There were rumours in the early months of 1666 that Catherine had suffered a miscarriage. Clarendon recorded such a rumour, though he also reported that Charles considered that this had been a false, rather than a true, pregnancy.
However, it is possible that the aftermath of this 'miscarriage' was the reason for the Queen taking a course of physic at this time.
This is surely the case. John Pepys is, we understand, eking out a fairly straitened living in the country and has no capital to offer with Paulina. Being himself in large measure dependent on son Samuel, he is in no position to dictate the kind of settlement that is to be made or with whom the match shall be agreed. If Sam is to provide the dowry, he wants to be sure that his money is dispensed wisely.
No matter how good a servant she is in general, the inability to offer any correction without provoking an unfailing and injured response of, "Well, perhaps I had better leave, ma'm, if my work doesn't suit.." would be enough to try one's patience.
The 'disfiguring' here is Agnes Strickland's 19th Century comment on the fashion of wearing patches on the face; it may tell us more about her opinion than it does about the view of the Court in mourning in the 1660s.
The ill-bred, country fellow does have some advantages as far as the family is concerned.
£140-odd in land per annum Expectations of £1000 cash when an elderly aunt dies. No father, mother, sister, brother.
Looks good on paper, doesn't it?
We know that John Pepys has a difficult relationship with his wife and that Pall (according to Sam) is not an easy person to get on with. Perhaps John would be only too glad to reduce the sum of troublesome females in his household to one.
So Elizabeth's objection that the country gentleman is "a drunken, ill-favoured, ill-bred country fellow" doesn't weigh particularly heavily if there is a chance that the family can get Pall off its hands. Oh, good.
Hitherto Sam has only ever seen his own face in a reflection and so has only ever seen it back-to-front, so to speak. Perhaps this is where his sense of a lack begins.
(also "fancy man") Slightly old-fashioned expressions but well recognised in England. "Bit on the side" (for both sexes) would probably be a more current expression: not an established mistress/lover or what-you-will but someone who is 'entertained' on an occasional basis outside the domestic setting.
Both expressions are mildly derogatory and would be regarded as rather 'common' in point of social classification by speech.
The Blumenthal recipe above is not, I should have pointed out, that chef's invention, but his 21st Century 'translation' of an old (doesn't say how old on the website) recipe.
2 cans Old Speckled Hen ale 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 120g caster sugar 5 egg yolks 20g unsalted butter.
Pour the ale into a saucepan and stir in the ground ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Gently heat this mixture until it is warm (approx. 52C if you have a thermometer).
Meanwhile,blitz egg-yolks and sugar together in a bowl until light and creamy.
Once the ale is warm, add the egg-yolk and sugar mixture and return to the heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture starts to thicken slightly (no hotter than 78C). Be careful not to let the pan get too hot or the eggs will scramble. Maintain this temperature for 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes, remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the butter until it melts. Then froth the mixture well will a small (cappuccino) whisk until it looks like frothy, milky tea. Pour into small glasses, mini tankards or espresso cups and serve immediately.
For those who missed Paul Easton's note to the Discussion Group a month ago, the following book is an excellent account not only of the Great Fire itself, but also of the state of London (political, social, financial etc.) both before and after the fire.
"By Permission of Heaven" by Adrian Tinniswood. Now available in paperback from Pimlico. Amazon lists it.
Whilst giving a closely detailed, day by day, account of the fire itself and its aftermath, Tinniswood provides an eminently readable narrative that is balanced, fair to all parties concerned and lightly laced with humour. It's a really good read.
Comments
First Reading
About Wednesday 4 April 1666
Mary • Link
"....I thank God, and that my condition will enable me to do it."
Dear me, does anyone else hear echoes of the Pharisee's prayer here?
About Sunday 1 April 1666
Mary • Link
the Queen and physic.
There were rumours in the early months of 1666 that Catherine had suffered a miscarriage. Clarendon recorded such a rumour, though he also reported that Charles considered that this had been a false, rather than a true, pregnancy.
However, it is possible that the aftermath of this 'miscarriage' was the reason for the Queen taking a course of physic at this time.
About Tuesday 3 April 1666
Mary • Link
"who is become a good and serious man"
Well, here's a change of tune. Let's see if Balty lives up to Sam's hopes for him in the navy.
About Saturday 31 March 1666
Mary • Link
he who is providing the dowry....
This is surely the case. John Pepys is, we understand, eking out a fairly straitened living in the country and has no capital to offer with Paulina. Being himself in large measure dependent on son Samuel, he is in no position to dictate the kind of settlement that is to be made or with whom the match shall be agreed. If Sam is to provide the dowry, he wants to be sure that his money is dispensed wisely.
About Friday 30 March 1666
Mary • Link
"having given her mistress warning fickly..."
