Yes, one of those "for medicinal purposes" excuses; thanks to Sam we all know how treacherous getting a little chilled (or one's feet wet) can be in 17th century London.
Well, there is that little matter of the trial over the prize-goods, with the court sitting tomorrow. Sam apparently has no hope (that death-rattle, reported as having been heard yesterday) of getting to Brampton before his mother draws her last breath.
Does this expression make any other British reader of the diary think fleetingly of Del-Boy Trotter of "Only Fools and Horses" and his attitude to business? (I don't know where else in the world this TV series may be shown, so apologise to readers who haven't seen it).
I have the impression that Sam is dissatisfied with the Lovetts' approach to their trade - do a bit of this, try a bit of that, but exhibit no serious, planned approach to running a professional business. Useful from time to time, but not solid, dependable (and hence worthy) tradespeople.
How nice to meet Mingo again. With one exception (a couple of years ago) we've heard nothing of him since 1661. Good to know that he is still with the Battens.
Yes, I'm with Paul Chapin in this. It's as if Pepys is tacitly contrasting the plain and unassuming dress (suited to an obscure country parson) with the bright intellect (and earlier promise?) of the wearer.
The problem is that Pepys says that he hopes no such thing, which implies that the 'problem' is something that he is not capable of discerning for himself, so 'pecho = breast' doesn't make a lot of sense here.
Perhaps we should be looking for 17th century slang, or even a different spelling. Any suggestions?
The regional north Midlands/northern English final 'g' that I refer to is not a velar stop, it is a fully articulated hard 'g.' No doubt it will eventually disappear as youth adopts other fashions of speech, but you can still hear it today.
the 'gee' is not purely a spelling convention in those northern areas of England where it is still fully articulated after the preceding nasal, though this is more strongly marked in stressed syllables than in unstressed ones. However, it can be heard in both positions in a word such as 'singing.'
little Miss Tooker was rumoured on February 24th to have the clap. Rumour has now incresed the severity of her infection to the great pox. Just as well that Sam didn't have time and place to do something with her; he has quite enough genito-urinary problems already, I should have thought.
NB we are talking about unstressed syllables here.
This has nothing to do with the failings of the hoi polloi. There is evidence that this pronunciation was already in use in the north, north midlands and east Anglia in the 14th century and that it had spread to the south by the 15th century. i.e.the change is dialectal rather than just sloppy. [see Robinson: English Pronunciation 1500-1700 vol. 2 para. 377].
The much later adoption of the huntin' shootin' fishin' forms by the so-called upper classes was a fashionable development rather than a linguistic one. Compare the current, youthful (and not so youthful) adoption in England of the glottal stop in place of 't' in such words as 'water, better, got, settle.'
This refers to Mr. Pepys' rupture, which was mentioned back in January as a cause of great discomfort. I'm not quite clear how a trip to London is to make him feel better, unless Holliard has a cunning plan (or perhaps a better model of truss). It would have to be good to compensate for the grief caused by a jolting journey by cart or coach.
This had never, of itself, been a treasonable crime. However, since 1353 it had been treasonable to undertake any act "compassing or imagining the death of a King, Queen or heir" and it's difficult to see how a full horoscope could be drawn without falling foul of this law.
Comments
First Reading
About Thursday 28 March 1667
Mary • Link
"the poor master" was Jean-Francois Vlaming, a name that indicates the Low Countries rather than Sweden.
About Thursday 28 March 1667
Mary • Link
I don't think so. He's waiting for his new suit of mourning in which to make a show - anything less would look ignoble.
About Tuesday 26 March 1667
Mary • Link
"that I drank it for cold"
Yes, one of those "for medicinal purposes" excuses; thanks to Sam we all know how treacherous getting a little chilled (or one's feet wet) can be in 17th century London.
About Monday 25 March 1667
Mary • Link
Why not go to Brampton?
Well, there is that little matter of the trial over the prize-goods, with the court sitting tomorrow. Sam apparently has no hope (that death-rattle, reported as having been heard yesterday) of getting to Brampton before his mother draws her last breath.
