I don't understand how Hewer had the time to act as escort to Sam from dawn (or actually earlier today) to dusk. Didn't he have work to do? And how did others, such as W. Coventry react when he attended meetings with Sam?
Interesting that Bess doesn't mention the music teacher as one of her rejected amours. Either Sam's jealousy was totally unfounded - that is, she saw the teacher as not even worth raising an eyebrow, or perhaps she was holding a card back. As noted by others, too bad Bess did not keep her own diary. What fun comparing the two would have been.
"So with the Duke of York and some others to his closet, and Alderman Backewell about a Committee of Tangier, and there did agree upon a price for pieces of eight at 4s. 6d. " Intrigued about how this subcommittee set what appears to be a currency exchange rate between English and Spanish currencies. Wonder how they came up with the rate, what information they relied on and whether the rate was used in places other than Tangier (assuming it was for Tangier). Also got me thinking about how much Spanish currency was out there in the world and how other countries or regions relied on foreign currency. Must be a book or at the very least a dozen Phd dissertations on this issue!
The link to Jane probably has the wrong dates of her employment. It indicates that Jane was a young maid in the Pepys household between 1658 and 1661 and married Tom in 1669. Here we are in 1668. As to his amours with Jane, Sam seems to regard this as pure sport with sort of a no harm no foul outlook to it all. Note that he is apparently very fond of Jane and settled an annuity on her after she was twice widowed.
Sam very complimentary of the sermon. I believe that is not that common; that is, he finds more sermons boring or lazy than not. Wonder how many sermons he commented on through the diary and the tally on the "good" and "poor" sermons.
Harry R - thanks for that. I wondered whether it was in Latin or perhaps German. As for the relative prices of a good meal with wine and a book, those have certainly changed.
I continue to be impressed by the extraordinary range of friendships enjoyed by Pepys - a relatively young man without noble birth. He must have been considered quite enjoyable company.
Me too. All good comments and therefore worth repeating. Start my morning with Sam and his crew, and the annotators of 10 years past and 10 hours past. All great company.
Wonder about that loan to Joyce; whether he did loan him the money, at what interest rate, etc. Always a reminder that without secure banks, lending money was often preferable to hiding it.
"Sir W. Batten and W. Pen and I fain to go all in a hackney-coach round by London Wall, for fear of cellars," Any insight on the fear of cellars? Were cellar bulkhead doors open for laying in coal for the winter?
"It vexed me to hear how Sir W. Pen, who come alone from London, being to send his coachman for his wife and daughter, and bidding his coachman in much anger to go for them (he being vexed, like a rogue, to do anything to please his wife), his coachman Tom was heard to say a pox, or God rot her, can she walk hither? These words do so mad me that I could find in my heart to give him or my Lady notice of them." I read this a bit differently. It sounds like Sir W. has lost his temper at his wife, being angry that the coach must be sent back to pick her up. It may be that the coachman is defending the wife here, despite the "god rot her." If it way too far to walk, his question may be to make the point that of course he needs to go back for her. BTW, as a late comer to this site, I am frequently impressed and always grateful for all of the insights back in 2010 (as well as the fewer but no less excellent observations on the second time around.
What a wonderful entry. Much work done. No skirt chasing. Interesting as others point out, that there appears to be no great expectation of keeping sabbath and no consequence for failing to do so. I wonder what his accounts look like. Are they ledgers? Are there any adopted accounting conventions or rules?
Comments
Second Reading
About Monday 7 December 1668
Scube • Link
I don't understand how Hewer had the time to act as escort to Sam from dawn (or actually earlier today) to dusk. Didn't he have work to do? And how did others, such as W. Coventry react when he attended meetings with Sam?
About Tuesday 10 November 1668
Scube • Link
Sorry, meant dance instructor, Mr. Pembleton
About Tuesday 10 November 1668
Scube • Link
Interesting that Bess doesn't mention the music teacher as one of her rejected amours. Either Sam's jealousy was totally unfounded - that is, she saw the teacher as not even worth raising an eyebrow, or perhaps she was holding a card back. As noted by others, too bad Bess did not keep her own diary. What fun comparing the two would have been.
