a miraculous contemplation, yea, often horror and amazement’.
Incidents in reports fell into categories.
The ‘celestial wonders’ involved apparitions of pitched battles, swords and balls of fire, irregular planetary occurrences, duplicate suns and moons, rainbows at night, comets, meteors and blazing stars.
Earthly wonders included freak weather, such as rain turning to blood.
Deformed births or 'monstrous' animals and children were popular, and another category covered 'strange accidents', such as sudden or painful illness and death, which were punishments from God.
Most 17th-century observers agreed on the meaning of these wonders. They were signs of divine displeasure, and warnings of imminent disaster, or, as the Parliamentarian John Vicars explained, 'most apparent prints and even visible footsteps of God's highly conceived indignation and provoked patience'.
Inevitably events of the 1640s and 1650s led to interest in prodigies. As the English sought explanations for the civil war, regicide, the overturning of cherished traditional beliefs and customs, reports of wonders proliferated, and the urge to interpret them became intense.
In Discourse Concerning Prodigies, Spencer said: "... as for the common sort of people, Prodigy hath always appeared to them a word clothed about with death, and a comet creates in them more solemn thoughts than Hell doth."
Credulity was not confined to the lower class. Between 1640 and 1662, political and religious factions used reports of wonders to justify their own beliefs, and heap condemnation on their enemies; they invested money and effort, and often subjected themselves to danger, to produce amusing diversions. Those who reported wonders may have believed in them, and relied on a high level of credulity among their readership. However, by tying wonders to partisan positions, they undermined that credulity.
The first to assault belief in prodigies and their significance as divine messages was Spencer's Discourse Concerning Prodigies.
Influenced by the uses made of wonders during the previous 25 years, Spencer commented: "Men's minds, disturbed with love or hatred (as it often falls out in religious differences), each party superstitiously interprets all accidents in favor of itself ..."
Spencer likened prodigies to 'mercenary soldiers', which 'may be easily brought to fight on either side in any case', and counselled his readers to: "... leave off ... the entailing salvation solely upon their own Party, and not to go about to hedge in the Holy Dove by appropriating the graces and influences thereof to themselves. For then they would not be so prone to believe God's judgments design no higher than the service of their sorry passions, parties and persuasions."
About Wednesday 1 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
From http://www.historytoday.com/chris…
John Gadbury defined a prodigy as, ‘a thing that comes to pass beyond the altitude of man’s imagination and begets in him a miraculous contemplation, yea, often horror and amazement’.
Incidents in reports fell into categories.
The ‘celestial wonders’ involved apparitions of pitched battles, swords and balls of fire, irregular planetary occurrences, duplicate suns and moons, rainbows at night, comets, meteors and blazing stars.
Earthly wonders included freak weather, such as rain turning to blood.
Deformed births or 'monstrous' animals and children were popular, and another category covered 'strange accidents', such as sudden or painful illness and death, which were punishments from God.
Most 17th-century observers agreed on the meaning of these wonders. They were signs of divine displeasure, and warnings of imminent disaster, or, as the Parliamentarian John Vicars explained, 'most apparent prints and even visible footsteps of God's highly conceived indignation and provoked patience'.
Inevitably events of the 1640s and 1650s led to interest in prodigies. As the English sought explanations for the civil war, regicide, the overturning of cherished traditional beliefs and customs, reports of wonders proliferated, and the urge to interpret them became intense.
In Discourse Concerning Prodigies, Spencer said: "... as for the common sort of people, Prodigy hath always appeared to them a word clothed about with death, and a comet creates in them more solemn thoughts than Hell doth."
Credulity was not confined to the lower class. Between 1640 and 1662, political and religious factions used reports of wonders to justify their own beliefs, and heap condemnation on their enemies; they invested money and effort, and often subjected themselves to danger, to produce amusing diversions.Those who reported wonders may have believed in them, and relied on a high level of credulity among their readership. However, by tying wonders to partisan positions, they undermined that credulity.
The first to assault belief in prodigies and their significance as divine messages was Spencer's Discourse Concerning Prodigies.
