"drawing up an answer to several demands of my Lord Treasurer, and late at it till 2 o’clock. Then to dinner" Late at it? What time did they start, I wonder. The resentful cry of the civil servant echoes down the centuries. AND they had to go back to the office after lunch !
A small query, but how would you lose a sword in a coach? Surely the scabbard and sword hung from a belt - or did gentlemen unshackle themselves each time they sat down?
A bit late in the day to join in this discussion, but I wonder if the Sir Williams' real problem was that Sam had all the details at his fingertips when decisions needed to be made. My impression of them from his past comments is that they couldn't be bothered to get down to the nitty-gritty themselves. It would have been fascinating to hear how Sam tactfully pointed this out - he was not yet in a position to say: "Look it up yourselves, you lazy b............'s"
" the reason whereof every body knows" Can't remember who said around the time of Edward VII: "No greater loyalty than a man should lay down his wife for his king"
" all the afternoon at home to put my papers in order." We must remember that Sam had to keep track of two expenditures - personal and business, particularly when they overlapped so often. I assume he claimed expenses for travel, entertaining, etc and he would need detailed records to justify himself against any future complaints. We will see later on when his notebooks are quoted instead of the diary that he even recorded tips to grooms, servants and so on. Also he was not being paid a weekly wage so the reckoning periods could be quite long.
"with some women with him whom he took and me into the tavern" It's unusual for Sam not to name the female company (and describe them). Perhaps they were "no better than they ought to be" as my aunt used to say.
We kept this a holiday, and so went not to the office at all. The fact that he mentions this indicates that it was unusual - or a restoration revival of an old custom.
" since it has pleased God to bless me with something, I am desirous to lay out something for my father," I assume the custom would be to pay the outgoing Mr Young when he retired so Sam is not just asking for a favour, he's putting up a stake on behalf of his father. Good for him.
A small further thought on Sam's worries and complaints about Will, John, Bess, etc. He probably has no-one that he can talk to frankly about these sort of problems - except for his diary.
Back to the oysters, we should bear in mind that Sam kept a running record of all expenses on a daily basis, presumably so he could claim some or all back later. Later on, in a period when his daily notes were not transcribed into the journal, we'll see that this included tips given to grooms, bag carriers, etc.
and there made sale of many old stores by the candle, The candle method is still used here in Somerset UK to auction the annual use of a piece of land in the Mendip hills. However, it's inevitably a fairly slow process so I wonder how "many old stores" were sold. Perhaps they had a separate candle stub for each lot? Or maybe they had more time in those days.
A bit late, but it is slightly misleading to use a serving maid's income as a measure. After all, she also got food and accommodation, possibly also clothes, so her total 'income' was well in excess of £3 per annum.
The coffin in which was the body of Cromwell was a very rich thing, very full of gilded hinges and nails. It seems strange, if the whole purpose of this charade was to humiliate the memory of Cromwell, that they left him (or most of him) in his fancy coffin. Surely, a pine box would have been more fitting for the puritan?
Weather and politics links: One of our local government crackpots has just suggested that the recent floods in the UK are a sign of God's disapproval of gay marriage laws. It has been pointed out that the Lord's aim must be poor as he missed London and parliament by several hundred miles. Plus ca change......
Comments
Second Reading
About Sunday 19 January 1661/62
Tonyel • Link
Phil, congratulations on the new page design - very elegant and most helpful to aging eyes.
About Thursday 9 January 1661/62
Tonyel • Link
"drawing up an answer to several demands of my Lord Treasurer, and late at it till 2 o’clock. Then to dinner"
Late at it? What time did they start, I wonder. The resentful cry of the civil servant echoes down the centuries. AND they had to go back to the office after lunch !
About Wednesday 1 January 1661/62
Tonyel • Link
A small query, but how would you lose a sword in a coach? Surely the scabbard and sword hung from a belt - or did gentlemen unshackle themselves each time they sat down?
About Saturday 21 December 1661
Tonyel • Link
A bit late in the day to join in this discussion, but I wonder if the Sir Williams' real problem was that Sam had all the details at his fingertips when decisions needed to be made. My impression of them from his past comments is that they couldn't be bothered to get down to the nitty-gritty themselves.
