Yes, Sam could easily have gone out to eat. But his wife was also out all day, and he created an excuse to stop in and make sure the maids were all working hard. Gotta keep the sluts on their toes. And to make sure Hewer isn't there creating diversions, of course.
A late reply to Herbert: I think Pepys goes to the 'Change every day if he can. It is a place he can hear the buzz ... this is a time virtually without newspapers, never mind email, FaceBook or Twitter. Sometimes he arranges to meet people there. Sometimes he bumps into acquaintances. A week ago he mentioned that he had never seen Coventry there ... now they have walked there from the office three timers together. And yes, there were lots of vendors to visit, pretty girls to see, goods to finger, ideas to ponder. As my boss said to me once, "Nothing happens if you never leave the office."
"My aunt tells me they are counted very rich people, worth at least 10 or 12,000l., and their country house all the yeare long and all things liveable, which mightily surprises me to think for how poore a man I took him when I did him the courtesy at our office."
Aunt Wight is appealing to Samuel's acquisitive nature. I wonder how much she understood of Uncle Wight's designs on Elizabeth.
"... we on foot to Mr. Jaggard, a salter, in Thames Street, for whom I did a courtesy among the poor victuallers, his wife, whom long ago I had seen, being daughter to old Day, my uncle Wight’s master, is a very plain woman, but pretty children they have."
Her husband, Abraham Jaggard -- L&H identifies as "... a wealthy grocer who often supplied navy victualling".
Sarah Day Jaggard is apparently the daughter of Pepys' Uncle John Day. So she was a distant step-cousin once removed from Pepys. Or something.
"after supper Mrs. Jaggard did at my entreaty play on the Vyall, but so well as I did not think any woman in England could and but few Maisters, I must confess it did mightily surprise me, though I knew heretofore that she could play, but little thought so well."
"... we on foot to Mr. Jaggard, a salter, in Thames Street, for whom I did a courtesy among the poor victuallers, his wife, whom long ago I had seen, being daughter to old Day, my uncle Wight’s master, is a very plain woman, but pretty children they have."
That's Abraham Jaggard -- L&H identify: "... a wealthy grocer who often supplied navy victualling".
And his wife, Sarah Day Jaggard -- L&M Companion -- apparently the daughter of this John Day. So she was a step-cousin once removed from Pepys. Or something.
How do you ship a mastiff? If dad agrees to take him, I suppose Pepys will have to pay someone to hold the dog in the pannier on the back of the coach (cheapest, and probably safest way) for 2 days going there, leave him with dad, and take another 2 days to come back to London. Or maybe a Sandwich servant will be going to Hinchingbrooke sometime soon, and be coerced into taking the dog. Either way ... what a nightmare.
Chris, no one was eating well in the 1600's ... it was cold and wet and the corn rotted in the fields:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… Sunday 6 September 1663 (Lord’s day). The Rev. Josselin's diary today: "God good to us in manifold mercies, in the season, sabbath, my heart warmed in the sense of god's mercy wherein my soul delights. Fears of famine ride in plenty(,) corn falling much again."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… Thursday 18 September 1662 Among other discourse, speaking concerning the great charity used in Catholic countries, Mr. Ashburnham did tell us, that this last year, there being great want of corn in Paris, and so a collection made for the poor, ...
http://brittlebooks.library.illin… John Evelyn's Diary 21 October, 1666. This season, after so long and extraordinary a drought in August and September, as if preparatory for the dreadful fire, was so very wet and rainy as many feared an ensuing famine.
"The severe famines of 1674 and 1675 might have prompted the initial decision to formalize the existing association of gardeners in the area [OF HADDINGTON, SCOTLAND]." This is from a site about the start of the Freemasons in Scotland, but I can't find the link right now.
Scientifically speaking, they were experiencing Climate Change (a cold one) ... the Pentagon thinks it was probably one reason for so many wars in the 17th century. They also had big refugee problems in the 17th century.
