L&M read "... he confesses himself my debtor 100L, for my service ..." That's more like it - a business-like approach. No more vague promises as per Creed which sent Sam off to value a gift to see how much had been paid.
To think that all these years I have been rolling my eyes to heaven and saying "Shish" to incompetent underlings without knowing where the word came from! Sasha, thank you for the introduction to Carissimi - fine it was, indeed.
"I was ready with Mr. Gauden’s and his, both directed him a letter to me to give the board their two tenders, but there being none but the Generall Monk and Mr. Coventry and Povy and I, I did not think fit to expose them to view now, ... and so with good content rose."
I suspect it's the old committee trick of waiting until everyone's talked out and bored - then you say "Oh, one more small item...." The bigger the committee, the easier it is.
I can't recall the source but remember reading somewhere that there was an official naval instruction: "All hands to dance and skylark." Boredom is a terrible thing in a crowd of active young men.
W. Howe was with me this afternoon, to desire some things to be got ready for my Lord against his going down to his ship, which will be soon; for it seems the King and both the Queenes intend to visit him. The Lord knows how my Lord will get out of this charge;
This sounds as though Sandwich is expected to contribute towards the costs of going to war himself. Anyone know what and how much would have been expected?
From past experience (don't ask) if you are going to fiddle the books, it's much easier if the books are in good order. Accounts full of obvious errors invite questions which may, in turn, expose other 'errors'. I suspect that several people may want to have their hands in this particular till.
" - with a goldsmith, sorting out his old plate to change for new; but, Lord! what a deale he hath! " I assume by 'deale' Sam means a large amount. Or is he commenting on the good, or bad, deal that the goldsmith makes with Coventry?
"Horrifically relevant today" Are you also thinking of a fat man blustering to the FT " If China won't sort out North Korea, we will do it ourselves" Oh God......
In Ireland there are burial grounds divided by a wall to keep Protestants away from Catholics (and vice versa). Some walls are said to be six feet deep in the ground just to make sure !
" money or something worse she knows not, but there is one Cranburne, I think she called him, in Fleete Lane with whom he hath many times been mighty private, but what their dealings have been she knows not, but believes these were naught,"
Is it possible that poor Tom was secretly homosexual? It might account for some of his problems and also for Sam's fear of embarrassment. What, if anything, was the attitude to homosexuality in those times? Was it even admitted? I have read somewhere that Queen Victoria later signed an Act to make it illegal but refused to include lesbianism as she did not believe that women could do that sort of thing.
Much sooner than that, his patron, protector and relative Sandwich will slip down the greasy pole leaving Sam to feel exposed and looking for new alliances. No job security in those days.
Even today, in Long Acre, you can nip into a tiny alley between the large buildings and find yourself in a warren. I imagine Elizabeth's folks were living in one of the alley tenements, not on the main street.
Sarah, the Comptroller was Minnes who, in Sam's view, was incompetent but would not allow anyone else to take on his duties (often a sign of incompetence in my experience). Batten was corrupt like many others but appears to have been clumsily corrupt which was more of a sin in those days.
"calling for Walsingham’s Manuals at my bookseller’s to read but not to buy"
Is this an early form of library system or did he just stand in the shop reading the book to the irritation of the shopkeeper? Of course he is a regular customer, so perhaps that would be acceptable behaviour.
Re Robert Gertz's query: I believe the jury is still out on Marlowe's death but, in any case, this is a different Walsingham.
" I did still within me resolve to make the King one way or other pay for them, though I saved it to him another way, "
I remember the justification well: I've saved my employers several hundred pounds by my efficiency - they (and God) could hardly object to my spending ten on a little treat for myself.
" but the common rule is, that though a cock neither runs nor dies, yet if any man will bet 10l. to a crowne, and nobody take the bet, the game is given over, and not sooner." 10l. to a crown is odds of 40 to 1 - a suspiciously confident bet on a 'two-horse' race. Do I read this right or am I missing something?
Comments
Second Reading
About Tuesday 2 August 1664
Tonyel • Link
L&M read "... he confesses himself my debtor 100L, for my service ..."
That's more like it - a business-like approach. No more vague promises as per Creed which sent Sam off to value a gift to see how much had been paid.
About Friday 22 July 1664
Tonyel • Link
To think that all these years I have been rolling my eyes to heaven and saying "Shish" to incompetent underlings without knowing where the word came from!
Sasha, thank you for the introduction to Carissimi - fine it was, indeed.
About Thursday 14 July 1664
Tonyel • Link
"I was ready with Mr. Gauden’s and his, both directed him a letter to me to give the board their two tenders, but there being none but the Generall Monk and Mr. Coventry and Povy and I, I did not think fit to expose them to view now, ... and so with good content rose."
