In defense of excises on strong drink, Adam Smith wrote: "It has for some time past been the policy of Great Britain to discourage the consumption of spirituous liquors, on account of their supposed tendency to ruin the health and to corrupt the morals of the common people."
Samuel Johnson was less flattering in his 1755 dictionary: “EXCI'SE. n.s. ... A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid.”
Monies raised through excise may be earmarked for redress of specific social costs commonly associated with the product or service being taxed. Tobacco tax revenues, for example, might be spent on government anti-smoking campaigns.
Excise duties or taxes often serve political as well as financial ends. Public safety and health, public morals, environmental protection, and national defense are all rationales for the imposition of an excise.
Excise (often under different names, especially before the 15th century, usually consisting of several separate laws, each referring to the individual item being taxed) has been known to be applied to substances which would in today's world seem rather unusual, such as salt, paper, and coffee. In fact, salt was taxed as early as the 2nd century, and as late as the 20th.
Many different reasons have been given for the taxation of such substances, but have usually – if not explicitly – revolved around the scarcity and high value of the substance, with governments clearly feeling entitled to a share of the profits traders make on these expensive items. Such would the justification of salt tax, paper excise, and even advertisement duty have been
The window tax was introduced after controversy arose around the introduction of income tax, which was considered to be a breach of privacy. The rationale behind this was that the grandeur of a person's house, and hence the number of windows, was a visible sign of their wealth – which could, furthermore, not be hidden as income can. One way people got around this problem was to brick up their windows. In the case of poor people this was a big social problem, as they would often force themselves to live in the dark in order to avoid paying this tax.
In defense of excises on strong drink, Adam Smith wrote: "It has for some time past been the policy of Great Britain to discourage the consumption of spirituous liquors, on account of their supposed tendency to ruin the health and to corrupt the morals of the common people."
Samuel Johnson was less flattering in his 1755 dictionary: “EXCI'SE. n.s. ... A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid.”
Monies raised through excise may be earmarked for redress of specific social costs commonly associated with the product or service being taxed. Tobacco tax revenues, for example, might be spent on government anti-smoking campaigns.
Excise duties or taxes often serve political as well as financial ends. Public safety and health, public morals, environmental protection, and national defense are all rationales for the imposition of an excise.
Excise (often under different names, especially before the 15th century, usually consisting of several separate laws, each referring to the individual item being taxed) has been known to be applied to substances which would in today's world seem rather unusual, such as salt, paper, and coffee. In fact, salt was taxed as early as the 2nd century, and as late as the 20th.
Many different reasons have been given for the taxation of such substances, but have usually – if not explicitly – revolved around the scarcity and high value of the substance, with governments clearly feeling entitled to a share of the profits traders make on these expensive items. Such would the justification of salt tax, paper excise, and even advertisement duty have been
The window tax was introduced after controversy arose around the introduction of income tax, which was considered to be a breach of privacy. The rationale behind this was that the grandeur of a person's house, and hence the number of windows, was a visible sign of their wealth – which could, furthermore, not be hidden as income can. One way people got around this problem was to brick up their windows. In the case of poor people this was a big social problem, as they would often force themselves to live in the dark in order to avoid paying this tax
I wonder what offices were still functioning enough to bring in revenues now.
Thanks, Terry -- I've been poking around this evening, puzzling over how Pepys would be paid and by whom. Mr. Jennings -- The Latham Index describes him as "of the Privy Seal." Privy Seal Office: http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
Admiral Edward Montagu (not to be confused with cousin General Edward Montagu) was one of Richard Cromwell's Privy Councillors, and transferred in the same role to Charles II. However, there are these pesky months in between when no one appears to be in charge and Parliament and the Army figure out who will succeed Richard, which is where Pepys is living now. While the "civil service" such as it was struggled on, the listing of Keepers of the Privy Seal (to whom Jennings apparently reported) has no one listed as being in charge for these months. Adm. Montagu is one of four Keepers of the Privy Seal for Charles after May 1660.
What I'm trying to get at is, who did Jennings report to? How did he have access to Parliamentary money to pay Pepys and Montagu? Why are they being paid if Montagu is no longer attached to his Regiment (in which case this is more of a pay-off than pay for no work)? I don't know enough about the New Model Army to know if the government undertook to pay the soldiers, instead of the nobleman who raised the regiments. In the chaos of the times, Pepys had access to cash at the office to pay the rent ... and gamble ... but what were the common citizens going through?
