I think the key to "shook his shoulders" is this at the end of that sentence: "which he [Montagu] did not like, but however he [Monk] had done his business, though it be with some kind of baseness." So it is not anger and not mirth. It's a shrug, meaning "I don't like it, but what's done is done."
"I am informed that the Exchequer is now so low, that there is not 20l. there, to give the messenger that brought the news of Lambert’s being taken..."
Surely the messenger is not owed 20 pounds for delivering the news?
"Massy timbers" — Massy is a nice word, rarely used today, supplanted by massive. Seems to have peaked in the early 1800s.
No mention of any of the boss's wine being sampled during that storeroom visit, so probably not. Maybe some of it came up with them to supper. In any case, this is another example of the kind of access that Sam is reveling in, every day.
In 2017 above, Bill and Terry Foreman commented that Sam is being treated above his rank and is indulging in self-deception with regard to his importance. But let me posit a contrary opinion: Sam is being invited to dine with vice admirals, rear admirals and captains, because just as Sam is a hell of an interesting fellow to *us*, he probably also struck *them* as a hell of a conversationalist and great dinner companion. It didn't hurt that he worked for Mountague (and he would not have been invited had he held some lower rank) but this "respect" and inclusion is not solely due to his position as Mountague's clerk.
Regarding that reporting in the Gazette: Keep in mind that even back then, fake news was a thing. I prefer to trust the accounts of Mr. Pepys, who is well placed right there on the flagship, than the likely second- or third-hand report in the Gazette, embellished at each step along the way.
Regarding Mr. Mansell: A pretty detailed account of the 1651 escape of Charles II, and Mansell's role in making the arrangements, can be found here: https://emsworthmuseum.org.uk/emc… There is also a Wikipedia page on the escape (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esc…) which doesn't mention Mansell at all.
"shifting myself from top to toe" — extremely slight spoiler: On 29 September, 1663, Sam will use this exact same phrase, describing how he got thoroughly soaked while apparently unclogging the gutters during a severe downpour, and then came in, dried himself, and "shifted myself from top to toe" when he went to bed. Over the years, he will mention shifting himself as changing clothes on a number of other occasions. So I think that's what he did tonight, and then sat to talk with his companions.
Re: Chris Squire's post with OED definition of scuttlebutt, above: "Scuttle-butt, or cask, is a cask having a square piece sawn out of its bilge and lashed upon the deck. It is used to contain the fresh water for daily use" (1801)
We landlubbers may have been imagining an upright barrel with a hole cut into the top, but this quote reveals one more detail about the scuttlebutt, namely, that the scuttle, or opening, is cut into its side — the bilge being the widest part of the cask. In wine barrels, it is where the bung-hole is found. So this scuttlebutt, provided for drinking water purposes, is laid on its side, presumably into a special cradle. Probably this is a more secure position on a deck that is rolling and pitching at sea than setting it upright, a position in which it is harder to stabilize. Here is a picture of a scuttlebutt on the USS Constitution, which can probably be relied on as authoritative: https://wordsmith.org/words/image…
I hope this is OK with Phil — he keeps this opportunity well hidden, but it is now possible to support his continuing efforts and expenses to keep this site functioning and moderated, by sending a contribution his way. It is quick and easy. The details are here: https://www.pepysdiary.com/news/2…
"Strange how these people do now promise me anything; one a rapier, the other a vessel of wine or a gun, and one offered me his silver hatband to do him a courtesy. I pray God to keep me from being proud or too much lifted up hereby."
"Too much" is the key here. Sam and his company have just had "a great deal of wine, and they paid all" — free rounds at the tavern are all right, but rapiers, guns and silver hatbands perhaps are "too much." One the other hand, last week (18th), he was not too proud to accept a piece of gold and 20s. in silver from Captain Williamson as compensation for getting him "him his commission to be Captain of the Harp." A fine balancing act. (As well, there is a moral component to "being proud" or "lifted up". Even when Sam begins, later on, to take much satisfaction each month in tallying his growing net worth, it is always accompanied by an expression of thanks to God.)
I'm surprised that in all these years "foy" has not been discussed under this date. It comes up once or twice more in the diary and there is a general discussion of it in the comments of 25 November 1661 if you want to peek ahead. https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Technical side note to third readers: If you are using Chrome, and leave a logged-in tab open from day to day, you may have trouble posting. My experience is that I get a "page not working" message when I hit the preview button. The solution to this (for me) is to refresh the page and then post. This seems to reset the connection and avoids generating the error message.
Not previously noted: Sam was hanging out at Harper's with Mr. Butler, AKA Mons. l’Impertinent, about whom not much is known — he seems to be a good drinking buddy, but they also go to church together at times. They don't have a business relationship, so this evening's drinking bout was probably more for companionship and to celebrate Sam's advancement than anything else.
