If they're going to move Sam's ready cash to a safer place, might they draw less attention if one of them is a man of the cloth...? Sorry, off topic, but reminds me of Rory Sutherland's comment about buying a car from a vicar: You don't have to believe in God, you just have to believe that he does.
The business between my Lord Hinchingbroke and Mrs. Mallett is quite broke off
I know one should not judge by appearances, but Hinchingbroke does look like a spoilt, rather dim, young man - in fact boring. Elizabeth Malet obviously decided she needed a rather more exciting husband and, presumably, learned that you should be careful what you wish for.....
It's so tempting to look back 350 years and feel morally superior, isn't it?
By coincidence, Saudi Arabia have just announced that they will in future allow women to travel abroad without being accompanied by a male - described as a liberalising decision!
Not long ago, Mrs Bagwell was whitewashing the house against the plague. Any faint sign of infection on her face wold cause Sam to make a quick about-turn.
The newly-built Loyal London did not reach the fleet at the Nore until 13 July, and then without guns.
Yet another "plus ca change" example. The UK today has a new, enormously expensive, aircraft carrier but we can't afford the planes for it. And this was planned - not the result of an accident!
"I was as sparing in speaking as I could, being jealous of him and myself also, but wished it could be stopped; but said I doubted it could not otherwise than by the fleete’s being abroad again, and so finding other worke for men’s minds and discourse." Can anyone explain the meaning of 'jealous' in this context? It only seems to make sense to me if you substitute 'cautious' or 'nervous'. The whole episode sounds as though Coventry is rehearsing his defence arguments and using Sam as a sounding board.
Louise, I think it more likely that poor Mr Daniels and his companion had lost, or at least badly damaged, an eye. Oakum was generally used for stuffing holes or gaps and would be the obvious, if unhygenic, way to stop the bleeding. I doubt that they would have been sent ashore for less.
At Bow we eat and drank and so back again, it being very cool in the evening. Can't help wondering, would the hackney driver be sent to the public bar with a shilling for his supper and be told to wait? Or were hackneys readily available at inns when you were ready to go home?
Possibly John Downing was experienced in making anchors for fishing smacks and other small boats but realised he was out of his depth (sorry!) when it came to securing a warship. I respect Sam's decision to repay the bribe - it shows a moral sensibility in a wicked world and is also good politics. Word would have got around that Mr Pepys is 'open for business' but he does play it straight.
Yes Jonathan, I came back. So thoroughly enjoyed reading the diary first time around that I leapt at the chance of reading it again to see what I'd missed. It's amusing to think of a comment or query now and find that I already raised it ten years ago!
I think that, apart from his generosity towards Bess, Sam looks upon a pearl necklace as an investment which could be cashed in if times got hard. The same applies to all the silver plate he has been piling up.
I confess I've lost track of the maids. But seems to me that his little girl ("Su" above), is not the same person as the cook-maid "Susan"
I begin to wonder if Sam called all his junior maids Susan when he could not recall their actual names. It was common practice in some of the great houses, even into the 20th century, to allocate a previous holder's name to a specific post.
As a Brit, I still recognise "homely" in the same way - not ugly, but rather plain perhaps. However, who is Sam describing as such? He has just mentioned four women including his wife in one sentence.
" and proposes a business for which he hath promised Mrs. Williams for my Lord Bruncker a set of plate shall cost him 500l. and me the like, which will be a good business indeed."
I read this as Cocke offering £500 to Bruncker AND to Sam as well. If he can lay out £1,000 in bribes it must be a spectacularly good business. We await more details......
Well, ok...Sam Pepys is never cold about anything...But his campaign ala Bagwell was and is very calculated and unfeeling.
Putting our modern morals aside, I see Sam and the Bagwells regarding this as a business matter. They could not afford to bribe him with money to gain advantage so they bribed him with the only asset they had. I don't think Sam ever expressed any false affection for Mrs B. and, to be fair, he kept his side of the bargain.
Comments
Second Reading
About Thursday 27 September 1666
Tonyel • Link
If they're going to move Sam's ready cash to a safer place, might they draw less attention if one of them is a man of the cloth...?
Sorry, off topic, but reminds me of Rory Sutherland's comment about buying a car from a vicar:
You don't have to believe in God, you just have to believe that he does.
About Sunday 26 August 1666
Tonyel • Link
The business between my Lord Hinchingbroke and Mrs. Mallett is quite broke off
I know one should not judge by appearances, but Hinchingbroke does look like a spoilt, rather dim, young man - in fact boring. Elizabeth Malet obviously decided she needed a rather more exciting husband and, presumably, learned that you should be careful what you wish for.....
About Wednesday 1 August 1666
Tonyel • Link
It's so tempting to look back 350 years and feel morally superior, isn't it?