About Friday 22 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
"living only by shifts"
Does this expression make any other British reader of the diary think fleetingly of Del-Boy Trotter of "Only Fools and Horses" and his attitude to business? (I don't know where else in the world this TV series may be shown, so apologise to readers who haven't seen it).
I have the impression that Sam is dissatisfied with the Lovetts' approach to their trade - do a bit of this, try a bit of that, but exhibit no serious, planned approach to running a professional business. Useful from time to time, but not solid, dependable (and hence worthy) tradespeople.
About Thursday 21 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
Sir William Batten's Mingo.
How nice to meet Mingo again. With one exception (a couple of years ago) we've heard nothing of him since 1661. Good to know that he is still with the Battens.
About Monday 18 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
the parson's modest dress.
Yes, I'm with Paul Chapin in this. It's as if Pepys is tacitly contrasting the plain and unassuming dress (suited to an obscure country parson) with the bright intellect (and earlier promise?) of the wearer.
About Friday 15 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
I've just looked at Tomalin's biography. She (page 423 note 51) goes with the syphilis version.
About Friday 15 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
The problem is that Pepys says that he hopes no such thing, which implies that the 'problem' is something that he is not capable of discerning for himself, so 'pecho = breast' doesn't make a lot of sense here.
Perhaps we should be looking for 17th century slang, or even a different spelling. Any suggestions?
About Wednesday 13 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
The regional north Midlands/northern English final 'g' that I refer to is not a velar stop, it is a fully articulated hard 'g.' No doubt it will eventually disappear as youth adopts other fashions of speech, but you can still hear it today.
About Wednesday 13 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
the 'gee' is not purely a spelling convention in those northern areas of England where it is still fully articulated after the preceding nasal, though this is more strongly marked in stressed syllables than in unstressed ones. However, it can be heard in both positions in a word such as 'singing.'
About Friday 15 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
little Miss Tooker was rumoured on February 24th to have the clap. Rumour has now incresed the severity of her infection to the great pox. Just as well that Sam didn't have time and place to do something with her; he has quite enough genito-urinary problems already, I should have thought.
About Wednesday 13 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
-ing becomes -in.
NB we are talking about unstressed syllables here.
This has nothing to do with the failings of the hoi polloi. There is evidence that this pronunciation was already in use in the north, north midlands and east Anglia in the 14th century and that it had spread to the south by the 15th century. i.e.the change is dialectal rather than just sloppy. [see Robinson: English Pronunciation 1500-1700 vol. 2 para. 377].
The much later adoption of the huntin' shootin' fishin' forms by the so-called upper classes was a fashionable development rather than a linguistic one. Compare the current, youthful (and not so youthful) adoption in England of the glottal stop in place of 't' in such words as 'water, better, got, settle.'
About Wednesday 13 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
"my father .....grief now grown so great.."
This refers to Mr. Pepys' rupture, which was mentioned back in January as a cause of great discomfort. I'm not quite clear how a trip to London is to make him feel better, unless Holliard has a cunning plan (or perhaps a better model of truss). It would have to be good to compensate for the grief caused by a jolting journey by cart or coach.
About Tuesday 12 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
"condemned by many other better evidences than this, besides the whole world's report."
Evidence is one thing, but "the whole world's report" is of dubious value.
About Sunday 10 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
[Well arby, there's a Bishop John Spong in the USA today].
About Wednesday 6 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
demeurer.
French. To stay or remain (somewhere).
About Wednesday 6 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
"maids"
Indeed, A de A. I am reminded that the Vulgate Bible translates "Ecce, ancilla Domini" as 'Behold, the handmaid of the Lord."
Singularly apt in Pepys' case.
About Sunday 3 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
the casting of a king's horoscope.
This had never, of itself, been a treasonable crime. However, since 1353 it had been treasonable to undertake any act "compassing or imagining the death of a King, Queen or heir" and it's difficult to see how a full horoscope could be drawn without falling foul of this law.
About Sunday 3 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
A de A.
Only equalled by the perils of sitting in a draught. Or (in Sam's case) by getting your feet wet.