Unfortunately the OED is not very helpful here. It notes that the word appears in various nautical contexts but attempts no definition. The only 17th century quotation cited (1675) simply refers in general terms to barricadoes being useful for strengthening purposes - "we are fortifying our longeboats with barricadowes."
The next nautical reference quoted (late 18th century) refers to a wooden rail or fence, supplied with stanchions, across the foredeck of a vessel.
The OED does not mention this example from Pepys diary, its earliest nautical citation being that from 1675 noted above.
Pepys didn't go to Uxbridge. He just travelled in the general direction of Uxbridge "a mile or two beyond Tyburn' before turning round and heading back towards London.
L&M has the same reading. Perhaps Sam has telescoped the expression and means that he got right through the City with her (without being recognised) and proceeded towards open country.
Not a very convincing interpretation, I agree, but just possible.
An idle thought, but I wonder whether it might not be possible for Sam to retain one of the smaller tallies that he has recently been so exercised to obtain, then pay a relatively minor naval contract out of his own ready cash and present the relevant tally for redemption in cash by the Exchequer at a later date. At least your common-or-garden burglar would be less likely to recognise the value of a tally.
Does anyone know whether individual tallies were issued (and identified) against a specific purpose, or whether they were general-purpose instruments?
Those 630 in silver are a spurious item according to the L&M transcription of the diary, which gives the sum as '30' followed by the lower-case letter 'L' for 'pounds' (though MR notes their transcription as 'L30'). Hence my query.
And if this is a simple case of Sam offering to break 30 golden guineas into more negotiable silver coin, why does he mention the question of trust and use the word 'pawn'?
As expressed here this transaction seems to make no sense from Sheply's point of view. Am I misinterpreting? Whilst the object that is pawned is usually of much higher worth than the sum advanced, why would anyone in possession of 30 pieces of gold pledge that amount against a lesser sum in silver?
If the agreement is simply that Sheply will pay a penalty of 30 pieces of gold if he defaults on the loan of the silver, then that makes little sense from Sam's financial point of view, as it guarantees him nothing.
Time was when one always went up to London and down to other parts of the country. These days one may well go down the the West Country and to various other more-or-less rural areas but always up north. The effect of the industrial revolution, perhaps, and the increased financial importance of the northern counties?
Alternatively, neuralgia, sinusitis? Had Bagwell perhaps given her something to remember him by before he boarded ship and she's still sporting the bruises? We'll never know.
Pepys never loses an opportunity to tap any likely source for news of who's in, who's out, who's up, who's down. All potentially useful information to the rising man.
Pity the poor gardener. Now he's going to have to explain to the Master the loss of one of his precious fruit. In my experience the owners of such gardens are keenly alert to the theft of any material, fruit, flowers or cuttings, particularly where exotics are concerned.
I think the answer is that Samuel referred to the whole building, both the official and the domestic parts, as 'the office' in general. Late at night the main gateway to the buildings was closed and Mercer has claimed this as her reason for failing to return last night. Presumably she could not (or did not wish) to rouse the gate-keeper.
All lie within the compass of a few hundred yards. Plenty of hopping in and out of coaches for the sake of travelling hardly any distance at all - but ladies of such consequence (especially one who is heavily pregnant) could not, we presume, be expected to trails their skirts through the common streets and social nicety means that Sam must accompany them.
I find it interesting that Sam found his own portrait to improve as the sittings went on, but those of Mrs. Pierce and his father to grow less satisfactory in terms of likeness.
Perhaps the sitter in each case gradually persuaded Hales to present his subject in a manner closer to the sitter's own idea of his/her appearance rather than the 'objective' view taken by a third party. Rarely does someone perceive his own features in quite the same way as others see him.
Sam liked the portrait of Elizabeth, but could well have offered Hales a loving husband's 'advice' as that one progressed.
Comments
First Reading
About Saturday 14 July 1666
Mary • Link
Money for old rope.
(Strictly speaking, off-topic).
There is a parallel expression with a similar meaning - "money for jam."
This occasionally leads to a conflation of the two expressions and one hears people speaking of "money for old jam," which always prompts a smile.
About Saturday 14 July 1666
Mary • Link
Barricado
Unfortunately the OED is not very helpful here. It notes that the word appears in various nautical contexts but attempts no definition. The only 17th century quotation cited (1675) simply refers in general terms to barricadoes being useful for strengthening purposes - "we are fortifying our longeboats with barricadowes."
The next nautical reference quoted (late 18th century) refers to a wooden rail or fence, supplied with stanchions, across the foredeck of a vessel.
The OED does not mention this example from Pepys diary, its earliest nautical citation being that from 1675 noted above.
About Friday 13 July 1666
Mary • Link
"the business of the two tallys .....my own money in hand"
So Sam is able to use tallies to advantage in his personal financial arrangements. What a pity that he hasn't given us any details of the transaction.
