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San Diego Sarah has posted 9,723 annotations/comments since 6 August 2015.

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Second Reading

About Wednesday 25 March 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"I did hint to him my desire that I could make some lawfull profit thereof, which he promises that he will tell me of all that he gets and that I shall have a share, which I did not demand, but did silently consent to it, and money I perceive something will be got thereby." Sam is so specific about all this, I suspect it is the first time he has negotiated a "big" deal. It's been a brace of ducks here and the odd gift there, but this time he went for the money and documents the successful process for later reference.

About Sunday 22 March 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

" ... my wife and I and her woman by coach to Westminster, ..." and " ... and led my wife and her to Captain Ferrers, ..." We all assume Ms. Ashwell accompanied the Pepys, but Sam doesn't say that. Both these comments seem dismissive, so maybe Sam was annoyed he had agreed to Ashwell's wish for him to go to the church event and look at the young women. He doesn't say how long he had to stand around waiting for the coach to come back. Probably more than an hour. The weather in Essex was "A healthful, dry season, somewhat cold with eastern winds." March easterly winds blowing down the Thames can be very chilly, and Sam always worries about his "delicate condition". He is already worried by Holmes' behavior, and this was a further irritation.

About Tuesday 17 March 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Sir W. Batten and I to my Lord Mayor’s, where we found my Lord with Colonel Strangways and Sir Richard Floyd, ..." and "Sir R. Ford breaking to my Lord our business of our patent to be justices of the Peace in the City, ..." I had to read this entry twice, as I'm so used to "my Lord" being the Earl of Sandwich that I missed Sam's irony the first time; he's referring to the bufflehead Lord Mayor. I wonder who set up this dinner party.

About Sunday 15 March 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Considering how often Sam chooses to attend other churches, I think he's being a bit snooty about there not being enough space in the Navy Pew. It's another opportunity for him to instigate a bureaucratic office sign-up list. I also wonder if Wayneman and Jane and Will and Sarah also had to attend this church? I'm sure they were banished to stand at the back.

About Wednesday 11 March 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

I wonder who Mr. Wood was ... none of the Woods in the index seem appropriate, but he couldn't have been a lawyer because he was able to rescind Butler's orders. Wood must have been in the Navy somehow. If he had been "against" Pepys and the gang in the Field affair, he wouldn't have told them about the appointment while it was still possible to reverse it.

About Saturday 7 March 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

The narrative here says "1. Jane, wife of Lord Gerard (see ante, January 1st, 1662-6)." So this 6 is a typo ... should be 3.

The link is correct, and takes you to:
Thursday 1 January 1662/63
...
Then to my wife again, and found Mrs. Sarah with us in the chamber we lay in. Among other discourse, Mrs. Sarah tells us how the King sups at least four or [five] times every week with my Lady Castlemaine; and most often stays till the morning with her, and goes home through the garden all alone privately, and that so as the very centrys take notice of it and speak of it.

She tells me, that about a month ago she [Lady Castlemaine] quickened at my Lord Gerard’s at dinner, and cried out that she was undone; and all the lords and men were fain to quit the room, and women called to help her. ...

About Monday 2 March 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

So back again to Woolwich, and going aboard the Hulke to see the manner of the iron bridles ... The Hulke? Sounds as if it was a ship ... which makes me think of the floating prisons which I recall were also called Hulks. And that makes sense, no one would moor active warships to a chain across the Thames ... hulks would be better for defending the area and expendable if set upon by fire ships. Perhaps those friendly cheesy Dutchmen were taking a gander at the new defenses? Or do I not read this correctly?

About Tuesday 24 February 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Sandwich loan ... remember, we have heard twice now of Sam finding Sandwich gambling when he goes to visit ... and on one occasion with a servant. Can't find the dates now, but it wasn't long ago. My lord has grown weak living in this Court.

About Charles

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

February 20, 1663: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

✹ in Aqua Scripto on 21 Feb 2006 • Link • Flag
”The Charles” 'Tis a reference to his fast boat [jatcht] that he and Jimmy [no 2] run around in sometimes, 'til they tire of playing games and go back chaseing hinds. Then the Navy use it for many jobs running errands. The Dutch had these fast boats to supply their Cod* fearing Busses or was it red herring fearing buss trade. To day it appears tired of running up and down the Tems winning his furlongs on sea.

✹ in Aqua Scripto on 21 Feb 2006 • Link • Flag

Xref leads to Yacht
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…

About Thursday 19 February 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Meetings: Who took the Minutes? Did everyone keep their own log of the discussion and their responsibilities? Pepys must have taken a trunk of documents to some of the Whitehall meetings with James, Duke of York. Or did he have a "cheat sheet" summary, and everyone took his word for details and money? The Queen still receives a daily red Dispatch Box of documents to read. I suppose boxes came before briefcases. How did they manage???? How we fought WWII with manual typewriters, carbon paper and the Gestetner still boggles my mind.