Lady Gold has only been a wealthy widow for six months. I found this summation of the widow's role 100 years later; evidently things were different under Charles II:
'Men who remarried were eyed with suspicion, especially when considering older widows. For when: "… old Women marry young Men. Indeed, any Marriage is in such, a Folly and Dotage. They who must suddenly make their Beds in the Dust, what should they think of a Nuptial Couch … But this Dotage becomes perfect Frenzy and Madness when they choose young Husbands; This is an Accumulation of Absurdities and Contradictions. The Husband and the Wife are but one Person; and yet at once young and old, fresh and withered. It is reversing the Decrees of Nature." (The Whole Duty of a Woman, 1737)'
"There is no reference to this incident at Surat in Sir W. Foster's Engl. factories in India, 1661-64, which is based on the records both of Surat and of the Dutch E. India Company."
Pepys entry was confused by me with the annotations about the subsequent attack: "... In 1664 the Maratha leader Shivaji sacked and looted Surat. When Shivaji arrived at Surat he demanded tribute from the Mughal commander and the small army stationed with him for port security. The tribute was refused and so after Shivaji took the city, he put it to sack."
I think the Dutch were being disrespectful at the end of 1663. A letter was written and sent to Chamberlyn. It takes about 2 months to reach London. In the meantime in 1664 the attack happens, and overshadows the Dutch disrespect, which is why it didn't make it into the history books.
In a few weeks Pepys and we will probably hear about the Shavaji attack.
"... they will do what they list, and will be masters of all the world there; and have so proclaimed themselves Soveraigne of all the South Seas; which certainly our King cannot endure, if the Parliament will give him money. But I doubt and yet do hope they will not yet, till we are more ready for it."
Pepys, events are not waiting for you to be ready. And the coffers are empty. Better figure it out by yourself.
I wondered the same thing, Arby ... and then realized that I have occasionally shown my husband a new pair of shoes, when in fact I have bought two pairs. I tucked the other pair away for later -- "oh, you like them? I bought them a couple of months ago ...". Sometimes expensive revelations are better made in smaller doses.
King Henry I produced sticks of polished wood, with notches cut along one edge to signify the denominations. The stick was then split full length so each piece still had a record of the notches.
The King kept one half for proof against counterfeiting, and then spent the other half into the market place where it would continue to circulate as money.
Because only Tally Sticks were accepted by Henry I for payment of taxes, there was a built-in demand for them, which gave people confidence to accept these as money.
Henry I could have used anything, so long as the people agreed it had value, and his willingness to accept these sticks as legal tender made it easy for the people to agree. Money is only as valuable as people’s faith in it, and without that faith even today's money is just paper.
The tally stick system worked really well for 726 years. It was the most successful form of currency in recent history and the British Empire was built under the Tally Stick system, so how is it that most of us are not aware of its existence?
Perhaps the fact that in 1694 the Bank of England at its formation attacked the Tally Stick System gives us a clue as to why most of us have never heard of them. They realized it was money outside the power of the money changers (the very thing King Henry had intended).
"... So home and to bed, my mind disturbed about the letter I am forced to write tonight to my father, it being very severe; but it is convenient I should do it."
Convenient is an interesting word to use here. It may be a timely request to his father not to share the family financial details with relatives with whom Pepys has to do business ... but I suspect it was also a shot across the bow to prevent his father from asking directly for more money. Presumably he doesn't know how well his son is doing ... or perhaps the home improvements, furnishings, new wigs and clothes have raised expectations in Brampton.
"... finding my wife abroad (after her coming home from being with my aunt Wight to-day to buy Lent provisions) ..." What did these ladies find to talk about? Since Aunt Mary Sutton Wight enquired about Elizabeth's "pregnancy" I assumed she knew something of Uncle Wight's designs on the Pepys' child. I wonder if Elizabeth filled her in on the rest of Uncle's suggestions ...??? I know, we'll probably never find out.