By coincidence, Saudi Arabia have just announced that they will in future allow women to travel abroad without being accompanied by a male - described as a liberalising decision!
About Tuesday 31 July 1666
Tonyel • Link
How much of this is true, time will shew.
"Fake Newes!"
A sudden image of Sam with a Twitter account.
About Monday 2 July 1666
Tonyel • Link
Not long ago, Mrs Bagwell was whitewashing the house against the plague. Any faint sign of infection on her face wold cause Sam to make a quick about-turn.
About Tuesday 26 June 1666
Tonyel • Link
The newly-built Loyal London did not reach the fleet at the Nore until 13 July, and then without guns.
Yet another "plus ca change" example. The UK today has a new, enormously expensive, aircraft carrier but we can't afford the planes for it. And this was planned - not the result of an accident!
About Sunday 24 June 1666
Tonyel • Link
"I was as sparing in speaking as I could, being jealous of him and myself also, but wished it could be stopped; but said I doubted it could not otherwise than by the fleete’s being abroad again, and so finding other worke for men’s minds and discourse."
Can anyone explain the meaning of 'jealous' in this context? It only seems to make sense to me if you substitute 'cautious' or 'nervous'.
The whole episode sounds as though Coventry is rehearsing his defence arguments and using Sam as a sounding board.
About Monday 11 June 1666
Tonyel • Link
Albemarle got back to London first and took advantage of it. The mark of a politician.
About Monday 4 June 1666
Tonyel • Link
Louise, I think it more likely that poor Mr Daniels and his companion had lost, or at least badly damaged, an eye. Oakum was generally used for stuffing holes or gaps and would be the obvious, if unhygenic, way to stop the bleeding. I doubt that they would have been sent ashore for less.
About Monday 14 May 1666
Tonyel • Link
At Bow we eat and drank and so back again, it being very cool in the evening.
Can't help wondering, would the hackney driver be sent to the public bar with a shilling for his supper and be told to wait? Or were hackneys readily available at inns when you were ready to go home?
About Wednesday 9 May 1666
Tonyel • Link
" I come, and what was it but to scold at me and she would go abroad to take the ayre presently, that she would. "
A slight touch of the Oirish, so it is....
About Tuesday 8 May 1666
Tonyel • Link
Possibly John Downing was experienced in making anchors for fishing smacks and other small boats but realised he was out of his depth (sorry!) when it came to securing a warship. I respect Sam's decision to repay the bribe - it shows a moral sensibility in a wicked world and is also good politics. Word would have got around that Mr Pepys is 'open for business' but he does play it straight.
About Wednesday 2 May 1666
Tonyel • Link
Yes Jonathan, I came back. So thoroughly enjoyed reading the diary first time around that I leapt at the chance of reading it again to see what I'd missed. It's amusing to think of a comment or query now and find that I already raised it ten years ago!
About Saturday 28 April 1666
Tonyel • Link
I think that, apart from his generosity towards Bess, Sam looks upon a pearl necklace as an investment which could be cashed in if times got hard. The same applies to all the silver plate he has been piling up.
About Monday 23 April 1666
Tonyel • Link
I confess I've lost track of the maids. But seems to me that his little girl ("Su" above), is not the same person as the cook-maid "Susan"
I begin to wonder if Sam called all his junior maids Susan when he could not recall their actual names. It was common practice in some of the great houses, even into the 20th century, to allocate a previous holder's name to a specific post.
About Monday 23 April 1666
Tonyel • Link
"This morning the House of Parliament do meet, only to adjourne again till winter."
Given the shambolic way that our modern parliamentarians have been acting over Brexit, one can only wish they might follow suit.
About Thursday 12 April 1666
Tonyel • Link
As a Brit, I still recognise "homely" in the same way - not ugly, but rather plain perhaps.
However, who is Sam describing as such? He has just mentioned four women including his wife in one sentence.
About Sunday 8 April 1666
Tonyel • Link
Or he was shot - but the room was locked from the inside and there was no trace of a gun!
Sorry, there are some things we will never know.
About Wednesday 4 April 1666
Tonyel • Link
" and proposes a business for which he hath promised Mrs. Williams for my Lord Bruncker a set of plate shall cost him 500l. and me the like, which will be a good business indeed."
I read this as Cocke offering £500 to Bruncker AND to Sam as well. If he can lay out £1,000 in bribes it must be a spectacularly good business. We await more details......
About Friday 9 March 1665/66
Tonyel • Link
Well, ok...Sam Pepys is never cold about anything...But his campaign ala Bagwell was and is very calculated and unfeeling.
Putting our modern morals aside, I see Sam and the Bagwells regarding this as a business matter. They could not afford to bribe him with money to gain advantage so they bribed him with the only asset they had. I don't think Sam ever expressed any false affection for Mrs B. and, to be fair, he kept his side of the bargain.