In 1663 Samuel Sorbière, a visiting French philosopher and historian, was less than impressed with the Palace of Whitehall.
He judged the Banqueting House alone "very stately, because the rest of the Palace is ill Built, and nothing but a heap of Houses, erected at divers times, and of different Models, which they made Contiguous in the best manner they could."
Has Samuel encountered another "out of hours" customer at Betty Martin's Westminster place today? Sunday observance regulations with regard to day-to-day activities were not relaxed after the Commonwealth period, so Betty's normal drapery business can hardly have been open to trade today and I suspect Samuel would have mentioned having encountered another man at her premises if that had been the case. Perhaps she has been a little too free (boastful?) about mentioning others of her gentleman customers and this has displeased him. If she gossips about them perhaps she gossips about him, too.
Anyone who is able to watch BBC 4 at 20.30h this evening (3rd January 2018) could see a team of tailors, guided by fashion historian Amber Butchart, re-creating a suit of clothes typical of one worn by Charles II.
Mingo was by no means the first black African to live in the parish of St. Olave's Hart Street.
John Barker, a merchant and MP living in the parish from about 1582 onwards, had in his employ in the later years of the 16th Century a number of African servants including Mary Fillis (a young girl described as a "Morisco"), George (a blackamore) and Leying Mouea ("a blackamore of 20 years). Alderman Paul Bayning, a Hart Street neighbour of the Baker family, employed at least 5 Africans over the same period including "three maids, blackamores" (one called Julyanne) and two men - Abell and Anthony.
Dr. Hector Nunes, a refugee from the Portuguese Inquisition resident in the neighbourhood since 1549, had numerous black servants in his household including three women named Elizabeth, Grace and Mary.
Altogether between 1588 and 1638 St. Olave's Hart Street saw three baptisms and 12 burials of Africans, whilst the neighbouring church of St. Botolph's Aldgate saw just one baptism (of the aforementioned Mary Fillis) but 17 burials of Africans.
For further information, see the book "Black Tudors" cited in the note that precedes this one.
For discussion of oyster barrels, go to the Encyclopedia (food), where is it suggested that these were small barrels (tubs) about 7 - 13 inches high. Not so very different in size from the pint and half-pint pots that shrimp, cockles etc. used to be sold in in 20th Century England. You bought such shellfish by volume, not by weight.
An additional wrinkle to the oysters is that they were often transported and sold as pickled shellfish in pre-20th Century days when they still offered a cheap snack or meal.
For a fascinating account of the surprisingly long history of free men and women of African origin living and working in England, see the following recently published book:
"Black Tudors" by Miranda Kaufmann. A Oneworld book ISBN 978-1-78607-184-2
Well, that's not quite fair comment when the nub of the spoiler falls under the same glance as the warning. In this case one does not have to follow the link actively to know what the outcome will be. Many (most?) of us register at least part of the text of two contiguous lines of print at the same time.
Together with XJY above, I think that Mrs. B. is giving Samuel a direct warning that it might harm his career/reputation if others were to know as much about his carryings-on with various women as she does. When Samuel notes that "in the main I believe she is very honest" it sounds to me as if he has his fingers crossed as he expresses the belief that she will deal honestly (i.e. discreetly) with him.
I have just come across this Elizabethan description of the operation in the February 1601 diary of John Manningham, a young law student of The Middle Temple.
"One Burneham of London, whoe was the watergate officer at Flushinge, being troubled with the stone so mutche that it was a hindraunce unto him in the execution of his office, ventured a dangerous cure and was cutt for it, but dyed of it. This cure by cutting is a newe invention, a kinde of practise not knowne to former ages. There is a seame in the passage of the yard neere the fundament, which the surgeons searche with a crooked instrument concaved at one ende (called a catheter) whereunto they make incision and then grope for the stone with another toole which they call a duckes bill. Yf the stone be greater then may be drawne forth at the hole made by the same, the partie dyes for it."
The Diary of John Mannigham of the Middle Temple. edited by Robert Parker Sorlien. published by The University Press of New England (for the University of Rhode Island). 1976 ISBN No. 0-87451-113-5
Haven't come across that one, though "up the duff" is generally well recognised (with suggestions that "duff' represents a wayward version of "dough.") If so, that would get us back to the bread/baking source area.