Back in 2003, YouTube did not exist, but now it does, so we can listen to Orpheus' Hymn ourselves. Here it is sung by Dame Emma Kirby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u…
Some research published in 2008, a few years after the first reading of this passage makes the case that the phrase "red herring" with the figurative meaning of something that distracts from the question at hand dates only from 1807 (Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red…) (And the whole idea that red (smoked) herrings were used to fool the hounds was disproved by Mythbusters in 2010.)
So Sam's "by the same token" (which DID have the same meaning back in 1659 as today) does not seem to be connected to the red herring. More likely, it's just an inelegant usage by Sam expressing the contradiction that his boot was mended but not mended.
RE" oliver, 2003: "I'm struck by the fact that both Pepys and Evelyn seem so matter of fact about touring the entirety of this great house and the grounds." -- And ensuing discussion indicating this was no uncommon...
Also, not mentioned previously, this particular visit was facilitated by the White Hart's innkeeper ("master of the house," "our landlord," who also shewed them the almshouse) who presumably did this regularly and probably got a good tip from Sam.
Paul Chapin, 2003: "the 3-legged stool (tri-pos) on which the Tripos sat"
Reminds me that today, aspiring humorists performing in comedy clubs still use a stool (more often four-legged) as their single and essential piece of stage furniture.
More, from the university library, on the origins and evolution of the word term tripos and the role of the Tripos on the stool: https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/univers…
Quite a discussion 20 years ago for a short diary entry, regarding the question of whether the appreciation of the beauty of nature and rural landscapes is a culturally constructed dating from a later point in time, and not prevalent in Sam's day.
For a historically and geographically sweeping treatise on this question (phrased as: "When we see landscape, do we see nature or culture?"), I commend Simon Schama's 1995 book, Landscape and Memory.
Comments
Third Reading
About Sunday 6 May 1660
MartinVT • Link
Happy Coronation Day to all our UK/Commonwealth friends, long live the next King Charles!
About Sunday 29 April 1660
MartinVT • Link
I think the key to "shook his shoulders" is this at the end of that sentence: "which he [Montagu] did not like, but however he [Monk] had done his business, though it be with some kind of baseness." So it is not anger and not mirth. It's a shrug, meaning "I don't like it, but what's done is done."
About Friday 27 April 1660
MartinVT • Link
"I am informed that the Exchequer is now so low, that there is not 20l. there, to give the messenger that brought the news of Lambert’s being taken..."
Surely the messenger is not owed 20 pounds for delivering the news?
About Thursday 26 April 1660
MartinVT • Link
"Massy timbers" — Massy is a nice word, rarely used today, supplanted by massive. Seems to have peaked in the early 1800s.
No mention of any of the boss's wine being sampled during that storeroom visit, so probably not. Maybe some of it came up with them to supper. In any case, this is another example of the kind of access that Sam is reveling in, every day.
About Wednesday 25 April 1660
MartinVT • Link
In 2017 above, Bill and Terry Foreman commented that Sam is being treated above his rank and is indulging in self-deception with regard to his importance. But let me posit a contrary opinion: Sam is being invited to dine with vice admirals, rear admirals and captains, because just as Sam is a hell of an interesting fellow to *us*, he probably also struck *them* as a hell of a conversationalist and great dinner companion. It didn't hurt that he worked for Mountague (and he would not have been invited had he held some lower rank) but this "respect" and inclusion is not solely due to his position as Mountague's clerk.
About Thursday 19 April 1660
MartinVT • Link
Regarding that reporting in the Gazette: Keep in mind that even back then, fake news was a thing. I prefer to trust the accounts of Mr. Pepys, who is well placed right there on the flagship, than the likely second- or third-hand report in the Gazette, embellished at each step along the way.
About Thursday 19 April 1660
MartinVT • Link
Regarding Mr. Mansell: A pretty detailed account of the 1651 escape of Charles II, and Mansell's role in making the arrangements, can be found here: https://emsworthmuseum.org.uk/emc…
There is also a Wikipedia page on the escape (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esc…) which doesn't mention Mansell at all.
About Tuesday 17 April 1660
MartinVT • Link
"shifting myself from top to toe" — extremely slight spoiler: On 29 September, 1663, Sam will use this exact same phrase, describing how he got thoroughly soaked while apparently unclogging the gutters during a severe downpour, and then came in, dried himself, and "shifted myself from top to toe" when he went to bed. Over the years, he will mention shifting himself as changing clothes on a number of other occasions. So I think that's what he did tonight, and then sat to talk with his companions.
