According to the National Museum of Wales, there ain't no such thing. The 'traditional' woman's dress is a 19th century invention. Nothing comparable was invented for men and the suggestion of a kilt (by analogy with the Scots kilt, though that is also thought to have been a fairly modern invention) never caught on. All the accoutrements and accessories of the Bardic 'tradition' as it is currently portrayed were invented at the end of the 18th century in London.
As earlier suggested, perhaps the effigy had a leek or a daffodil adorning its hat or elsewhere about its form. Alternatively, it might have sported the device of the Red Dragon or have been holding a Welsh harp.
It's not the flageolet-playing that occasions Sam's irritation. He feels that Elizabeth will find that easy and enjoyable. It is her failure to sing well that annoys him. You would think that by now he would have realised that Elizabeth is just one of nature's 'growlers' when it comes to singing and that no amount of nagging on his part is going to make the situation any better.
L&M footnote points out that "his talents were to some extent concealed by the courtliness of his manners" and that he was a good linguist (Latin, French and Spanish are mentioned).
Clarendon apparently had a poor opinion of his knowledge of law and the constitution.
Neither piece of information helps very much in interpreting what it is that Pepys means. Just possibly that he wears his accomplishments lightly, I suppose, but I'm not convinced.
If you go to the "in depth articles" at the head of this page and then link to the entry for September 2005, you will find illustrated information on a walk through Pepys' London from Whitehall to Fleet Street and St. Paul's.
For the area east of St. Paul's (i.e. Pepys' home territory) it could be useful to contact the official City of London Guides at
I should be surprised if they do not have someone who could put together a well-informed tour of this part of Pepys' 'beat.' City of London guides can sometimes get you into buildings that would otherwise be difficult of access.
[This blog has its own, unofficial, guide to Pepys' London - Glyn - but I was unable to locate any 'anthology' of the various sites, walks and hints that he has supplied over the years].
Aunt Wight was not a Kite, but a Sutton. She married John Pepys's half-brother, William Wight.
John Pepys mother, Mary Day, first married Thomas Pepys ("the Black") by whom she had 6 children, one of whom was Samuel's father, John. She subsequently married Rice Wight of Guildford, by whom she had William.
Whatever the paste, cream or unguent consisted of, it was normally applied to a piece of cloth which was then applied to the wound, bruise, sore, ulcer, rash or whatever. Sometimes the remedy was able, of itself, to stick to the skin, sometimes it needed to be secured there (with gum, tape, an item of clothing, even paper).
"there never having been any musique here better than ballads"
Well, that's a bit rough on Campion (1567-1620), Byrd (1543-1623) and Dowland (1563-1626). However, nothing approaching the operatic form is going to arise in England until Purcell produces his 'semi-operas' later in the century.
It sounds as if Sam has swallowed Killigrew's sales pitch hook, line and sinker.
I've a feeling that we've discussed all this before.
The earlier spelling of the name was Maudleyn, and this neatly enfolded the name of Lord Audley, who re-founded the college in 1542.
The 'Magdalen' form of the name was adopted in later conformity to Biblical considerations. It is alleged that the final -e was only adopted in the 19th Century, when it was felt desirable that the Cambridge College should be easily distinguished by the postal service from the Oxford (Magdalen) college. Sounds superficially plausible but not totally convincing. The names 'Cambridge' and "Oxford' do look quite easily distinguishable from one another, after all.
As Eric notes, whatever it looks like, the name is always pronounced 'maudlin' in both cities.
In his foreword to the play, Jonson claimed that his intent had been to present "deeds and language such as men do use."
Herein may lie the propriety that Pepys finds; Jonson's characters use language in ways proper to their stations and natures. They speak as themselves, not simply as mouthpieces for an authorial voice.
Although the taking of snuff (dry, powdered tobacco) did start to gain popularity during the reign of Charles II (so much more elegant than pipe-smoking) this snuff-dish has nothing to do with that.
It is a dish designed to hold the snuff from a candle. Some such dishes came complete with a stand for the snuffers themselves. Pepys is not a closet tobacco-fiend.
Annus Mirabilis. Yes, too long to quote but well worth reading, not least for the final third of the poem, which paints a vivid picture of the Great Fire.
Yes, and people continue to place their money in government bonds, trusting to the statement that "the government is unlikely to go bust or to default on interest payments" but "the return of capital cannot be guaranteed in all circumstances."
I quote from a UK government information site. When "king" equalled "government" the position was doubtless much more shaky, but there ain't no absolute guarantees even now. In the end one relies on a certain amount of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
It would be good to know what the interest-rate was that tempted Sam to speculate on the redemption of the Tangier tallies.
Comments
First Reading
About Friday 1 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
native Welsh dress.
According to the National Museum of Wales, there ain't no such thing. The 'traditional' woman's dress is a 19th century invention. Nothing comparable was invented for men and the suggestion of a kilt (by analogy with the Scots kilt, though that is also thought to have been a fairly modern invention) never caught on. All the accoutrements and accessories of the Bardic 'tradition' as it is currently portrayed were invented at the end of the 18th century in London.
As earlier suggested, perhaps the effigy had a leek or a daffodil adorning its hat or elsewhere about its form. Alternatively, it might have sported the device of the Red Dragon or have been holding a Welsh harp.
About Friday 1 March 1666/67
Mary • Link
It's not the flageolet-playing that occasions Sam's irritation. He feels that Elizabeth will find that easy and enjoyable. It is her failure to sing well that annoys him. You would think that by now he would have realised that Elizabeth is just one of nature's 'growlers' when it comes to singing and that no amount of nagging on his part is going to make the situation any better.