Contrariwise, we draft a speech, make a first draft of any piece of writing, (accounts, an illustration, a book, a play, a report etc.) One may be drafted into a job, into one of the armed services, onto a committee.
A ship may be partly described by its draught (the depth of water that it draws) and ill-fitting windows and doors let in a nasty draught. You may consume a draught of some liquid and although you may 'pull' a pint of beer, the beer that you are drinking is described as draught beer or 'on draught. A draught horse will be one that pulls a load.
It's almost always worthwhile reading the annotations that others have been making over the past 10 years before adding one's most recent thoughts and observations. Sometimes one can correct or expand an earlier note in light of more recent or more thorough research. On other occasions one may simply repeat or overlook a point that has already been noted.
In addition to showing the daily annotations, Phil has supplied us with an extremely useful Encyclopedia facility which draws together information into useful categories of specific interest.
Further to my 10-year-old annotation, Chiddingstone Castle in Kent is now open to the public on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays and Bank Holidays. The Stuart collections are certainly worth a visit as are the other memorabilia housed here.
Comments
Second Reading
About Whitehall Palace (general information)
Mary K • Link
In 1663 Samuel Sorbière, a visiting French philosopher and historian, was less than impressed with the Palace of Whitehall.
He judged the Banqueting House alone "very stately, because the rest of the Palace is ill Built, and nothing but a heap of Houses, erected at divers times, and of different Models, which they made Contiguous in the best manner they could."
About Sunday 20 May 1666
Mary K • Link
Has Samuel encountered another "out of hours" customer at Betty Martin's Westminster place today? Sunday observance regulations with regard to day-to-day activities were not relaxed after the Commonwealth period, so Betty's normal drapery business can hardly have been open to trade today and I suspect Samuel would have mentioned having encountered another man at her premises if that had been the case. Perhaps she has been a little too free (boastful?) about mentioning others of her gentleman customers and this has displeased him. If she gossips about them perhaps she gossips about him, too.
About Thursday 23 November 1665
Mary K • Link
Which 9-year old? Which desert? When?
The allusion escapes me. Is it really germane?
About Wednesday 25 January 1664/65
Mary K • Link
Charles I art collection.
The exhibition at The Royal Academy referred to above is on NOW, not next year.
About Vest
Mary K • Link
Anyone who is able to watch BBC 4 at 20.30h this evening (3rd January 2018) could see a team of tailors, guided by fashion historian Amber Butchart, re-creating a suit of clothes typical of one worn by Charles II.
About Tuesday 14 February 1664/65
Mary K • Link
Tongue in cheek, Marquess? For 'loosing' read 'losing' of course.
About Mingo / Mungo (Sir William Batten's servant)
Mary K • Link
Mingo's Hart Street antecedents.
Mingo was by no means the first black African to live in the parish of St. Olave's Hart Street.
John Barker, a merchant and MP living in the parish from about 1582 onwards, had in his employ in the later years of the 16th Century a number of African servants including Mary Fillis (a young girl described as a "Morisco"), George (a blackamore) and Leying Mouea ("a blackamore of 20 years). Alderman Paul Bayning, a Hart Street neighbour of the Baker family, employed at least 5 Africans over the same period including "three maids, blackamores" (one called Julyanne) and two men - Abell and Anthony.
Dr. Hector Nunes, a refugee from the Portuguese Inquisition resident in the neighbourhood since 1549, had numerous black servants in his household including three women named Elizabeth, Grace and Mary.
Altogether between 1588 and 1638 St. Olave's Hart Street saw three baptisms and 12 burials of Africans, whilst the neighbouring church of St. Botolph's Aldgate saw just one baptism (of the aforementioned Mary Fillis) but 17 burials of Africans.
For further information, see the book "Black Tudors" cited in the note that precedes this one.
About Tuesday 1 November 1664
Mary K • Link
Oyster barrels.
For discussion of oyster barrels, go to the Encyclopedia (food), where is it suggested that these were small barrels (tubs) about 7 - 13 inches high. Not so very different in size from the pint and half-pint pots that shrimp, cockles etc. used to be sold in in 20th Century England. You bought such shellfish by volume, not by weight.
An additional wrinkle to the oysters is that they were often transported and sold as pickled shellfish in pre-20th Century days when they still offered a cheap snack or meal.
