jeannine

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jeannine has written 14 articles:

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jeannine has written summaries for eight topics:

Annotations and comments

jeannine has posted 1,236 annotations/comments since 16 June 2004.

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First Reading

About Friday 2 June 1665

jeannine  •  Link

Have we had the Flowers at the Harp & Ball before?

As a follow on to yesterday, L& M don’t note a definitive id on the ‘flower’ either. They suggest Betty Lane, or a girl at the Rose Tavern. They also suggest it might be Mary of the Harp and Ball. They also cite Sir George Etherege’s letter dated 1668 which says “Remember me to all of my friends at the Rose and do not forget the Lilly at the bar”.

About Sunday 28 May 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"his poetry is fascinating and very modern in its candour."

Wim, most of Rochester's works were burned by his mother after his death, so it's surprising that any of it survived. In fairness to her, Rochester's wit and art (and probably most of his lifestyle choices) were an embarrassment to her and the good name of his children.

About Sunday 28 May 1665

jeannine  •  Link

Mary

It was Johnny Depp who played him in "the Libertine" and yes, it was the ONE AND ONLY (even though the movie really didn't do the best job aligning itself with history).

About Sunday 28 May 1665

jeannine  •  Link

And a little more on the Rochester incident....

Meanwhile,,,as Lady Sandwich hopes for a success, here’s a little more background on the Rochester-Hinchingbrooke jostling for Elizabeth Mallet’s hand (and purse!) and gives the a little more background to the annotation above.

In “A Profane Wit” the author James William Johnson explains that in December of 1664 Lord Sandwich had proposed to make his son Lord Hinchingbrooke (who was away on the Grand Tour) a prospect for Elizabeth Mallet’s hand.

“Lady Rochester’s cabal of relatives, however, was working for the candidacy of John Wilmot to notable effect, as Henry Bennet, Lord Arlington and Secretary of State, informed Sandwich in mid-December of 1664. On December 18, he wrote:

‘my Lady Castlemaine hath rigged the King, who is also seconded in it by my Lord Chancellor, to recommende my Lord Rochester. Now these personages being with doe much advantage and preference upon the stage, I feare noe other can with any probability of succeeding enter, what I further heare of the Lady is that Shee declares shee will choose for herselfe. If shee hold to it, the game is upon equal terms at least’.

Of note, Clarendon (Lord Chancellor) had a very strong long term friendship with Wilmot’s mother and at this time, favored her offspring because of that relationship. (Spoiler) One of the disgraces of John Wilmot’s life will be that he will turn on Clarendon and thus ‘bite the hand that fed him’.

About Sunday 28 May 1665

jeannine  •  Link

Graham Greene in “Lord Rochester’s Monkey” says this about this incident:

“It was during this brooding spring that Rochester thrust himself first into public notice. His action is the first mystery in a complex and contradictory life. For his courtship of Elizabeth Mallet everything seemed to be in his favour except his poverty: Lady Castlemaine had ‘rigged’ the King, and Henry Savile wrote to his brother that Charles was encouraging Rochester to make his addresses. It was true that Elizabeth had stated she would please herself, but there was the less reason to suppose that she would yield to force. Failure would leave the game in the rivals’ hands. Perhaps his age and the season and thee girls’ character are sufficient answer. He was just eighteen; it was late spring, Elizabeth, as she was to show with Lord Hinchingbrooke, cherished moods.

On the evening of 26 May she supped in her grandfather’s company and with one of the Maids of Honour, Frances Stewart, at Whitehall, who was engaged in the almost unique occupation of warding off the King. After supper Elizabeth left Whitehall withhold Lord Hawley. At Charing Cross the horses were stopped by armed men under the direction of Rochester, and she was transferred by force to another coach with six horses, which was driven out of London. Two women were waiting in it to receive her. One knows nothing of what Lord Hawley did, if he did anything at all, on seeing the goose whom he had intended to lay many golden eggs raped away. The hue and cry was raised, Lord Rochester was followed and captured at Uxbridge without Elizabeth,; and the King, who, according to Pepys, ‘had spoken to the lady often, but with no success’ on his behalf, was ‘mightily angry’. On May 27 a warrant was sent to Sir John Robinson, the Governor of the Tower to receive the Earl as prisoner.”

(Spoiler): Rochester, although a highly controversial character is a fascinating read, however, as with many of these ‘wild child’ types of the court of Charles II, it is heartbreaking to imagine what his wife had to put up during his lifetime. By this time, he was already drinking quite heavily and over the next few years will become really ‘out of control’. While his antics will make for wild stories, outlandish antics, witty (albeit quite obscene) writing, one can only imagine the sadness and disappointments in store for those who love him and call him ‘son’, ‘husband’ and ‘father’. I suppose, he’s just another tragedy to chalk up to court life.