"They say also that the King of France hath hired threescore ships of Holland, and forty of the Swede, but nobody knows what to do; but some great designs he hath on foot against the next year."
"..., and so at noon to the ‘Change, where I met Mr. Coventry, the first time I ever saw him there, and after a little talk with him and other merchants, I up and down about several businesses, ..."
Three days later Pepys and Coventry are at the Exchange again. It shows how important such gathering places were to business and intelligence. Today we look at our cell phones every 10 minutes. I prefer Pepys method. Of course, they had to deal with "fake news" without the help of Snopes.
"So home a little vexed in my mind to think how today I was forced to compliment W. Howe and admit myself to an equality with Mr. Moore, which is come to challenge in his discourse with me, but I will admit it no more, but let me stand or fall, I will show myself as strange to them as my Lord do himself to me."
Pepys keeps asking Mr. Moore and Mr. Howe to report on Sandwich's mood and behavior, and/or cover his backside for having the guts to write that unwanted letter. They now sense Pepys' vulnerability, and it's straining their relationships. Pepys is right to stop acting nervous around his old colleagues, What will be, will be.
Jack Hawly had had lunch with Sam and Elizabeth Pepys on January 23, where Pepys presumably told him Betty Lane wasn't interested. Apparently Hawly decided to persist.
Comments
Second Reading
About Monday 15 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
Hi Sasha, sadly the twitter link says it doesn't exist for me. Could you share the gist of the postcard with the historic origin of Tory please?
About Monday 22 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
Yes, Sam could easily have gone out to eat. But his wife was also out all day, and he created an excuse to stop in and make sure the maids were all working hard. Gotta keep the sluts on their toes. And to make sure Hewer isn't there creating diversions, of course.
About Saturday 20 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
A late reply to Herbert: I think Pepys goes to the 'Change every day if he can. It is a place he can hear the buzz ... this is a time virtually without newspapers, never mind email, FaceBook or Twitter. Sometimes he arranges to meet people there. Sometimes he bumps into acquaintances. A week ago he mentioned that he had never seen Coventry there ... now they have walked there from the office three timers together. And yes, there were lots of vendors to visit, pretty girls to see, goods to finger, ideas to ponder. As my boss said to me once, "Nothing happens if you never leave the office."
About Friday 19 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
"My aunt tells me they are counted very rich people, worth at least 10 or 12,000l., and their country house all the yeare long and all things liveable, which mightily surprises me to think for how poore a man I took him when I did him the courtesy at our office."
Aunt Wight is appealing to Samuel's acquisitive nature. I wonder how much she understood of Uncle Wight's designs on Elizabeth.
About Sarah Jaggard
San Diego Sarah • Link
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Friday 19 February 1664
"... we on foot to Mr. Jaggard, a salter, in Thames Street, for whom I did a courtesy among the poor victuallers, his wife, whom long ago I had seen, being daughter to old Day, my uncle Wight’s master, is a very plain woman, but pretty children they have."
Her husband, Abraham Jaggard -- L&H identifies as "... a wealthy grocer who often supplied navy victualling".
Sarah Day Jaggard is apparently the daughter of Pepys' Uncle John Day. So she was a distant step-cousin once removed from Pepys. Or something.
"after supper Mrs. Jaggard did at my entreaty play on the Vyall, but so well as I did not think any woman in England could and but few Maisters, I must confess it did mightily surprise me, though I knew heretofore that she could play, but little thought so well."
High praise.
About John Day (Pepys' uncle)
San Diego Sarah • Link
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Friday 19 February 1664
"... we on foot to Mr. Jaggard, a salter, in Thames Street, for whom I did a courtesy among the poor victuallers, his wife, whom long ago I had seen, being daughter to old Day, my uncle Wight’s master, is a very plain woman, but pretty children they have."
That's Abraham Jaggard -- L&H identify: "... a wealthy grocer who often supplied navy victualling".