About Thursday 12 July 1666
Mary • Link
Pepys didn't go to Uxbridge.
He just travelled in the general direction of Uxbridge "a mile or two beyond Tyburn' before turning round and heading back towards London.
About Thursday 12 July 1666
Mary • Link
"I quite through with her"
L&M has the same reading.
Perhaps Sam has telescoped the expression and means that he got right through the City with her (without being recognised) and proceeded towards open country.
Not a very convincing interpretation, I agree, but just possible.
About Saturday 7 July 1666
Mary • Link
How to keep one's money safe.
An idle thought, but I wonder whether it might not be possible for Sam to retain one of the smaller tallies that he has recently been so exercised to obtain, then pay a relatively minor naval contract out of his own ready cash and present the relevant tally for redemption in cash by the Exchequer at a later date. At least your common-or-garden burglar would be less likely to recognise the value of a tally.
Does anyone know whether individual tallies were issued (and identified) against a specific purpose, or whether they were general-purpose instruments?
About Thursday 5 July 1666
Mary • Link
Those 630 in silver are a spurious item according to the L&M transcription of the diary, which gives the sum as '30' followed by the lower-case letter 'L' for 'pounds' (though MR notes their transcription as 'L30'). Hence my query.
And if this is a simple case of Sam offering to break 30 golden guineas into more negotiable silver coin, why does he mention the question of trust and use the word 'pawn'?
About Thursday 5 July 1666
Mary • Link
£30 in silver upon 30 pieces in gold.
As expressed here this transaction seems to make no sense from Sheply's point of view. Am I misinterpreting? Whilst the object that is pawned is usually of much higher worth than the sum advanced, why would anyone in possession of 30 pieces of gold pledge that amount against a lesser sum in silver?
If the agreement is simply that Sheply will pay a penalty of 30 pieces of gold if he defaults on the loan of the silver, then that makes little sense from Sam's financial point of view, as it guarantees him nothing.
About Wednesday 4 July 1666
Mary • Link
down to the north.
Time was when one always went up to London and down to other parts of the country. These days one may well go down the the West Country and to various other more-or-less rural areas but always up north. The effect of the industrial revolution, perhaps, and the increased financial importance of the northern counties?
About Monday 2 July 1666
Mary • Link
her face was sore
Alternatively, neuralgia, sinusitis? Had Bagwell perhaps given her something to remember him by before he boarded ship and she's still sporting the bruises? We'll never know.
About Tuesday 3 July 1666
Mary • Link
"he told me many fine things"
Pepys never loses an opportunity to tap any likely source for news of who's in, who's out, who's up, who's down. All potentially useful information to the rising man.
About Monday 2 July 1666
Mary • Link
"and good mine"
i.e. 'and good mien'
She bears herself well, has presence.
About Friday 29 June 1666
Mary • Link
....and speaks of his having no authority in the place where he is....
I take it that this 'he' and those following in this sentence relate to Pett.
About Thursday 28 June 1666
Mary • Link
Do you mean the Secret Treaty of Dover?
We shan't get to that during the lifetime of the diary, as it wasn't made until 1670.
About Tuesday 26 June 1666
Mary • Link
Mary .... that hath been with us about 3 months.
L&M point out that she had only been with them since 10th May. It just seemed a lot longer!
About Monday 25 June 1666
Mary • Link
I pulled off a little one by stealth.....
Pity the poor gardener. Now he's going to have to explain to the Master the loss of one of his precious fruit. In my experience the owners of such gardens are keenly alert to the theft of any material, fruit, flowers or cuttings, particularly where exotics are concerned.
About Friday 22 June 1666
Mary • Link
I think the answer is that Samuel referred to the whole building, both the official and the domestic parts, as 'the office' in general. Late at night the main gateway to the buildings was closed and Mercer has claimed this as her reason for failing to return last night. Presumably she could not (or did not wish) to rouse the gate-keeper.
About Wednesday 20 June 1666
Mary • Link
The painting has disappeared. See yesterday's later annotations.
About Wednesday 20 June 1666
Mary • Link
Cheapside, Paternoster Row, Ludgate.
All lie within the compass of a few hundred yards. Plenty of hopping in and out of coaches for the sake of travelling hardly any distance at all - but ladies of such consequence (especially one who is heavily pregnant) could not, we presume, be expected to trails their skirts through the common streets and social nicety means that Sam must accompany them.
About Monday 18 June 1666
Mary • Link
The achievement of a likeness.
I find it interesting that Sam found his own portrait to improve as the sittings went on, but those of Mrs. Pierce and his father to grow less satisfactory in terms of likeness.
Perhaps the sitter in each case gradually persuaded Hales to present his subject in a manner closer to the sitter's own idea of his/her appearance rather than the 'objective' view taken by a third party. Rarely does someone perceive his own features in quite the same way as others see him.
Sam liked the portrait of Elizabeth, but could well have offered Hales a loving husband's 'advice' as that one progressed.