"Mr. Jenkins shewed me two bills of exchange for money to receive upon my Lord’s and my pay." Pepys doesn't sound worried about not getting paid ... I would be in the circumstances.
I don't really expect an answer. These young people entertaining themselves at Will's by gambling, because there is no work at the office, is one way to pass the time and keep their nerves at bay. After years of stress, worry and uncertainty, gambling and drinking are ways of self-medicating. At least Pepys is trying to find useful things to do.
"Mr. Jenkins shewed me two bills of exchange for money to receive upon my Lord’s and my pay."
These Bills of Exchange ... were they like a Letter of Credit today? And who "cashed" them so Sandwich and Pepys could collect their pay? I thought noblemen were responsible for paying their own troops. If they lost their command, why is he being paid? Is L&M any help here please?
Cheshire cheese is one of the oldest-recorded named cheeses in British history: it was first mentioned, along with a Shropshire cheese, by Thomas Muffet in Health's Improvement (c. 1580).
There is no earlier specific mention of a cheese from Cheshire, but the importance of Cheshire as a main dairy region of England is made by William of Malmesbury in the Chester part of the Gesta pontificum Anglorum ("History of the bishops of England": c. 1125).
In 1758 the Royal Navy ordered all ships be stocked with Cheshire and Gloucester cheeses There are three varieties, a white, a 'red' (actually yellow) which is dyed with annatto, and a blue-veined variety (considered undesirable when it occurred accidentally).
Samuel Hartlib, after his wife's Mary Burningham Hartlib’s death, went to live with his son Sam in Axe Yard, Westminster, as a neighbor of Samuel Pepys, who later recalled that he had been ‘much below Hartlibb in all respects’ before the Restoration (Pepys, 5.30).
Samuel Hartlib had a stroke towards the end of 1660. A household fire in 1662 destroyed some of Samuel Hartlib’s papers. Samuel Hartlib died on Monday, 10 March, 1662 in Axe Yard, where he had been living since 1658.
Nicely said, Stan and Sasha ... it's a pleasure sharing this experience with you and Louise and Terry and Phil and everyone who puts in their two cents' worth. Peace on earth, and may we never experience anything like what these Diary characters lived through in their last decade. I am humbled by their resilience.
The Cookbook of Unknown Ladies blog has a recipe for collared brawn:
Raw meat from the head of a pig was removed, and the pieces placed in salt for 3 days, spiced (including cloves and mace), and wrapped in a cloth. Then it was boiled in a mixture of vinegar, salt and water until tender. After being removed from the liquid and cloth, the brawn was wrapped tightly in a fresh cloth and tied, then cooled. The liquid (referred to as “pickle”) was then brought to a boil with fresh water, then cooled, and the brawn placed in the liquid. (The recipe advises making fresh liquid or liquor every two weeks.)
Cribbage was a relatively new game: Sir John Suckling ... also ‘invented the game of cribbage’, as all the circumstantial evidence affirms and none contradicts.
For more information see: Tom Clayton, ‘Suckling, Sir John (bap. 1609, d. 1641?)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/art…, accessed 6 April 2014]
Cribbage was a relatively new game: Sir John Suckling ... also ‘invented the game of cribbage’, as all the circumstantial evidence affirms and none contradicts.
For more information see: Tom Clayton, ‘Suckling, Sir John (bap. 1609, d. 1641?)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/art…, accessed 6 April 2014]
How did this happen? It's Boxing Day and no one asked about it's origins? Bah Humbug. So for your enjoyment, a Pepys' mention, and a reminder of its connection with the Feast of St, Stephen which is also today, I give you:
"Then I went to Mr. Sheply who was drawing of sack in the wine cellar to send to other places as a gift from my Lord,1 and told me that my Lord had given him order to give me the dozen of bottles."
In 1660 Christmas gifts to your family, friends, equals and betters were given at New Years. Christmas "boxes" were given to your servants and apprentices on the day after Christmas (hence the name, Boxing Day). So Mr. Sheply is measuring into bottles the New Year's gifts of sack (sherry or fortified wine from Malaga or the Canary Islands), and "old East" is delivering the gifts.