No matter how good a servant she is in general, the inability to offer any correction without provoking an unfailing and injured response of, "Well, perhaps I had better leave, ma'm, if my work doesn't suit.." would be enough to try one's patience.
About Wednesday 28 March 1666
Mary • Link
The 'disfiguring' here is Agnes Strickland's 19th Century comment on the fashion of wearing patches on the face; it may tell us more about her opinion than it does about the view of the Court in mourning in the 1660s.
About Wednesday 28 March 1666
Mary • Link
Being born to English doesn't help in the least!
About Saturday 24 March 1665/66
Mary • Link
Has Sam ever shown real affection?
Yes, for his father.
About Saturday 24 March 1665/66
Mary • Link
The ill-bred, country fellow does have some advantages as far as the family is concerned.
£140-odd in land per annum
Expectations of £1000 cash when an elderly aunt dies.
No father, mother, sister, brother.
Looks good on paper, doesn't it?
We know that John Pepys has a difficult relationship with his wife and that Pall (according to Sam) is not an easy person to get on with. Perhaps John would be only too glad to reduce the sum of troublesome females in his household to one.
About Saturday 24 March 1665/66
Mary • Link
"the good offer made us in the country"
So Elizabeth's objection that the country gentleman is "a drunken, ill-favoured, ill-bred country fellow" doesn't weigh particularly heavily if there is a chance that the family can get Pall off its hands. Oh, good.
About Thursday 22 March 1665/66
Mary • Link
"though but one in the whole City'
is the reading given by L&M. This makes sense. The city parish concerned was St. Mary Mounthaw.
About Wednesday 21 March 1665/66
Mary • Link
as indeed is the pronuciation of today's past tense 'ate' -- at least, it is in this part of England, though one does occasionally hear 'eight'.
About Tuesday 20 March 1665/66
Mary • Link
"I do not fancy that it has the ayre of my face"
Hitherto Sam has only ever seen his own face in a reflection and so has only ever seen it back-to-front, so to speak. Perhaps this is where his sense of a lack begins.
About Monday 19 March 1665/66
Mary • Link
"the woman I hate"
We would probably say "I can't stand the woman" rather than using 'hate' which sounds disproportionately strong to modern ears.
About Sunday 18 March 1665/66
Mary • Link
"fancy woman"
(also "fancy man") Slightly old-fashioned expressions but well recognised in England. "Bit on the side" (for both sexes) would probably be a more current expression: not an established mistress/lover or what-you-will but someone who is 'entertained' on an occasional basis outside the domestic setting.
Both expressions are mildly derogatory and would be regarded as rather 'common' in point of social classification by speech.
About Ale, buttered
Mary • Link
The Blumenthal recipe above is not, I should have pointed out, that chef's invention, but his 21st Century 'translation' of an old (doesn't say how old on the website) recipe.
About Sunday 18 March 1665/66
Mary • Link
mistresses?
That classes them a bit high. Doxies, I should have said.(Roughly the equivalent of today's 'fancy woman').
About Saturday 17 March 1665/66
Mary • Link
Buttered Ale
Thanks, Firenze. I have just added Blumenthal's recipe to the Encyclopaedia under the Alcoholic Drinks subsection.
Anyone watching cholesterol levels might want to use it sparingly, but I can see that it could taste pretty good as a pick-me-up.
About Ale, buttered
Mary • Link
Buttered Ale recipe (from Heston Blumenthal)
2 cans Old Speckled Hen ale
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
120g caster sugar
5 egg yolks
20g unsalted butter.
Pour the ale into a saucepan and stir in the ground ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Gently heat this mixture until it is warm (approx. 52C if you have a thermometer).
Meanwhile,blitz egg-yolks and sugar together in a bowl until light and creamy.
Once the ale is warm, add the egg-yolk and sugar mixture and return to the heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture starts to thicken slightly (no hotter than 78C). Be careful not to let the pan get too hot or the eggs will scramble. Maintain this temperature for 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes, remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the butter until it melts. Then froth the mixture well will a small (cappuccino) whisk until it looks like frothy, milky tea. Pour into small glasses, mini tankards or espresso cups and serve immediately.
Serves 6-10.
About London in Pepys' time
Mary • Link
The Great Fire of London.
For those who missed Paul Easton's note to the Discussion Group a month ago, the following book is an excellent account not only of the Great Fire itself, but also of the state of London (political, social, financial etc.) both before and after the fire.
"By Permission of Heaven" by Adrian Tinniswood. Now available in paperback from Pimlico. Amazon lists it.
Whilst giving a closely detailed, day by day, account of the fire itself and its aftermath, Tinniswood provides an eminently readable narrative that is balanced, fair to all parties concerned and lightly laced with humour. It's a really good read.