About Thursday 19 February 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Charles II's conversion to Catholicism:
According to http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/0…
"In 1651 Father Huddleston was residing at Moseley Old Hall, Staffordshire, as chaplain to the Whitgreave family. After the defeat at Worcester on 3 September, 1651, Charles II was conducted by Colonel Gyfford to Whiteladies, where he was sheltered by the Penderell family, and it was while seeking for some safer hiding place for the King that John Penderell happened to meet Father John Huddleston. Accordingly Charles was disguised as a peasant and removed to Moseley Old Hall during the night of Sunday, 7 September.
To guard against surprise, Father John Huddleston was constantly in attendance on Charles II; his three pupils were stationed as sentinels at upper windows and Thomas Whitgreave patrolled the garden.
On Tuesday, 9 September, Cromwell's soldiers came to search the house. Charles II and Father John Huddleston were hurriedly shut away in the priest's hiding place, and the troops, after first seizing Thomas Whitgreave as a fugitive cavalier from Worcester, were eventually convinced that he had not left the house for some weeks and were persuaded to depart without searching the mansion.
That night Charles II left for Bentley Hall, after promising to befriend Father John Huddleston when restored to his throne.
At the Restoration in 1660, Father John Huddleston was invited to live at Somerset House, London, under the protection of the Queen Dowager, Henrietta Maria. ...
Shortly after the Queen Dowager's death in 1669 Father John Huddleston was appointed Chaplain to Queen Catherine, with a salary of 100 pounds a year besides a pension of like amount. ...
When Charles II lay dying "upon Thursday, 5 February, 1685, between 7 and 8 o'clock in the evening" James, Duke of York brought Father John Huddleston to his bedside, saying, "Sire, this good man once saved your life. He now comes to save your soul." Charles received him gladly, declaring that he wished to die in the faith and communion of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Huddleston then heard the King's confession, reconciled him to the Church and absolved him, afterwards administering Extreme Unction and the Viaticum.
On the accession of James II, Father John Huddleston continued to reside with the Queen Dowager at Somerset House.

According to http://www.english-heritage.org.u…, after the Battle of Worcester Charles II of Scotland hid at remote Boscobel House, also home of the Catholic Giffard family. And many of the places Charles sheltered during his exile were Catholic, and he was mostly treated kindly by them.

It's fair to think Charles was quite fond of Catholics, more so than most of his subjects.

About Friday 6 February 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... he carried me beyond the Old Exchange, and there set down his fare, ..." The Old Exchange? The link is to the Royal Exchange, but that's not what Pepys says. Any other ideas anyone?

About Mr Ashwell

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

February 2, 1663: "This day at my Lord’s I sent for Mr. Ashwell, and his wife came to me, and by discourse I perceive their daughter is very fit for my turn if my family may be as much for hers, but I doubt it will be to her loss to come to me for so small wages, but that will be considered of." (Elizabeth is in need of a companion, and Jane left today -- it is unclear which position the daughter is being considered for.) http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…

About Monday 2 February 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Candlemas is a Christian holiday celebrated annually on February 2.
It celebrates three occasions according to Christian belief:
1. the presentation of the child Jesus;
2. Jesus’ first entry into the temple; and
3. the Virgin Mary’s purification (mainly in Catholic churches).
So why was this one of three annual Collar Days? The linked annotation seems to refer to modern tradition, so more clarification would be appreciated if you know it. Were there other/more/fewer Collar Days back then? What dates were they, and what is the significance?

About Friday 30 January 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

The Eikon Basilike and its portrait of King Charles' execution as a martyrdom were so successful that, at the Restoration, a special commemoration of the late King on 30 January was added to the Book of Common Prayer, directing that the day be observed as an occasion for fasting and repentance.
On 19 May 1660, the Convocation of Canterbury and York cannoned King Charles at the urging of Charles II, and added his name to the prayer book. Charles I is the only saint formally canonized by the Church of England.

About Friday 30 January 1662/63

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

I'm surprised no-one picked up on Robert Gertz:
"I dunno, Charlie. Every year for your people to be reminded that Cromwell defeated and executed God's Anointed ... "

The missing ending of this thought is that many expected a millennial catastrophe as punishment for the execution, which seems not to have struck. (If you lived in London, 1665 and 1666 could be interpreted as that, quite reasonably. But this is 1663, and the sky had not fallen when Charles I died 13 years before.)

Charles II and James, Duke of York spend much time quelling insurrections and conspiracies, so that conversation was being had in some homes. Of course, Cromwell had the same problem.

To me the message is that God didn't care either way, which is something Charles II wouldn't like.

Frequent elections make things so much easier.