Sack was the name used during Queen Elizabeth's reign for sherry and other fortified wines from Malaga and the Canary Islands. They were known as Malaga Sack and Canary Sack. "Sack" comes from the Spanish sacar, meaning ‘to take out’ or ‘to export.’”
"Then went with my wife to my father’s, and in going observed the great posts which the City have set up at the Conduit in Fleet-street."
Anyone know anything about these great posts? It sounds as if there were a few of them, but they did not obstruct traffic. My only idea is that the City fathers had positioned them there in case the Trained Band needed to fight off Admiral Lawson's men, or ... ? If that was the case, Pepys would surely have seen other piles of obstructions.
Jesse copied the exact text from http://www.coventgarden.uk.com/fe…... BUT although it's not part of the Diary, I take issue with: "Eighteen years on, Henrietta Maria lodged here [EXETER HOUSE] before her marriage to Prince Charles."
With the aid of a special dispensation from the Pope, a marriage was arranged by French King Louis XIII with the English sovereign, King James I, to the match of Princess Henrietta Maria to Charles, Prince of Wales on the condition that some measure of toleration would be afforded to Roman Catholics in England.
The couple were married by proxy on 11 May, 1625, in Paris. They were married in person at St. Augustine's Church, Canterbury, Kent, on 5 June, 1625. Princess Henrietta was 15 years old and Prince Charles was 24.
So far as I know, they married in person minutes after they met for the first time in Canterbury, and cohabited as best they could from then on. The House later associated with Queen Henrietta Maria is Somerset House.
Louise, Christmas took a while to catch on again ... and Christmas stockings didn't arrive until Victorian times ... gift giving took place at New Year's for your loved ones and superiors ... Christmas boxes of money went to the tradesmen and apprentices before Christmas.
To learn about the man who, almost single-handed, saved Christmas, read up on William Winstanley. My nomination for Man of the Year: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/a…
The "the young ladies of Hinchingbroke" probably were:
Lady Jem, BORN IN 1648 Paulina, BORN IN 1651 Anne, BORN IN 1653 Catherine, BORN IN 1661
I bet Pall's having a wonderful time. No doubt the nurse maids came as well.
I wonder where sons Charles, Oliver and John went? Since Sandwich is at Whitehall, do we think My Lady is also? Since she's pregnant, would measles frighten her away -- not that she can go home to a house with smallpox in it. Did they have any other country homes?
"My father and mother well in the country; and at this time the young ladies of Hinchingbroke with them, their house having the small-pox in it."
This surprised me. The Earl of Sandwich's daughters are staying with a former tailor and cleaning woman and their spinster daughter at Brampton for New Years? I would have thought they would be sent to their uncles at Kimbolton Castle or Boughton House.
"... have thus kept our Christmas together all alone almost, having not once been out ..."
I have been thinking how different this Christmas-to-New Years week has been from last year, when Sandwich was out of town and Sam and Elizabeth slept over at their lodgings in Whitehall. Sam was forever hiding, trying not to be seen by Coventry. They visited friends and had a good time.
Perhaps the rest of the Navy Board was "out of town" as well last year, but the pressure of preparing for war has them paying closer attention this year? Perhaps Elizabeth isn't comfortable yet, so putting those dancing skills to use isn't wise?
I liked last year's Sam better ... his new focus on money, position, and getting away with things while claiming the moral high ground irritates me. No hikes to the Half Way House. No more walking all over town. And so many law suits. The on-set of middle age responsibilities, I suppose. He feels more than one year older to me.
Comments
Second Reading
About Excise Office
San Diego Sarah • Link
Some highlights on the source of funds for the Excise Office over the years. More information from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exc…
In defense of excises on strong drink, Adam Smith wrote: "It has for some time past been the policy of Great Britain to discourage the consumption of spirituous liquors, on account of their supposed tendency to ruin the health and to corrupt the morals of the common people."
Samuel Johnson was less flattering in his 1755 dictionary: “EXCI'SE. n.s. ... A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid.”
Monies raised through excise may be earmarked for redress of specific social costs commonly associated with the product or service being taxed. Tobacco tax revenues, for example, might be spent on government anti-smoking campaigns.