And his wife, Sarah Day Jaggard -- L&M Companion -- apparently the daughter of this John Day. So she was a step-cousin once removed from Pepys. Or something.
About Thursday 18 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
How do you ship a mastiff? If dad agrees to take him, I suppose Pepys will have to pay someone to hold the dog in the pannier on the back of the coach (cheapest, and probably safest way) for 2 days going there, leave him with dad, and take another 2 days to come back to London. Or maybe a Sandwich servant will be going to Hinchingbrooke sometime soon, and be coerced into taking the dog. Either way ... what a nightmare.
About Sunday 7 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
Chris, no one was eating well in the 1600's ... it was cold and wet and the corn rotted in the fields:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Sunday 6 September 1663 (Lord’s day).
The Rev. Josselin's diary today:
"God good to us in manifold mercies, in the season, sabbath, my heart warmed in the sense of god's mercy wherein my soul delights. Fears of famine ride in plenty(,) corn falling much again."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Thursday 18 September 1662
Among other discourse, speaking concerning the great charity used in Catholic countries, Mr. Ashburnham did tell us, that this last year, there being great want of corn in Paris, and so a collection made for the poor, ...
http://brittlebooks.library.illin…
John Evelyn's Diary
21 October, 1666. This season, after so long and extraordinary a drought in August and September, as if preparatory for the dreadful fire, was so very wet and rainy as many feared an ensuing famine.
"The severe famines of 1674 and 1675 might have prompted the initial decision to formalize the existing association of gardeners in the area [OF HADDINGTON, SCOTLAND]." This is from a site about the start of the Freemasons in Scotland, but I can't find the link right now.
Scientifically speaking, they were experiencing Climate Change (a cold one) ... the Pentagon thinks it was probably one reason for so many wars in the 17th century. They also had big refugee problems in the 17th century.
About Monday 20 June 1664
San Diego Sarah • Link
Lady Gold has only been a wealthy widow for six months. I found this summation of the widow's role 100 years later; evidently things were different under Charles II:
'Men who remarried were eyed with suspicion, especially when considering older widows. For when:
"… old Women marry young Men. Indeed, any Marriage is in such, a Folly and Dotage. They who must suddenly make their Beds in the Dust, what should they think of a Nuptial Couch … But this Dotage becomes perfect Frenzy and Madness when they choose young Husbands; This is an Accumulation of Absurdities and Contradictions. The Husband and the Wife are but one Person; and yet at once young and old, fresh and withered. It is reversing the Decrees of Nature." (The Whole Duty of a Woman, 1737)'
For the complete article, which isn't about Pepys' times: http://englishhistoryauthors.blog…
About Monday 15 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
"There is no reference to this incident at Surat in Sir W. Foster's Engl. factories in India, 1661-64, which is based on the records both of Surat and of the Dutch E. India Company."
Pepys entry was confused by me with the annotations about the subsequent attack: "... In 1664 the Maratha leader Shivaji sacked and looted Surat. When Shivaji arrived at Surat he demanded tribute from the Mughal commander and the small army stationed with him for port security. The tribute was refused and so after Shivaji took the city, he put it to sack."
I think the Dutch were being disrespectful at the end of 1663. A letter was written and sent to Chamberlyn. It takes about 2 months to reach London. In the meantime in 1664 the attack happens, and overshadows the Dutch disrespect, which is why it didn't make it into the history books.
In a few weeks Pepys and we will probably hear about the Shavaji attack.
About Monday 15 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... they will do what they list, and will be masters of all the world there; and have so proclaimed themselves Soveraigne of all the South Seas; which certainly our King cannot endure, if the Parliament will give him money. But I doubt and yet do hope they will not yet, till we are more ready for it."
Pepys, events are not waiting for you to be ready. And the coffers are empty. Better figure it out by yourself.
About Monday 8 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
Stan, that is an awesome list ... and no, I had no idea why I was having trouble finding a list. Thank you.