Influenced by the uses made of wonders during the previous 25 years, Spencer commented: "Men's minds, disturbed with love or hatred (as it often falls out in religious differences), each party superstitiously interprets all accidents in favor of itself ..."
Spencer likened prodigies to 'mercenary soldiers', which 'may be easily brought to fight on either side in any case', and counselled his readers to: "... leave off ... the entailing salvation solely upon their own Party, and not to go about to hedge in the Holy Dove by appropriating the graces and influences thereof to themselves. For then they would not be so prone to believe God's judgments design no higher than the service of their sorry passions, parties and persuasions."
About Wednesday 1 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
William and Mary Joyce -- William and his brother Anthony Joyce were tallow chandlers. They "were made free of the Leathersellers' by patrimony in 1654, and inherited their father's business. William seems to have prospered; in 1665 he had a house in Russell St., Covent Garden, and in the poll-tax of 1667 paid tax on three servants.
Since Pepys is walking through Covent Garden today, it is possible William and Mary already live in the Russell Street house.
About Kensington
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Kensington and Chelsea were not part of London in the 17th century but rather separate villages on the Thames, albeit within easy reach of the city. Both were very fashionable. "
http://www.holmans-estates.co.uk/…... -- which sadly seems no longer leads you to this information. Sorry!
About Kensington
San Diego Sarah • Link
Kensington Gardens
Thomas Tickell (1685–1740)
http://www.bartleby.com/270/1/251…
WHERE Kensington high o’er the neighboring lands
Midst greens and sweets a regal fabric stands,
And sees each spring, luxuriant in her bowers,
A snow of blossoms and a wild of flowers,
The dames of Britain oft in crowds repair 5
To groves and lawns and unpolluted air.
Here, while the town in damps and darkness lies,
They breathe in sunshine, and see azure skies;
Each walk, with robes of various dyes bespread,
Seems from afar a moving tulip-bed, 10
Where rich brocades and glossy damasks glow,
And chintz, the rival of the showery bow.
Here England’s daughter, darling of the land,
Sometimes, surrounded with her virgin band,
Gleams through the shades. She, towering o’er the rest, 15
Stands fairest of the fairer kind confessed,
Formed to gain hearts, that Brunswick’s cause denied,
And charm a people to her father’s side.
Long have these groves to royal guests been known,
Nor Nassau first preferred them to a throne. 20
Ere Norman banners waved in British air,
Ere lordly Hubba with the golden hair
Poured in his Danes, ere elder Julius came,
Or Dardan Brutus gave our isle a name,
A prince of Albion’s lineage graced the wood, 25
The scene of wars, and stained with lovers’ blood.
About Tuesday 31 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... but straight home and to supper (the first time I have done so this summer), ..."
so he had supper early ... he usually has supper right before going to bed. Any ideas on why this should be a summer activity? And from Josselyn and the recent cold rain showers, we know this May hasn't exactly been a warm early summer.
About Tuesday 31 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
I suspect having Mrs. Bagwell in the office would have had a different outcome if Lothario Pepys had been feeling better.
About Tuesday 31 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
'"the King was at my Lady Castlemayne’s lodgings (over the hither-gates at Lambert’s lodgings) "
'The Holbein gatehouse at Whitehall Palace, occupied by Maj.-Gen. Lambert during the Protectorate. (L&M footnote)'
From Simon Thurley's Whitehall Palace: An Architectural History of the Royal Apartments, 1240 to 1699:
"New galleries and chambers were built, extensive gardens, jousting and tennis yards, a bowling green, cock-fighting pit and, of course, the magnificent Holbein gatehouse, with its checkered pattern and fleur de lis. Historians believe that on the upper floor of this gatehouse, in January 1536, Henry and Anne married in secret."
And now Barbara Villiers Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine has the apartment. How romantic.
About Monday 30 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
Now Rev. Josselyn and I are confused: Why did everyone "celebrate" Restoration Day yesterday??? Charles II didn't take the day off today -- he was signing bills recalling seamen.
I thought their idea of having a day off was to go to church to give thanks, and then to do some gambling or gamboling.
