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Second Reading

About George Villiers (1st Duke of Buckingham)

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VILLIERS, (George) duke of Buckingham, memorable in English story for having been the favourite of two kings, was born at Brookesby in Leicestershire, in 1592. Being a very handsome youth, his mother resolved to introduce him at court, concluding that a young gentleman of his fine figure, would attract the notice and favour of James I. The king being present at a play, performed by the Cambridge scholars, it was previously contrived that Villiers should appear. The plan succeeded; for the king no sooner cast his eyes upon him, than he became fascinated: for, as Lord Clarendon observes, ''though he was a prince of more learning and knowledge than any other of that age, and really delighted more in books and in the conversation of learned men, yet, of all wise men living, he was the most delighted with handsome persons and fine clothes." The earl of Somerset, his majesty's late favourite, was immediately discarded, and Villiers soon after his first appearance at court, was appointed cup-bearer to the king. In the space of a few weeks he was successively knighted, made a gentleman of the bedchamber, and knight of the garter. In a short time he was created a baron, a viscount, an earl, and a marquis. He also became Lord High Admiral of England, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and Master of the Horse. All the favours, honours, and offices of the three kingdoms were entirely at his disposal. In consequence of which, he exalted almost the whole of his numerous family and dependants, many of whom had no other merft than that of their alliance to him. On the succession of Charles, in 1625, the Duke was equally a favourite with that prince, but he had lost all confidence with the Parliament. Votes and remonstrances passed against him as an enemy of the country; and the king was refused a supply on the ground of his ill-management. The Duke caused this and the next Parliament to be soon dissolved, and proposed new projects for raising money. He acted, indeed, as violence and passion dictated. A war having been declared against France, he took the command at the descent upon the isle of Rhee; in which the flower of the army was lost. Returning to England, he reviewed the fleet and army, and was about to repair to the relief of Rochelle, which was then besieged by Cardinal Richelieu, and was at Portsmouth for that purpose, when he was assassinated by one John Felton, an Englishman; who, from a gloomy disposition, conceived it would be doing God and the nation service to rid the world of such a mischievous man. This assassination took place on the 23d of August, 1628.
---Eccentric biography. 1801.

About John Wilmot (2nd Earl of Rochester)

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ROCHESTER, (John, Earl of) a witty profligate poet in the reign of Charles II. was born in 1648. He was very perfect in the Latin language, of which he was extremely fond; and, if we believe Andrew Marvel, he was the only man in England who had a true vein of satire. He led such a life of drunkenness and gross sensuality, as to wear out his constitution before he had attained his thirty-fourth year. Mr. Walpole calls him "a man whom the Muses were fond to inspire, and ashamed to avow." In his last illness he grew serious, and though he had been an avowed infidel all his life, the perusal of the 53d chapter of Isaiah, converted him to Christianity, and he died perfectly resigned, and full of faith and penitence, in 1680.
---Eccentric biography. 1801.

About Sunday 18 August 1661

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"and then to walk in St. James’s Park, and saw great variety of fowl which I never saw before"

Bird Cage Walk, St. James's Park, a name given to the south side of the Park, between Buckingham Gate and Storey's Gate, from the aviary established there in the reign of James I., and the decoy made there in the reign of Charles II. The supposition that it was so called from "The Bocage," a name given to it by St. Evremont, who was keeper of the ducks in the Park, is a mere piece of idle ingenuity. A grant to Katharine, Queen of Charles II., made in 1671 (23 Car. II.), recites letters patent of the 13th of his reign (1661), whereby he granted, inter alia, "the keeping of an house and yards in our Parke at St. James's, built for the keeping of pheasants, gunny [guinea] hens, partridges, and other fowle within our said park;" and also recites that the Queen Consort had by her trustees purchased the same...
---London, Past and Present. H.B. Wheatley, 1891.

About Sunday 11 August 1661

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"but I am out of conceit now with them"

CONCEIT, Imagination, Fancy, Opinion.
To CONCEIT, to imagine, to fancy.
---An Universal Etymological English Dictionary. N. Bailey, 1675.

About Fellmongers

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FELL, a Skin of a Beast
FELLMONGER, one who deals in Sheep-skins, and parts the Wool from the Pelts.
---An Universal Etymological English Dictionary. N. Bailey, 1675.

About Portholme Meadow, Cambridgeshire

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Forty yards under the second railway bridge from the left bank a narrow stream leaves the river, and just by it we arrive at Portholme; this is a very large meadow being over 3 1/2 miles round, belonging chiefly to the Earl of Sandwich, the Duke of Manchester, and a few other gentlemen; it is entirely surrounded by water.
---Fishing, Fish Culture & the Aquarium. 1890.

About Venison pasty

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PASTY, the Crust of a Pye raised without a Dish.
---An Universal Etymological English Dictionary. N. Bailey, 1675.

This appears to be also the modern definition, at least among the descendants of the Cornish miners of northern Michigan! http://blog.mlive.com/michigan_ap…

About Duck Lane

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Some Country Squire to Lintot goes,
Inquires for Swift in Verse and Prose.
Says Lintot, "I have heard the Name;
He dy'd a Year ago." The same.
He searcheh all his Shop in vain;
"Sir you may find them in Duck-lane;
I sent them with a Load of Books,
Last Monday to the Pastry-cook's."
---Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift. Jonathan Swift, 1731

(i.e., even Swift's books got remaindered to the used-book sellers!)