About Tuesday 9 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
I wondered the same thing, Arby ... and then realized that I have occasionally shown my husband a new pair of shoes, when in fact I have bought two pairs. I tucked the other pair away for later -- "oh, you like them? I bought them a couple of months ago ...". Sometimes expensive revelations are better made in smaller doses.
About Financial transactions
San Diego Sarah • Link
info taken from: http://www.xat.org/xat/moneyhisto…
THE TALLY STICKS (1100 - 1854)
King Henry I produced sticks of polished wood, with notches cut along one edge to signify the denominations. The stick was then split full length so each piece still had a record of the notches.
The King kept one half for proof against counterfeiting, and then spent the other half into the market place where it would continue to circulate as money.
Because only Tally Sticks were accepted by Henry I for payment of taxes, there was a built-in demand for them, which gave people confidence to accept these as money.
Henry I could have used anything, so long as the people agreed it had value, and his willingness to accept these sticks as legal tender made it easy for the people to agree. Money is only as valuable as people’s faith in it, and without that faith even today's money is just paper.
The tally stick system worked really well for 726 years. It was the most successful form of currency in recent history and the British Empire was built under the Tally Stick system, so how is it that most of us are not aware of its existence?
Perhaps the fact that in 1694 the Bank of England at its formation attacked the Tally Stick System gives us a clue as to why most of us have never heard of them. They realized it was money outside the power of the money changers (the very thing King Henry had intended).
About Thursday 11 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... So home and to bed, my mind disturbed about the letter I am forced to write tonight to my father, it being very severe; but it is convenient I should do it."
Convenient is an interesting word to use here. It may be a timely request to his father not to share the family financial details with relatives with whom Pepys has to do business ... but I suspect it was also a shot across the bow to prevent his father from asking directly for more money. Presumably he doesn't know how well his son is doing ... or perhaps the home improvements, furnishings, new wigs and clothes have raised expectations in Brampton.
About Wednesday 10 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... finding my wife abroad (after her coming home from being with my aunt Wight to-day to buy Lent provisions) ..." What did these ladies find to talk about? Since Aunt Mary Sutton Wight enquired about Elizabeth's "pregnancy" I assumed she knew something of Uncle Wight's designs on the Pepys' child. I wonder if Elizabeth filled her in on the rest of Uncle's suggestions ...??? I know, we'll probably never find out.
About Saturday 6 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
"peace between the Pope and King of France." Trouble is brewing ...
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Monday 14 December 1663
"They say also that the King of France hath hired threescore ships of Holland, and forty of the Swede, but nobody knows what to do; but some great designs he hath on foot against the next year."
About Tuesday 9 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… -- Saturday 6 February 1663/64
"..., and so at noon to the ‘Change, where I met Mr. Coventry, the first time I ever saw him there, and after a little talk with him and other merchants, I up and down about several businesses, ..."
Three days later Pepys and Coventry are at the Exchange again. It shows how important such gathering places were to business and intelligence. Today we look at our cell phones every 10 minutes. I prefer Pepys method. Of course, they had to deal with "fake news" without the help of Snopes.
About Monday 8 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
"So home a little vexed in my mind to think how today I was forced to compliment W. Howe and admit myself to an equality with Mr. Moore, which is come to challenge in his discourse with me, but I will admit it no more, but let me stand or fall, I will show myself as strange to them as my Lord do himself to me."
Pepys keeps asking Mr. Moore and Mr. Howe to report on Sandwich's mood and behavior, and/or cover his backside for having the guts to write that unwanted letter. They now sense Pepys' vulnerability, and it's straining their relationships. Pepys is right to stop acting nervous around his old colleagues, What will be, will be.
About Monday 8 February 1663/64
San Diego Sarah • Link
Jack Hawly had had lunch with Sam and Elizabeth Pepys on January 23, where Pepys presumably told him Betty Lane wasn't interested. Apparently Hawly decided to persist.