Excise duties or taxes often serve political as well as financial ends. Public safety and health, public morals, environmental protection, and national defense are all rationales for the imposition of an excise.
Excise (often under different names, especially before the 15th century, usually consisting of several separate laws, each referring to the individual item being taxed) has been known to be applied to substances which would in today's world seem rather unusual, such as salt, paper, and coffee. In fact, salt was taxed as early as the 2nd century, and as late as the 20th.
Many different reasons have been given for the taxation of such substances, but have usually – if not explicitly – revolved around the scarcity and high value of the substance, with governments clearly feeling entitled to a share of the profits traders make on these expensive items. Such would the justification of salt tax, paper excise, and even advertisement duty have been
The window tax was introduced after controversy arose around the introduction of income tax, which was considered to be a breach of privacy. The rationale behind this was that the grandeur of a person's house, and hence the number of windows, was a visible sign of their wealth – which could, furthermore, not be hidden as income can. One way people got around this problem was to brick up their windows. In the case of poor people this was a big social problem, as they would often force themselves to live in the dark in order to avoid paying this tax.
About Thursday 5 January 1659/60
San Diego Sarah • Link
Some highlights on the source of funds for the Excise Office over the years. More information from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exc…
In defense of excises on strong drink, Adam Smith wrote: "It has for some time past been the policy of Great Britain to discourage the consumption of spirituous liquors, on account of their supposed tendency to ruin the health and to corrupt the morals of the common people."
Samuel Johnson was less flattering in his 1755 dictionary: “EXCI'SE. n.s. ... A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid.”
Monies raised through excise may be earmarked for redress of specific social costs commonly associated with the product or service being taxed. Tobacco tax revenues, for example, might be spent on government anti-smoking campaigns.
Excise duties or taxes often serve political as well as financial ends. Public safety and health, public morals, environmental protection, and national defense are all rationales for the imposition of an excise.
Excise (often under different names, especially before the 15th century, usually consisting of several separate laws, each referring to the individual item being taxed) has been known to be applied to substances which would in today's world seem rather unusual, such as salt, paper, and coffee. In fact, salt was taxed as early as the 2nd century, and as late as the 20th.
Many different reasons have been given for the taxation of such substances, but have usually – if not explicitly – revolved around the scarcity and high value of the substance, with governments clearly feeling entitled to a share of the profits traders make on these expensive items. Such would the justification of salt tax, paper excise, and even advertisement duty have been
The window tax was introduced after controversy arose around the introduction of income tax, which was considered to be a breach of privacy. The rationale behind this was that the grandeur of a person's house, and hence the number of windows, was a visible sign of their wealth – which could, furthermore, not be hidden as income can. One way people got around this problem was to brick up their windows. In the case of poor people this was a big social problem, as they would often force themselves to live in the dark in order to avoid paying this tax
I wonder what offices were still functioning enough to bring in revenues now.
About Wednesday 4 January 1659/60
San Diego Sarah • Link
Thanks, Terry -- I've been poking around this evening, puzzling over how Pepys would be paid and by whom. Mr. Jennings -- The Latham Index describes him as "of the Privy Seal." Privy Seal Office: http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
Admiral Edward Montagu (not to be confused with cousin General Edward Montagu) was one of Richard Cromwell's Privy Councillors, and transferred in the same role to Charles II. However, there are these pesky months in between when no one appears to be in charge and Parliament and the Army figure out who will succeed Richard, which is where Pepys is living now. While the "civil service" such as it was struggled on, the listing of Keepers of the Privy Seal (to whom Jennings apparently reported) has no one listed as being in charge for these months. Adm. Montagu is one of four Keepers of the Privy Seal for Charles after May 1660.
What I'm trying to get at is, who did Jennings report to? How did he have access to Parliamentary money to pay Pepys and Montagu? Why are they being paid if Montagu is no longer attached to his Regiment (in which case this is more of a pay-off than pay for no work)? I don't know enough about the New Model Army to know if the government undertook to pay the soldiers, instead of the nobleman who raised the regiments. In the chaos of the times, Pepys had access to cash at the office to pay the rent ... and gamble ... but what were the common citizens going through?
"Mr. Jenkins shewed me two bills of exchange for money to receive upon my Lord’s and my pay." Pepys doesn't sound worried about not getting paid ... I would be in the circumstances.