About Thursday 28 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
Drumbleby with a flageolet.
has the same sort of ring as Clifford Mortimer's post- Shakespearean firm of invented solicitors "Goforth & Bindtheboy."
About Thursday 28 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
"was there anything extraordinary besides buildings that was lost in the great fire?"
Books, manuscripts, charters, registers.... much lost in St. Paul's alone, and who knows how much elsewhere.
About Wednesday 27 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
"I wonder what he was expected to give them...?"
Turkey perhaps (it's Christmas) or a venison pasty? Goose, at the very least or some other kind of fowl. Beef and pork are both 'everyday' meats.
About Wednesday 27 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
Surely the first high flyer was Icarus - and it did him no good.
About Sunday 24 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
Not really.
L&M footnote points out that "his talents were to some extent concealed by the courtliness of his manners" and that he was a good linguist (Latin, French and Spanish are mentioned).
Clarendon apparently had a poor opinion of his knowledge of law and the constitution.
Neither piece of information helps very much in interpreting what it is that Pepys means. Just possibly that he wears his accomplishments lightly, I suppose, but I'm not convinced.
About Friday 22 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
Thanks, Terry.
I was looking in the wrong place.
About Friday 22 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
Pepys' London.
If you go to the "in depth articles" at the head of this page and then link to the entry for September 2005, you will find illustrated information on a walk through Pepys' London from Whitehall to Fleet Street and St. Paul's.
For the area east of St. Paul's (i.e. Pepys' home territory) it could be useful to contact the official City of London Guides at
http://cityoflondontouristguides.…
I should be surprised if they do not have someone who could put together a well-informed tour of this part of Pepys' 'beat.' City of London guides can sometimes get you into buildings that would otherwise be difficult of access.
[This blog has its own, unofficial, guide to Pepys' London - Glyn - but I was unable to locate any 'anthology' of the various sites, walks and hints that he has supplied over the years].
About Mary Wight (a, Aunt Wight)
Mary • Link
Aunt Wight was not a Kite, but a Sutton.
She married John Pepys's half-brother, William Wight.
John Pepys mother, Mary Day, first married Thomas Pepys ("the Black") by whom she had 6 children, one of whom was Samuel's father, John. She subsequently married Rice Wight of Guildford, by whom she had William.
About Saturday 16 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
defessus.
This past participle (but not other parts of the verb) can also mean "grow faint."
About Tuesday 12 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
"and" indeed.
About Thursday 14 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
plaister.
Whatever the paste, cream or unguent consisted of, it was normally applied to a piece of cloth which was then applied to the wound, bruise, sore, ulcer, rash or whatever. Sometimes the remedy was able, of itself, to stick to the skin, sometimes it needed to be secured there (with gum, tape, an item of clothing, even paper).
About Tuesday 12 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
"there never having been any musique here better than ballads"
Well, that's a bit rough on Campion (1567-1620), Byrd (1543-1623) and Dowland (1563-1626). However, nothing approaching the operatic form is going to arise in England until Purcell produces his 'semi-operas' later in the century.
It sounds as if Sam has swallowed Killigrew's sales pitch hook, line and sinker.
About Sunday 10 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
Magdalen/Magdalene/ Mawdlyn/Maudleyn
I've a feeling that we've discussed all this before.
The earlier spelling of the name was Maudleyn, and this neatly enfolded the name of Lord Audley, who re-founded the college in 1542.
The 'Magdalen' form of the name was adopted in later conformity to Biblical considerations. It is alleged that the final -e was only adopted in the 19th Century, when it was felt desirable that the Cambridge College should be easily distinguished by the postal service from the Oxford (Magdalen) college. Sounds superficially plausible but not totally convincing. The names 'Cambridge' and "Oxford' do look quite easily distinguishable from one another, after all.
As Eric notes, whatever it looks like, the name is always pronounced 'maudlin' in both cities.
About Saturday 9 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
propriety of speech.
In his foreword to the play, Jonson claimed that his intent had been to present "deeds and language such as men do use."
Herein may lie the propriety that Pepys finds; Jonson's characters use language in ways proper to their stations and natures. They speak as themselves, not simply as mouthpieces for an authorial voice.
About Saturday 2 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
my new silver snuff-dish.
Although the taking of snuff (dry, powdered tobacco) did start to gain popularity during the reign of Charles II (so much more elegant than pipe-smoking) this snuff-dish has nothing to do with that.
It is a dish designed to hold the snuff from a candle. Some such dishes came complete with a stand for the snuffers themselves. Pepys is not a closet tobacco-fiend.
About Saturday 2 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
Annus Mirabilis.
Yes, too long to quote but well worth reading, not least for the final third of the poem, which paints a vivid picture of the Great Fire.
About Friday 1 February 1666/67
Mary • Link
let us be a little thankful that Sam does not enlarge further on the "whatever else I wanted."
About Thursday 31 January 1666/67
Mary • Link
Yes, and people continue to place their money in government bonds, trusting to the statement that "the government is unlikely to go bust or to default on interest payments" but "the return of capital cannot be guaranteed in all circumstances."
I quote from a UK government information site. When "king" equalled "government" the position was doubtless much more shaky, but there ain't no absolute guarantees even now. In the end one relies on a certain amount of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
It would be good to know what the interest-rate was that tempted Sam to speculate on the redemption of the Tangier tallies.