I suspect it's the old committee trick of waiting until everyone's talked out and bored - then you say "Oh, one more small item...." The bigger the committee, the easier it is.
About Wednesday 13 July 1664
Tonyel • Link
" hard by" means nearby, or near the office. It's another nautical term that old sea dogs like Sam enjoy.
About Thursday 7 July 1664
Tonyel • Link
I can't recall the source but remember reading somewhere that there was an official naval instruction: "All hands to dance and skylark."
Boredom is a terrible thing in a crowd of active young men.
About Thursday 23 June 1664
Tonyel • Link
W. Howe was with me this afternoon, to desire some things to be got ready for my Lord against his going down to his ship, which will be soon; for it seems the King and both the Queenes intend to visit him. The Lord knows how my Lord will get out of this charge;
This sounds as though Sandwich is expected to contribute towards the costs of going to war himself. Anyone know what and how much would have been expected?
About Tuesday 3 May 1664
Tonyel • Link
re Povy et al:
From past experience (don't ask) if you are going to fiddle the books, it's much easier if the books are in good order. Accounts full of obvious errors invite questions which may, in turn, expose other 'errors'. I suspect that several people may want to have their hands in this particular till.
About Thursday 14 April 1664
Tonyel • Link
Bridget, I suspect this was a little quiet humour on Bradford's part.
About Wednesday 13 April 1664
Tonyel • Link
" - with a goldsmith, sorting out his old plate to change for new; but, Lord! what a deale he hath! "
I assume by 'deale' Sam means a large amount. Or is he commenting on the good, or bad, deal that the goldsmith makes with Coventry?
About Saturday 2 April 1664
Tonyel • Link
"Horrifically relevant today"
Are you also thinking of a fat man blustering to the FT " If China won't sort out North Korea, we will do it ourselves"
Oh God......
About Friday 18 March 1663/64
Tonyel • Link
In Ireland there are burial grounds divided by a wall to keep Protestants away from Catholics (and vice versa). Some walls are said to be six feet deep in the ground just to make sure !
About Monday 14 March 1663/64
Tonyel • Link
" money or something worse she knows not, but there is one Cranburne, I think she called him, in Fleete Lane with whom he hath many times been mighty private, but what their dealings have been she knows not, but believes these were naught,"
Is it possible that poor Tom was secretly homosexual? It might account for some of his problems and also for Sam's fear of embarrassment. What, if anything, was the attitude to homosexuality in those times? Was it even admitted? I have read somewhere that Queen Victoria later signed an Act to make it illegal but refused to include lesbianism as she did not believe that women could do that sort of thing.
About Tuesday 23 February 1663/64
Tonyel • Link
SPOILER ALERT
Much sooner than that, his patron, protector and relative Sandwich will slip down the greasy pole leaving Sam to feel exposed and looking for new alliances. No job security in those days.
About Wednesday 17 February 1663/64
Tonyel • Link
Even today, in Long Acre, you can nip into a tiny alley between the large buildings and find yourself in a warren. I imagine Elizabeth's folks were living in one of the alley tenements, not on the main street.
About Friday 12 February 1663/64
Tonyel • Link
"Says he after all, well, says he......."
This suddenly brings the conversation to life, accompanied no doubt by a wagging finger.
About Thursday 11 February 1663/64
Tonyel • Link
"my wife and I hand to fist to a very fine pig."
Can it be that, in addition to modernising the King's navy, our hero invented pulled pork?
About Thursday 14 January 1663/64
Tonyel • Link
Sarah, the Comptroller was Minnes who, in Sam's view, was incompetent but would not allow anyone else to take on his duties (often a sign of incompetence in my experience).
Batten was corrupt like many others but appears to have been clumsily corrupt which was more of a sin in those days.
About Saturday 9 January 1663/64
Tonyel • Link
"calling for Walsingham’s Manuals at my bookseller’s to read but not to buy"
Is this an early form of library system or did he just stand in the shop reading the book to the irritation of the shopkeeper? Of course he is a regular customer, so perhaps that would be acceptable behaviour.
Re Robert Gertz's query: I believe the jury is still out on Marlowe's death but, in any case, this is a different Walsingham.
About Saturday 26 December 1663
Tonyel • Link
" I did still within me resolve to make the King one way or other pay for them, though I saved it to him another way, "
I remember the justification well: I've saved my employers several hundred pounds by my efficiency - they (and God) could hardly object to my spending ten on a little treat for myself.
About Monday 21 December 1663
Tonyel • Link
" but the common rule is, that though a cock neither runs nor dies, yet if any man will bet 10l. to a crowne, and nobody take the bet, the game is given over, and not sooner."
10l. to a crown is odds of 40 to 1 - a suspiciously confident bet on a 'two-horse' race. Do I read this right or am I missing something?