I don't really expect an answer. These young people entertaining themselves at Will's by gambling, because there is no work at the office, is one way to pass the time and keep their nerves at bay. After years of stress, worry and uncertainty, gambling and drinking are ways of self-medicating. At least Pepys is trying to find useful things to do.
About Wednesday 4 January 1659/60
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Mr. Jenkins shewed me two bills of exchange for money to receive upon my Lord’s and my pay."
These Bills of Exchange ... were they like a Letter of Credit today? And who "cashed" them so Sandwich and Pepys could collect their pay? I thought noblemen were responsible for paying their own troops. If they lost their command, why is he being paid? Is L&M any help here please?
About Cheese
San Diego Sarah • Link
Cheshire cheese is one of the oldest-recorded named cheeses in British history: it was first mentioned, along with a Shropshire cheese, by Thomas Muffet in Health's Improvement (c. 1580).
There is no earlier specific mention of a cheese from Cheshire, but the importance of Cheshire as a main dairy region of England is made by William of Malmesbury in the Chester part of the Gesta pontificum Anglorum ("History of the bishops of England": c. 1125).
In 1758 the Royal Navy ordered all ships be stocked with Cheshire and Gloucester cheeses
There are three varieties, a white, a 'red' (actually yellow) which is dyed with annatto, and a blue-veined variety (considered undesirable when it occurred accidentally).
For more information see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che…
About Pepys’ home in Axe Yard
San Diego Sarah • Link
Samuel Hartlib, after his wife's Mary Burningham Hartlib’s death, went to live with his son Sam in Axe Yard, Westminster, as a neighbor of Samuel Pepys, who later recalled that he had been ‘much below Hartlibb in all respects’ before the Restoration (Pepys, 5.30).
Samuel Hartlib had a stroke towards the end of 1660.
A household fire in 1662 destroyed some of Samuel Hartlib’s papers.
Samuel Hartlib died on Monday, 10 March, 1662 in Axe Yard, where he had been living since 1658.
For more information: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/pri…
About Thursday 24 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Nicely said, Stan and Sasha ... it's a pleasure sharing this experience with you and Louise and Terry and Phil and everyone who puts in their two cents' worth. Peace on earth, and may we never experience anything like what these Diary characters lived through in their last decade. I am humbled by their resilience.
About Brawn
San Diego Sarah • Link
The Cookbook of Unknown Ladies blog has a recipe for collared brawn:
Raw meat from the head of a pig was removed, and the pieces placed in salt for 3 days, spiced (including cloves and mace), and wrapped in a cloth. Then it was boiled in a mixture of vinegar, salt and water until tender. After being removed from the liquid and cloth, the brawn was wrapped tightly in a fresh cloth and tied, then cooled. The liquid (referred to as “pickle”) was then brought to a boil with fresh water, then cooled, and the brawn placed in the liquid. (The recipe advises making fresh liquid or liquor every two weeks.)
Yum!
Other recipes and insights for your edification: http://englishhistoryauthors.blog…
About Monday 2 January 1659/60
San Diego Sarah • Link
Cribbage was a relatively new game: Sir John Suckling ... also ‘invented the game of cribbage’, as all the circumstantial evidence affirms and none contradicts.
For more information see: Tom Clayton, ‘Suckling, Sir John (bap. 1609, d. 1641?)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/art…, accessed 6 April 2014]
About Cards
San Diego Sarah • Link
Cribbage was a relatively new game: Sir John Suckling ... also ‘invented the game of cribbage’, as all the circumstantial evidence affirms and none contradicts.
For more information see: Tom Clayton, ‘Suckling, Sir John (bap. 1609, d. 1641?)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/art…, accessed 6 April 2014]
About Monday 26 December 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
How did this happen? It's Boxing Day and no one asked about it's origins? Bah Humbug. So for your enjoyment, a Pepys' mention, and a reminder of its connection with the Feast of St, Stephen which is also today, I give you:
http://englishhistoryauthors.blog…
About Monday 2 January 1659/60
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Then I went to Mr. Sheply who was drawing of sack in the wine cellar to send to other places as a gift from my Lord,1 and told me that my Lord had given him order to give me the dozen of bottles."