About Friday 25 September 1668
Scube • Link
"So with the Duke of York and some others to his closet, and Alderman Backewell about a Committee of Tangier, and there did agree upon a price for pieces of eight at 4s. 6d. "
Intrigued about how this subcommittee set what appears to be a currency exchange rate between English and Spanish currencies. Wonder how they came up with the rate, what information they relied on and whether the rate was used in places other than Tangier (assuming it was for Tangier). Also got me thinking about how much Spanish currency was out there in the world and how other countries or regions relied on foreign currency. Must be a book or at the very least a dozen Phd dissertations on this issue!
About Wednesday 16 September 1668
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SDS - Thanks for that! Hard to keep all the staff comings and goings straight. Mystery to Sam and to us as to why she left in the first place.
About Wednesday 16 September 1668
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The link to Jane probably has the wrong dates of her employment. It indicates that Jane was a young maid in the Pepys household between 1658 and 1661 and married Tom in 1669. Here we are in 1668. As to his amours with Jane, Sam seems to regard this as pure sport with sort of a no harm no foul outlook to it all. Note that he is apparently very fond of Jane and settled an annuity on her after she was twice widowed.
About Thursday 27 August 1668
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Sam certainly can get by with little rest. wonder how he did it!
About Sunday 23 August 1668
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Sam very complimentary of the sermon. I believe that is not that common; that is, he finds more sermons boring or lazy than not. Wonder how many sermons he commented on through the diary and the tally on the "good" and "poor" sermons.
About Thursday 20 August 1668
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Did Sam ever have a decent meal at Sir Pen's? Seems he always complains after his visits there. Maybe the company plays some role here.
About Saturday 22 February 1667/68
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Harry R - thanks for that. I wondered whether it was in Latin or perhaps German. As for the relative prices of a good meal with wine and a book, those have certainly changed.
About Wednesday 12 February 1667/68
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Looking for a spoiler: Must our noble hero give up his hard(ly) earned prize money? Suspense is killing me.
About Thursday 23 January 1667/68
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I continue to be impressed by the extraordinary range of friendships enjoyed by Pepys - a relatively young man without noble birth. He must have been considered quite enjoyable company.
About Tuesday 21 January 1667/68
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Stephane,
Fascinating recounting. Did you obtain all that information from State Papers?
About Monday 23 December 1667
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Me too. All good comments and therefore worth repeating. Start my morning with Sam and his crew, and the annotators of 10 years past and 10 hours past. All great company.
About Sunday 22 December 1667
Scube • Link
Wonder about that loan to Joyce; whether he did loan him the money, at what interest rate, etc. Always a reminder that without secure banks, lending money was often preferable to hiding it.
About Wednesday 30 October 1667
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Wonder how he knew she was a slut . . .
About Tuesday 24 September 1667
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"Sir W. Batten and W. Pen and I fain to go all in a hackney-coach round by London Wall, for fear of cellars," Any insight on the fear of cellars? Were cellar bulkhead doors open for laying in coal for the winter?
About Friday 13 September 1667
Scube • Link
"It vexed me to hear how Sir W. Pen, who come alone from London, being to send his coachman for his wife and daughter, and bidding his coachman in much anger to go for them (he being vexed, like a rogue, to do anything to please his wife), his coachman Tom was heard to say a pox, or God rot her, can she walk hither? These words do so mad me that I could find in my heart to give him or my Lady notice of them."
I read this a bit differently. It sounds like Sir W. has lost his temper at his wife, being angry that the coach must be sent back to pick her up. It may be that the coachman is defending the wife here, despite the "god rot her." If it way too far to walk, his question may be to make the point that of course he needs to go back for her.
BTW, as a late comer to this site, I am frequently impressed and always grateful for all of the insights back in 2010 (as well as the fewer but no less excellent observations on the second time around.
About Sunday 2 June 1667
Scube • Link
What a wonderful entry. Much work done. No skirt chasing. Interesting as others point out, that there appears to be no great expectation of keeping sabbath and no consequence for failing to do so. I wonder what his accounts look like. Are they ledgers? Are there any adopted accounting conventions or rules?
About Wednesday 22 May 1667
Scube • Link
I too am curious about the "lifts up the whites of his eyes" comment. Any insight?