About Friday 13 April 1660
MartinVT • Link
For a closer look at the Declaration of Breda, here is the Sotheby's page on the upcoming auction: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/a…
About Tuesday 27 March 1660
MartinVT • Link
Some more scuttlebutt:
Re: Chris Squire's post with OED definition of scuttlebutt, above: "Scuttle-butt, or cask, is a cask having a square piece sawn out of its bilge and lashed upon the deck. It is used to contain the fresh water for daily use" (1801)
We landlubbers may have been imagining an upright barrel with a hole cut into the top, but this quote reveals one more detail about the scuttlebutt, namely, that the scuttle, or opening, is cut into its side — the bilge being the widest part of the cask. In wine barrels, it is where the bung-hole is found. So this scuttlebutt, provided for drinking water purposes, is laid on its side, presumably into a special cradle. Probably this is a more secure position on a deck that is rolling and pitching at sea than setting it upright, a position in which it is harder to stabilize. Here is a picture of a scuttlebutt on the USS Constitution, which can probably be relied on as authoritative: https://wordsmith.org/words/image…
About Saturday 24 March 1659/60
MartinVT • Link
I hope this is OK with Phil — he keeps this opportunity well hidden, but it is now possible to support his continuing efforts and expenses to keep this site functioning and moderated, by sending a contribution his way. It is quick and easy. The details are here: https://www.pepysdiary.com/news/2…
About Thursday 22 March 1659/60
MartinVT • Link
"Strange how these people do now promise me anything; one a rapier, the other a vessel of wine or a gun, and one offered me his silver hatband to do him a courtesy. I pray God to keep me from being proud or too much lifted up hereby."
"Too much" is the key here. Sam and his company have just had "a great deal of wine, and they paid all" — free rounds at the tavern are all right, but rapiers, guns and silver hatbands perhaps are "too much." One the other hand, last week (18th), he was not too proud to accept a piece of gold and 20s. in silver from Captain Williamson as compensation for getting him "him his commission to be Captain of the Harp." A fine balancing act. (As well, there is a moral component to "being proud" or "lifted up". Even when Sam begins, later on, to take much satisfaction each month in tallying his growing net worth, it is always accompanied by an expression of thanks to God.)
About Tuesday 20 March 1659/60
MartinVT • Link
I'm surprised that in all these years "foy" has not been discussed under this date. It comes up once or twice more in the diary and there is a general discussion of it in the comments of 25 November 1661 if you want to peek ahead. https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Saturday 10 March 1659/60
MartinVT • Link
Technical side note to third readers: If you are using Chrome, and leave a logged-in tab open from day to day, you may have trouble posting. My experience is that I get a "page not working" message when I hit the preview button. The solution to this (for me) is to refresh the page and then post. This seems to reset the connection and avoids generating the error message.
About Friday 9 March 1659/60
MartinVT • Link
Not previously noted: Sam was hanging out at Harper's with Mr. Butler, AKA Mons. l’Impertinent, about whom not much is known — he seems to be a good drinking buddy, but they also go to church together at times. They don't have a business relationship, so this evening's drinking bout was probably more for companionship and to celebrate Sam's advancement than anything else.
About Sunday 4 March 1659/60
MartinVT • Link
Back in 2003, YouTube did not exist, but now it does, so we can listen to Orpheus' Hymn ourselves. Here it is sung by Dame Emma Kirby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u…
About Tuesday 28 February 1659/60
MartinVT • Link
red herring
Some research published in 2008, a few years after the first reading of this passage makes the case that the phrase "red herring" with the figurative meaning of something that distracts from the question at hand dates only from 1807 (Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red…) (And the whole idea that red (smoked) herrings were used to fool the hounds was disproved by Mythbusters in 2010.)
So Sam's "by the same token" (which DID have the same meaning back in 1659 as today) does not seem to be connected to the red herring. More likely, it's just an inelegant usage by Sam expressing the contradiction that his boot was mended but not mended.
About Monday 27 February 1659/60
MartinVT • Link
RE" oliver, 2003: "I'm struck by the fact that both Pepys and Evelyn seem so matter of fact about touring the entirety of this great house and the grounds." -- And ensuing discussion indicating this was no uncommon...
Also, not mentioned previously, this particular visit was facilitated by the White Hart's innkeeper ("master of the house," "our landlord," who also shewed them the almshouse) who presumably did this regularly and probably got a good tip from Sam.
About Sunday 26 February 1659/60
MartinVT • Link
Paul Chapin, 2003: "the 3-legged stool (tri-pos) on which the Tripos sat"
Reminds me that today, aspiring humorists performing in comedy clubs still use a stool (more often four-legged) as their single and essential piece of stage furniture.
More, from the university library, on the origins and evolution of the word term tripos and the role of the Tripos on the stool: https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/univers…
About Friday 24 February 1659/60
MartinVT • Link
Quite a discussion 20 years ago for a short diary entry, regarding the question of whether the appreciation of the beauty of nature and rural landscapes is a culturally constructed dating from a later point in time, and not prevalent in Sam's day.
For a historically and geographically sweeping treatise on this question (phrased as: "When we see landscape, do we see nature or culture?"), I commend Simon Schama's 1995 book, Landscape and Memory.