About Monday 24 June 1661

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"(Midsummer-day)"

The celestial Summer of those Places between the North Tropic, and the North Pole, begins when the Sun enters the first of Cancer, on the twenty first of June, and ends, when it enters the first of Libra, on the twenty first of September.
...
There being twelve Signs in the Ecliptic, and twelve Months in the Year, it goes thro' a Sign in a Month; but enters not the Sign in the beginning of the Month, but about the twenty first Day, according to the Gregorian Calendar, or the eleventh according to the Julian.
---A Compleat System Of General Geography. B. Varenius, 1734.

There may have been an ancient time when June 24 was considered midsummer but geographers in SP's time knew when summer started and when it ended. Using the Julian calendar in England in 1661, it started on June 11!

About Maypole (The Strand)

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The Maypole then being joynted together, and hoopt about with bands of iron, the Crown and Vane, with the Kings Armes richly gilded, was placed on the head of it, a large top like a belcony was about the middle of it. This being done the Trumpets did sound, and in four hours space it was advanced upright, after which, being established fast in the ground, six Drums did beat, and the Trumpets did sound again, great shouts and acclamations the people gave, that it did ring throughout all the Strand; After that came a Morice Dance, finely deckt, with purple Scarfs in their half-shirts, with a Taber and Pipe, the antient Musick, and Danced round about the Maypole and after that Danced the rounds of their Liberty. Upon the top of this famous Standard, is likewise set up a Purple Streamer, about the middle of it, is placed four Crowns more, with Kings Armes likewise; there is also a Garland set upon it of various colours, of delicate rich favours, under which is to be placed three great Lanthorns, to remain for three honours; that is, one for Prince James Duke of York, Lord High Admirall of England; the other for the Vice Admirall; and the third for the Rear Admirall; these are to give light in dark nights, and to continue so as long as the Pole stands, which will be a perpetual honour for Seaman; It is placed as near hand as they could guess, in the very same pit where the former stood, but far more glorious, bigger and higher, than ever any one that stood before it; and the Seamen themselves do confess, that it could not be built higher, nor there is not such a one in Europe beside, which highly doth please his Majesty and the Illustrious Prince Duke of York; little children did much rejoice, and ancient people did clap their hands, saying, golden dayes began to appear
---The Cities Loyalty Displayed. 1661.

About Maypole (The Strand)

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... let me declare to you the manner in general of that stately Cedar erected in the Strand, 134 foot high, commonly called the Maypole, upon the cost of the Parishioners there adjacent, and the gracious consent of his Sacred Majesty, with the Illustrious Prince the Duke of York.
This Tree was a most choice and remarkable Piece, 'twas made below Bridg, and brought in two parts up to Scotland-yard, near the Kings Palace, and from thence it was conveyed, April 14, to the Strand to be erected.
It was brought with a Streamer flourishing before it, Drums beating all the way, and other sorts of Musick, it was supposed to be so long, that Landsmen (as Carpenters) could not possibly raise it. Prince James, the Duke of York, Lord High Admirall of England, commanded twelve Seamen off a Boord to come and officiate the business, whereupon they came and brought their Cables, Pullies, and other tacklins, with six great Anchors; after this was brought three Crowns, bore by three men bare-headed, and a Streamer displaying all the way before them, Drums beating, and other Musick playing : numerous multitudes of people thronging the streets, with great shouts and acclamations all day long.
[Continued]

About Sunday 23 June 1661

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"where great store of gallants"

A GALLANT, a Lover, Beau, a Spark; especially one that keeps Company with a married Woman.
---An Universal Etymological English Dictionary. N. Bailey, 1675.

About Lincoln's Inn Fields

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Lincoln's Inn Fields, a noble square, immediately west of Lincoln's Inn. In the reign of Elizabeth and the early years of James I. the site was an open waste, the haunt of beggars and idle persons, and the occasional scene of military exercises and of public executions. Babington and his thirteen associates in the conspiracy which bears his name were executed here on September 20 and 21, 1586, seven on the first day and seven on the second. In George Whetstone's contemporary narrative (1587) the place is described as "a field at the upper ende of Holborne, harde by the high waye side to S. Giles." The Lords of the Privy Council wrote to the County Justices in September 1613 to restrain certain proposed buildings in Lincoln's Inn Fields. James I. having resolved to have it "laid out in walks like Moorfields," by a patent of November 16, 1618, appointed Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor, and others, a commission "to reduce Lincoln's Inn Fields into walks." The commissioners called Inigo Jones to their aid, and he, it is said, reduced the fields to the exact dimensions of the base of one of the pyramids of Egypt—but the great pyramid occupies 13 1/2 acres, while this square contains only 12 acres. The west side, all that Inigo lived to build upon, was called The Arch Row; here he designed Ancaster House, afterwards called Lindsay House; the east side was bounded by the wall of Lincoln's Inn Gardens (as it now is by the hall of that Inn); the south side was known as Portugal Row, and the north as Holborn Row, but in the 18th century it was more commonly called Newman's Row. The laying out of the walks did not check the concourse of idlers, and it stimulated the passion for building, much to the annoyance of the members of Lincoln's Inn, till Oliver Cromwell put a peremptory stop to it by a Proclamation, dated Whitehall, August 11, 1656.
---London, Past and Present. H.B. Wheatley, 1891.

About Say

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SAY, or SAYE, in commerce, a kind of serge; or a very light crossed stuff, all wool; much used abroad for linings, and by the religious for shirts; and with us, by the quakers, for aprons for which purpose it is usually green. There are very considerable manufactures hereof at Sudbury, near Colchester; also at Ypres, Houdscot, &c. in Flanders, &c. - Those made in England are chiefly exported to Portugal, and Leghorn.
---Cyclopaedia: Or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. E. Chambers, 1743.