I wonder whether Lord Hitchingbroke was really under the weather or just making up an excuse to avoid dining with the Pepys household. Given Sam’s reaction, probably the latter and neither was looking forward to the meal.
In October 1991, my neighborhood in Northern California had a major fire that destroyed more than 4,000 houses and stopped only 17 houses from mine. I was at my house at the worst of the fire and saw flames at the bottom of my street. Like Sam, I dreamed of fires and falling houses for months afterwards and so I have a pretty good idea of how he was feeling when he wrote today’s diary entry. Definitely PTSD.
Bride cake. The link in today’s diary entry suggests that bride cake is a type of fruitcake, and after a bit of research into old British recipes, I found a recipe for bride cake from 1767 for what appears to be the same type of fruitcake/wedding cake that was served at my wedding lunch in Brighton in the 1970s. (Is it still the case that fruitcake is served at British weddings?)
I picture Sam knocking back a glass of "strong water" and chocking, having learned the important lesson that one does not drink spirits the way one drinks wine. Are there any other instances in the diary in which he drinks spirits (rather than wine or beer)? I haven't done a word search, but none come to mind.
Responding to Nick’s helpful comment, it would make sense that Sam and family went to the edge of the borough of Hackney (assuming it was a borough back then), roughly two and a half miles each way. To get to central Hackney, Google Maps shows a journey of 5-6 miles each way by modern highway (well, modern-ish), hence the guess of 15 miles to and from Hackney via 17th century roads. But even a five mile walk — an hour and a half at least — makes me think that “taking the ayre” was different 350 years ago.
Sam and family go out “to take the ayre a little” and they travel to Hackney and back, which is a journey of roughly 15 miles in total, hardly taking the ayre a little — that’s a four or five hour walk — unless they used a coach, in which case they aren’t really taking the ayre.
"had a great fray with my wife again about Browne’s coming to teach her to paynt, and sitting with me at table, which I will not yield to. I do thoroughly believe she means no hurte in it; but very angry we were, and I resolved all into my having my will done, without disputing, be the reason what it will; and so I will have it."
Of the commentators a decade ago, I think Terry read this passage correctly: Sam did not think it appropriate to have a mere art instructor sit at the table in his house for a meal and was surprised that Bess did not understand this, and Sam put his foot down.
There is an extended discussion of leads in the link in today’s entry but nothing about rails. Were the rails added to the leads so people standing on the roof would have something to hold onto?
Some of the best parts of the diary are the domestic problems that still ring true today, like Sam’s problems with the painters when he renovated his house a few years before or today’s entry when it was raining and he couldn’t find a coach (or cab or Uber).
The image of the young gentlemen flinging cushions and engaged in "other mad sports" (one wonders what they were!) could have come right out of a scene at the Drone's Club in a PG Wodehouse story.
As someone who has had kidney stones, I doubt that Aunt James had a misdiagnosis, as one of the commentators from ten years ago suggested. The symptoms of a kidney stone that is trying to pass are quite different from the symptoms of other serious medical other conditions (cancer does not, for example, typically cause severe cramping), and to die of a kidney stone would be a truly unpleasant way to go.
The diary is full of days like this where Sam goes off with friends and has dinner elsewhere. I don't recall a diary entry in which he mentions that he left a note for his wife to let her know that he's going to be out and won't be back until late. Is there one?
It’s hard to believe that Sam slept soundly even though his mind was in great delirium — I would have been far too full of the day’s events to fall right asleep.
A “nest of puppies”: It appears that this expression was rarely used between Pepys’ era and the current decade but suddenly has become common once again.
Comments
Second Reading
About Tuesday 13 November 1666
David G • Link
I wonder whether Lord Hitchingbroke was really under the weather or just making up an excuse to avoid dining with the Pepys household. Given Sam’s reaction, probably the latter and neither was looking forward to the meal.
About Saturday 15 September 1666
David G • Link
In October 1991, my neighborhood in Northern California had a major fire that destroyed more than 4,000 houses and stopped only 17 houses from mine. I was at my house at the worst of the fire and saw flames at the bottom of my street. Like Sam, I dreamed of fires and falling houses for months afterwards and so I have a pretty good idea of how he was feeling when he wrote today’s diary entry. Definitely PTSD.
About Sunday 19 August 1666
David G • Link
Planets are masculine? I can’t recall having run into that before. Does anyone know when that usage ceased?