In 1660 Christmas gifts to your family, friends, equals and betters were given at New Years. Christmas "boxes" were given to your servants and apprentices on the day after Christmas (hence the name, Boxing Day). So Mr. Sheply is measuring into bottles the New Year's gifts of sack (sherry or fortified wine from Malaga or the Canary Islands), and "old East" is delivering the gifts.
About Wine
San Diego Sarah • Link
Sack was the name used during Queen Elizabeth's reign for sherry and other fortified wines from Malaga and the Canary Islands. They were known as Malaga Sack and Canary Sack. "Sack" comes from the Spanish sacar, meaning ‘to take out’ or ‘to export.’”
For more information, see: http://eat.epicurious.com/diction…...
About Sunday 1 January 1659/60
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Then went with my wife to my father’s, and in going observed the great posts which the City have set up at the Conduit in Fleet-street."
Anyone know anything about these great posts? It sounds as if there were a few of them, but they did not obstruct traffic. My only idea is that the City fathers had positioned them there in case the Trained Band needed to fight off Admiral Lawson's men, or ... ? If that was the case, Pepys would surely have seen other piles of obstructions.
About Exeter House
San Diego Sarah • Link
Jesse copied the exact text from http://www.coventgarden.uk.com/fe…... BUT although it's not part of the Diary, I take issue with: "Eighteen years on, Henrietta Maria lodged here [EXETER HOUSE] before her marriage to Prince Charles."
With the aid of a special dispensation from the Pope, a marriage was arranged by French King Louis XIII with the English sovereign, King James I, to the match of Princess Henrietta Maria to Charles, Prince of Wales on the condition that some measure of toleration would be afforded to Roman Catholics in England.
The couple were married by proxy on 11 May, 1625, in Paris. They were married in person at St. Augustine's Church, Canterbury, Kent, on 5 June, 1625. Princess Henrietta was 15 years old and Prince Charles was 24.
So far as I know, they married in person minutes after they met for the first time in Canterbury, and cohabited as best they could from then on. The House later associated with Queen Henrietta Maria is Somerset House.
For more information see http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/…
About Wednesday 23 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Good clarification, Sasha. Thanks
About Thursday 24 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Louise, Christmas took a while to catch on again ... and Christmas stockings didn't arrive until Victorian times ... gift giving took place at New Year's for your loved ones and superiors ... Christmas boxes of money went to the tradesmen and apprentices before Christmas.
To learn about the man who, almost single-handed, saved Christmas, read up on William Winstanley. My nomination for Man of the Year:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/a…
About Thursday 31 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
The "the young ladies of Hinchingbroke" probably were:
Lady Jem, BORN IN 1648
Paulina, BORN IN 1651
Anne, BORN IN 1653
Catherine, BORN IN 1661
I bet Pall's having a wonderful time. No doubt the nurse maids came as well.
I wonder where sons Charles, Oliver and John went? Since Sandwich is at Whitehall, do we think My Lady is also? Since she's pregnant, would measles frighten her away -- not that she can go home to a house with smallpox in it. Did they have any other country homes?
About Thursday 31 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"My father and mother well in the country; and at this time the young ladies of Hinchingbroke with them, their house having the small-pox in it."
This surprised me. The Earl of Sandwich's daughters are staying with a former tailor and cleaning woman and their spinster daughter at Brampton for New Years? I would have thought they would be sent to their uncles at Kimbolton Castle or Boughton House.
About Thursday 31 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... have thus kept our Christmas together all alone almost, having not once been out ..."
I have been thinking how different this Christmas-to-New Years week has been from last year, when Sandwich was out of town and Sam and Elizabeth slept over at their lodgings in Whitehall. Sam was forever hiding, trying not to be seen by Coventry. They visited friends and had a good time.
Perhaps the rest of the Navy Board was "out of town" as well last year, but the pressure of preparing for war has them paying closer attention this year? Perhaps Elizabeth isn't comfortable yet, so putting those dancing skills to use isn't wise?
I liked last year's Sam better ... his new focus on money, position, and getting away with things while claiming the moral high ground irritates me. No hikes to the Half Way House. No more walking all over town. And so many law suits. The on-set of middle age responsibilities, I suppose. He feels more than one year older to me.