About Thursday 25 May 1665

jeannine  •  Link

“May 4th, 6th, 20th, and now the 25th”

Todd, on some of the days that Sam has had smaller entries he has written letters to other people (but I’ve been lax in entering them ---too busy to keep up these days!). He’s had letters to Commissioner Middleton, Lord Sandwich, and Mr. Coventry on those dates and some entries (nothing too big) in the White Book of his Navy records.

So, for today……. he wrote to Mr. Coventry dated 25 May 1665 and it’s pretty short and sweet so it is as follows:

“What we shall shortly do without better payments I am loath to guess, or add to your other melancholy mediations so heavy a one as that, but it is come already that people under their hands have said, “Pay me for what you have had, and I’le trust you further”.

Apparetnly Sam has a lot on his mind these days.

About Sunday 21 May 1665

jeannine  •  Link

Off topic but perhaps of interest to those in the Boston area (I also asked Phil to add information about this but, if you are like me, sometimes you miss those links)

Seven Times Salt
A Brave Barrel of Oysters: the music of Samuel Pepys' London

Samuel Pepys, one of history's most prolific diarists and a secretary of the Royal Navy during the reign of Charles II, was a man of his time and enjoyed all the cultural delights of the Restoration. He frequently heard some of the finest musicians of his day and often enjoyed music-making with the very same musicians in his drawing room after dinner. With music and dramatic readings from Pepys' diaries, Seven Times Salt revives the bustling energy of Restoration London, as described by English Literature’s quirkiest and most beloved “man on the street”.

Karen Burciaga, violin and viol; Daniel Meyers, recorders; Joshua Schreiber Shalem, viol and Matthew Wright, lute. With special guests Michael Barrett, tenor and lute, and Kyle Parrish, narrator

Tuesday June 10, 2008 8:00 PM St. Peter's Church, 320 Boston Post Rd., Weston MA

Wednesday June 11, 2008 8:00 PM The Chapel At West Parish, 129 Reservation Rd., Andover MA

Thursday June 12, 2008 8:00 PM Lindsey Chapel, Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury St., Boston MA

And the ticket link is on this page

http://www.mktix.com/mktixrun/sha…

About Wednesday 10 May 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"and then home to dinner, and there find my poor mother come out of the country today in good health, and I am glad to see her, but my business, which I am sorry for, keeps me from paying the respect I ought to her"

Happy Mother's Day Margaret!

http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/v…

About Friday 5 May 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"might Aunt James have had breast cancer?"

Phil, I believe that she did. A slight spoiler here, but James DOY's wife Anne Hyde will die of what is believed to have been breast cancer, so there may have been some indication among the doctors of the time, that something along the line of cancer did exist, although perhaps not by that name. For Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brea… the history of breast cancer section says:

“Breast cancer may be one of the oldest known forms of cancer tumors in humans. The oldest description of cancer was discovered in Egypt and dates back to approximately 1600 BC. The Edwin Smith Papyrus describes 8 cases of tumors or ulcers of the breast that were treated by cauterization. The writing says about the disease, "There is no treatment."[112] For centuries, physicians described similar cases in their practises, with the same sad conclusion. It wasn't until doctors achieved greater understanding of the circulatory system in the 17th century that they could establish a link between breast cancer and the lymph nodes in the armpit. The French surgeon Jean Louis Petit (1674-1750) and later the Scottish surgeon Benjamin Bell (1749-1806) were the first to remove the lymph nodes, breast tissue, and underlying chest muscle. Their successful work was carried on by William Stewart Halsted who started performing mastectomies in 1882. He became known for his Halsted radical mastectomy, a surgical procedure that remained popular up to the 1970s.”

My guess is that Aunt James had it, and much like the heart wrenching description in the article that Aussie Susan gave us, she had it removed. Part of me would have thought that Sam would have shed a little more sympathy having been cut of his stone, as he must know first hand how excruciating and frightening it must have been for the poor woman.

Also, Susan thanks for the post. How horrible to read about, but just one more thing to add to my gratitude to be in the here and now. Also, I was struck by Fanny’s description of the surgeon. As horrible as the surgery was for her, it clearly was an incredibly difficult thing for him. May God bless them all –the women who suffered and those with the incredible sense of self to be able to rise to the occasion and try to save them with dignity.

About Thursday 4 May 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"Up, and to the office, where we sat busy all the morning."

As I recall, wasn't it just a few days ago when Sam felt that others (I think Batten?) had noticed he wasn't doing as much work around the office. Perhaps this is his buckle down day to get caught up.

There is a letter in "Further Correspondence of Samuel Pepys" edited by Tanner dated today. It's to a non-noted person (the editor seems to feel it's to Commissioner Middleton at Portsmouth) and about the setting up of stoves and issues surrounding lack of money.