About Friday 17 August 1666
David G • Link
Bride cake. The link in today’s diary entry suggests that bride cake is a type of fruitcake, and after a bit of research into old British recipes, I found a recipe for bride cake from 1767 for what appears to be the same type of fruitcake/wedding cake that was served at my wedding lunch in Brighton in the 1970s. (Is it still the case that fruitcake is served at British weddings?)
About Saturday 9 June 1666
David G • Link
I picture Sam knocking back a glass of "strong water" and chocking, having learned the important lesson that one does not drink spirits the way one drinks wine. Are there any other instances in the diary in which he drinks spirits (rather than wine or beer)? I haven't done a word search, but none come to mind.
About Friday 25 May 1666
David G • Link
Responding to Nick’s helpful comment, it would make sense that Sam and family went to the edge of the borough of Hackney (assuming it was a borough back then), roughly two and a half miles each way. To get to central Hackney, Google Maps shows a journey of 5-6 miles each way by modern highway (well, modern-ish), hence the guess of 15 miles to and from Hackney via 17th century roads. But even a five mile walk — an hour and a half at least — makes me think that “taking the ayre” was different 350 years ago.
About Friday 25 May 1666
David G • Link
Sam and family go out “to take the ayre a little” and they travel to Hackney and back, which is a journey of roughly 15 miles in total, hardly taking the ayre a little — that’s a four or five hour walk — unless they used a coach, in which case they aren’t really taking the ayre.
About Friday 4 May 1666
David G • Link
"had a great fray with my wife again about Browne’s coming to teach her to paynt, and sitting with me at table, which I will not yield to. I do thoroughly believe she means no hurte in it; but very angry we were, and I resolved all into my having my will done, without disputing, be the reason what it will; and so I will have it."
Of the commentators a decade ago, I think Terry read this passage correctly: Sam did not think it appropriate to have a mere art instructor sit at the table in his house for a meal and was surprised that Bess did not understand this, and Sam put his foot down.
About Tuesday 17 April 1666
David G • Link
We all know what it’s like when we have work to do and are searching for a distraction.
About Wednesday 11 April 1666
David G • Link
There is an extended discussion of leads in the link in today’s entry but nothing about rails. Were the rails added to the leads so people standing on the roof would have something to hold onto?
About Sunday 8 April 1666
David G • Link
Some of the best parts of the diary are the domestic problems that still ring true today, like Sam’s problems with the painters when he renovated his house a few years before or today’s entry when it was raining and he couldn’t find a coach (or cab or Uber).
About Sunday 25 February 1665/66
David G • Link
The image of the young gentlemen flinging cushions and engaged in "other mad sports" (one wonders what they were!) could have come right out of a scene at the Drone's Club in a PG Wodehouse story.
About Sunday 4 February 1665/66
David G • Link
As someone who has had kidney stones, I doubt that Aunt James had a misdiagnosis, as one of the commentators from ten years ago suggested. The symptoms of a kidney stone that is trying to pass are quite different from the symptoms of other serious medical other conditions (cancer does not, for example, typically cause severe cramping), and to die of a kidney stone would be a truly unpleasant way to go.
About Thursday 1 February 1665/66
David G • Link
The diary is full of days like this where Sam goes off with friends and has dinner elsewhere. I don't recall a diary entry in which he mentions that he left a note for his wife to let her know that he's going to be out and won't be back until late. Is there one?
About Sunday 28 January 1665/66
David G • Link
It’s hard to believe that Sam slept soundly even though his mind was in great delirium — I would have been far too full of the day’s events to fall right asleep.
About Sunday 21 January 1665/66
David G • Link
Did Bess hang tapestries or would she have hung wallpaper now that we’re in the mid-1660s?
About Friday 27 October 1665
David G • Link
Was the conversation with the Duke of Albemarle where the formal job offer was made and accepted?
About Sunday 6 August 1665
David G • Link
Not likely that the maid was combing for lice since Sam shaved his head when he started wearing a wig. Maybe she was arranging the wig?
About Sunday 16 July 1665
David G • Link
The “young couple”? Philip Carteret is only eight years younger than Sam.
About Monday 10 July 1665
David G • Link
A “nest of puppies”: It appears that this expression was rarely used between Pepys’ era and the current decade but suddenly has become common once again.