About Friday 28 October 1664
Mary K • Link
"might neat"
In other words, very smart.
About Mingo / Mungo (Sir William Batten's servant)
Mary K • Link
For a fascinating account of the surprisingly long history of free men and women of African origin living and working in England, see the following recently published book:
"Black Tudors" by Miranda Kaufmann.
A Oneworld book
ISBN 978-1-78607-184-2
About Tuesday 22 October 1661
Mary K • Link
"looking is your choice"
Well, that's not quite fair comment when the nub of the spoiler falls under the same glance as the warning. In this case one does not have to follow the link actively to know what the outcome will be. Many (most?) of us register at least part of the text of two contiguous lines of print at the same time.
About Monday 3 October 1664
Mary K • Link
Mrs. Bagwell's warning.
Together with XJY above, I think that Mrs. B. is giving Samuel a direct warning that it might harm his career/reputation if others were to know as much about his carryings-on with various women as she does. When Samuel notes that "in the main I believe she is very honest" it sounds to me as if he has his fingers crossed as he expresses the belief that she will deal honestly (i.e. discreetly) with him.
About Thursday 22 September 1664
Mary K • Link
Mealtime hat niceties
Not many years ago, whilst staying in a very up-market hotel, I encountered an elderly Austrian lady who always wore her hat to breakfast.
About Bladder and kidney stones
Mary K • Link
Elizabethan description of cutting for the stone.
I have just come across this Elizabethan description of the operation in the February 1601 diary of John Manningham, a young law student of The Middle Temple.
"One Burneham of London, whoe was the watergate officer at Flushinge, being troubled with the stone so mutche that it was a hindraunce unto him in the execution of his office, ventured a dangerous cure and was cutt for it, but dyed of it. This cure by cutting is a newe invention, a kinde of practise not knowne to former ages. There is a seame in the passage of the yard neere the fundament, which the surgeons searche with a crooked instrument concaved at one ende (called a catheter) whereunto they make incision and then grope for the stone with another toole which they call a duckes bill. Yf the stone be greater then may be drawne forth at the hole made by the same, the partie dyes for it."
The Diary of John Mannigham of the Middle Temple.
edited by Robert Parker Sorlien.
published by The University Press of New England (for the University of Rhode Island). 1976
ISBN No. 0-87451-113-5
About Thursday 18 August 1664
Mary K • Link
"and then to my barber, willing to have any opportunity to speak to Jane, but wanted it. "
"wanted" here means that Samuel's need of an opportunity to see Jane was not met. He was left wanting.
About Monday 15 August 1664
Mary K • Link
"up the spout"
Haven't come across that one, though "up the duff" is generally well recognised (with suggestions that "duff' represents a wayward version of "dough.") If so, that would get us back to the bread/baking source area.
About Monday 15 August 1664
Mary K • Link
Another English euphemism for pregnancy, though much less common than the above is, "she's been eating fresh bread."
About Wednesday 27 July 1664
Mary K • Link
Draught/draft in Mod. British English
Contrariwise, we draft a speech, make a first draft of any piece of writing, (accounts, an illustration, a book, a play, a report etc.) One may be drafted into a job, into one of the armed services, onto a committee.
A ship may be partly described by its draught (the depth of water that it draws) and ill-fitting windows and doors let in a nasty draught. You may consume a draught of some liquid and although you may 'pull' a pint of beer, the beer that you are drinking is described as draught beer or 'on draught. A draught horse will be one that pulls a load.
About Friday 12 August 1664
Mary K • Link
Note for newer annotators.
It's almost always worthwhile reading the annotations that others have been making over the past 10 years before adding one's most recent thoughts and observations. Sometimes one can correct or expand an earlier note in light of more recent or more thorough research. On other occasions one may simply repeat or overlook a point that has already been noted.
In addition to showing the daily annotations, Phil has supplied us with an extremely useful Encyclopedia facility which draws together information into useful categories of specific interest.
About Friday 24 June 1664
Mary K • Link
Chiddingstone Castle/Barbara Villiers portrait?
Further to my 10-year-old annotation, Chiddingstone Castle in Kent is now open to the public on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays and Bank Holidays. The Stuart collections are certainly worth a visit as are the other memorabilia housed here.