About Sunday 29 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
'"Pepys and Povy been at loggerheads" Samuel has kept his opinion to himself and only revealing his version to his diary.'
I don't agree with Cumsalisgrano on this one. Pepys has been quite open with his opinion that Povy is incompetent:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Saturday 21 May 1664
Up, called by Mr. Cholmely, and ... to another Committee of Tangier, as we did meet as we did use to do, to see more of Povy’s folly, and so broke up, ...
There are lots more recent examples.
About Sunday 29 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"So up into, the house and with him to the King’s closett, whither by and by the King came, my Lord Sandwich carrying the sword. A Bishopp preached, but he speaking too low for me to hear behind the King’s closett, ..."
This sounds as if Charles II was involved in some sort of ceremony, with Sandwich carrying an official sword of state.
A Bishop preached a sermon in Charles' private office. Pepys wanted to watch, but there was no room, so he unsuccessfully tried to hear from the hallway.
Some time later "Thence after sermon among the ladies on the Queene’s side; where I saw Mrs. Stewart, very fine and pretty, but far beneath my Lady Castlemayne."
I believe Francis Stuart and Barbara Villiers Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine were still both officially Ladies-in-Waiting to Queen Catherine. So presumably Pepys joins the throng after another church service to see and be seen.
I wonder what's happening tomorrow that they decided to officially celebrate Restoration Day and Charles II's birthday a day early?
About Sunday 29 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Has anyone else forgot that it is the King's birthday? The Rev. Josselyn:
May. 29. This day. as a caution to forelook our ways, and to do things advisedly, I fell into a great error. bidding tomorrow for restoration day of the king which was this day. "
I'm with Rev. Josselyn. May 30th is Charles II's birthday, and the anniversary of the 1660 Restoration Day. Did they move the celebration up to Sunday so more people could participate, or something?
About Thursday 26 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... took my wife by coach, and she to my Lady Sandwich to see her."
This is the second day he has referred to my Lady Sandwich instead of My Lady. I wonder why. Does he have more than one My Lady these days? Who would this be? Odd.
About Thursday 26 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Thence to my wife, and carried her to the Old Bayly, and there we were led to the Quest House, by the church, where all the kindred were by themselves at the burial of my uncle Fenner; but, Lord! what a pitiful rout of people there was of them, but very good service and great company the whole was. And so anon to church, and a good sermon, ..."
Recently we had a conversation about women not going to funerals. This reads that Elizabeth was at Uncle Fenner's funeral.
About Wednesday 25 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Wonder what reason prompted Sam to take a mid-week physique (besides the fact that it rhymes)? He usually saves this for the Lord's Day."
Sam has been working long hours, Sundays, and got very wet yesterday. My guess is he took what's now known as a "mental health day" and attended to the things that were worrying him. He will do his job better as a result of this. A wise move.
About Tuesday 24 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
I wonder if he sent a condolence note to his Aunt Hester Fenner:
Sunday 19 January 1661/62 -- and thence into the Old Bayly ... to my uncle Fenner’s; ... he having lately married a midwife that is old and ugly, and that hath already brought home to him a daughter and three children, ... NAMELY AUNT HESTER FENNER.
About Thomas Fenner (Pepys' uncle)
San Diego Sarah • Link
Sunday 19 January 1661/62 -- and thence into the Old Bayly ... to my uncle Fenner’s; ... he having lately married a midwife that is old and ugly, and that hath already brought home to him a daughter and three children, ... NAMELY AUNT HESTER FENNER
About Monday 23 May 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
"What's with all the sudden desire to take Bess everywhere? A special treat to see the ships launched, perhaps? Or has Madame being letting our hero know she resents his behavior or lack thereof towards dear Uncle and this is a form of guilt appeasement?"
On a couple of occasions, Pepys has noted that people are aware of his being away every Monday afternoon at meetings ... so I don't see this outing as appeasement. He may not be able to protecting her from more unwanted advances every Monday, but today he could. Also, Elizabeth might be getting bored again ... we haven't heard about her redecorating or self-improvement activities lately. He certainly doesn't want that Catholic priest successfully dropping in any more.