It would have been fascinating to hear how Sam tactfully pointed this out - he was not yet in a position to say: "Look it up yourselves, you lazy b............'s"
About Thursday 12 December 1661
Tonyel • Link
Fascinating Terry, but what would have been the motive?
About Saturday 7 December 1661
Tonyel • Link
" the reason whereof every body knows"
Can't remember who said around the time of Edward VII: "No greater loyalty than a man should lay down his wife for his king"
About Tuesday 20 August 1661
Tonyel • Link
" all the afternoon at home to put my papers in order."
We must remember that Sam had to keep track of two expenditures - personal and business, particularly when they overlapped so often. I assume he claimed expenses for travel, entertaining, etc and he would need detailed records to justify himself against any future complaints.
We will see later on when his notebooks are quoted instead of the diary that he even recorded tips to grooms, servants and so on. Also he was not being paid a weekly wage so the reckoning periods could be quite long.
About Friday 26 July 1661
Tonyel • Link
I'm sure you are right Sasha - I had not noticed Mr Hill's calling, my opinions were coloured by my recollections of Popes Head Alley!
About Friday 26 July 1661
Tonyel • Link
"with some women with him whom he took and me into the tavern"
It's unusual for Sam not to name the female company (and describe them). Perhaps they were "no better than they ought to be" as my aunt used to say.
About Monday 24 June 1661
Tonyel • Link
We kept this a holiday, and so went not to the office at all.
The fact that he mentions this indicates that it was unusual - or a restoration revival of an old custom.
About Monday 3 June 1661
Tonyel • Link
" since it has pleased God to bless me with something, I am desirous to lay out something for my father,"
I assume the custom would be to pay the outgoing Mr Young when he retired so Sam is not just asking for a favour, he's putting up a stake on behalf of his father. Good for him.
About Friday 10 May 1661
Tonyel • Link
A small further thought on Sam's worries and complaints about Will, John, Bess, etc.
He probably has no-one that he can talk to frankly about these sort of problems - except for his diary.
About Sunday 31 March 1661
Tonyel • Link
"took occasion" is definitely active. Compare and contrast with the late Ronnie Scott's line:
"I was out one evening and was taken suddenly drunk"
Sorry, off topic and ten years late - but it is April Fools Day and a little humour seems overdue.
About Tuesday 5 March 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
Back to the oysters, we should bear in mind that Sam kept a running record of all expenses on a daily basis, presumably so he could claim some or all back later. Later on, in a period when his daily notes were not transcribed into the journal, we'll see that this included tips given to grooms, bag carriers, etc.
About Thursday 28 February 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
and there made sale of many old stores by the candle,
The candle method is still used here in Somerset UK to auction the annual use of a piece of land in the Mendip hills. However, it's inevitably a fairly slow process so I wonder how "many old stores" were sold. Perhaps they had a separate candle stub for each lot? Or maybe they had more time in those days.
About Monday 18 February 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
A bit late, but it is slightly misleading to use a serving maid's income as a measure. After all, she also got food and accommodation, possibly also clothes, so her total 'income' was well in excess of £3 per annum.
About Thursday 7 February 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
The link to the Duke of Buckingham is incorrect - it's his son who upset Sandwich ( and a lot of other folk later).
About Wednesday 30 January 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
The coffin in which was the body of Cromwell was a very rich thing, very full of gilded hinges and nails.
It seems strange, if the whole purpose of this charade was to humiliate the memory of Cromwell, that they left him (or most of him) in his fancy coffin. Surely, a pine box would have been more fitting for the puritan?
About Wednesday 23 January 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
Or maybe he had an expense account.
About Monday 21 January 1660/61
Tonyel • Link
Weather and politics links:
One of our local government crackpots has just suggested that the recent floods in the UK are a sign of God's disapproval of gay marriage laws. It has been pointed out that the Lord's aim must be poor as he missed London and parliament by several hundred miles.
Plus ca change......