In “The Navy White Book” portion of “Samuel Pepys and the Second Dutch War” edited by Latham, there is also a note today about the “Proof of English hemp against French” which reads:

“Col. Middleton having brought some Dorsetshire hemp, which by his letter of the [blank] of the last month commended mightily, I did desire him to make a trial of it against the French hemp. Which he hath done, and by a letter this days answers me thus –

‘I have made trial of the English and French hemp,. The English wasteth [ed. note ‘ in the spinning’] 4 per cent, the French 10 per cent. In the labour of dressing, the English 5d. per cwt difference, the English less than the French. I caused two coils to be made, one of each; and to tell you the truth, all our weights here are not able to judge which is the better rope. I caused them to be laid without, that we might judge of them as they are without. One mound we shall have tar yarn, then they shall be tarred to see how we may judge of them when tarred; and being tarred, shall send them to you to London that you may give your judgment of them’.”

About Monday 1 May 1665

jeannine  •  Link

Oops Terry--sorry I repeated your Evelyn letter from today's entry (his reply) apprarently my mind isn't too focuced this morning!

About Monday 1 May 1665

jeannine  •  Link

John Evelyn and Sam’s Correspondence

From “Particular Friends” edited by Guy de la Bédoyère

Regarding their correspondence in the 1660’s

“Most of the letters written by Pepys and Evelyn to one another during the 1660’s were concerned with the practical difficulties of dealing with sick and wounded seamen. With Pepys as Clerk of the Acts in the Navy Office and Evelyn the newly appointed commissioner for sick and wounded seamen and prisoners-or-war they were bound to encounter one another. The correspondence opens with a letter from Pepys which is the earliest letter located between the two”. That first letter was dated 27 April 1665 and appears below (all quoted from above book):

Sir,

From a letter this day come to my hand from a Shipp of ours ( a little Guift) that in a Conflict with a Hollander on the Irish Coast( wherein shoe thorough much over match hath acquitted her selfe very well) hath had severall Men wounded, who are putt on shoare for care at Galloway, give me leave to aske you whether any Provision for sick and wounded men is made in Ireland, not with respect to theis Men only, but to future occasions in Generall which wee may Probably have of useing it there. You will Pardon this enquiry from one that hath soe little Right to offer you trouble as

Your humble servant
S:P

And Evelyn’s reply dated 1 May 1665:

Sir,

My absence neere 30 miles from my house, when you Letter came thither, will, I hope, excuse the slow returne of this answer: Sir, there is neither in our Commission, or Instructions the least mention made of any provision for Sick and Wounded-men in Ireland; our Districts reaching no father then Plymouth towards the West, and Yarmouth North-East; and the intermedial ports reduce’d to as few as could be, for sundry important reasons: Notwithstanding I conceive it were very fit there should, for the future, be some courses taken for the settling of some Correspondence there for this effect; but our Commission dos take no Congnizance of it: Sir, when my Collegues in Office meete, I will not faile to Communicat that particular to them, and what his Majestie shall be pleas’d to superadd to his other Commands, I know they will be ready to undertake as far as lyes on their power; this comeing only from

Sir,
Your most humble servant
JEvelyn

About Sunday 10 April 1664

jeannine  •  Link

"With regards to the parentage of Dorothy (Dorothea Kingsmill daughter of Sir Francis."

Judith, thank you for your wonderful annoation and you add more intrigue to the parentage question!

From your documents I follow the reasoning behind your conclusions.

According to Patrick Delaforce's book "Pepys In Love" Elizabeth's 'maternal grandmother was Dorothea, daughter of Sir Conyers Clifford, and thus [she] was related to the powerful Cliffords of Cumberland' ( p 18). As there is no exact reference in his book to where this specific piece of information came from I am at a loss to add any real value here.

About Wednesday 26 April 1665

jeannine  •  Link

Pedro is an English annotator
Sometimes a playful instigator
He posted a “bomb”
Brought dispute to the calm
A wild little debate detonator!

About Sunday 23 April 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"So, with Sam and Creed in Mercer’s bed, I wonder where Mercer slept? "

Gee CW haven't you beeen keeping up -she got a better offer from Povy on the 20th and ran off with him.....

About Monday 24 April 1665

jeannine  •  Link

“…but the King being there, and I now-a-days being doubtfull of being seen in any pleasure…

The ‘right hand of the Navy’ must be above such petty things"......even if the King obviously isn't!

About Monday 24 April 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"So, cutting through many extra personal pronouns, John Creed is hot for Sandwich’s niece....."
and Lady S. isn't too hot for John Creed.....

Between Povy's interaction with Mercer the other day and Creed's hots for Betty, it's clear that 'spring is in the air'!

About Saturday 22 April 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"Up, and Mr. Caesar, my boy’s lute-master, being come betimes to teach him, I did speak with him seriously about the boy, what my mind was, if he did not look after his lute and singing that I would turn him away; which I hope will do some good upon the boy."

Ok, just so I am clear here --if Tom doesn't practice his lute -does Sam stop having Mr. Caesar come or does Sam "fire" Tom?

Having been in the Sam position, I've held firm that I won't pay for music lessons, etc. if practice isn't done. Perhaps now, Sam has a better 'tough love' approach where if the kid who won't practice then they are turned out? If so, in today's world, if everyone adopted the Sam model, I can only imagine the influx on social services for those little 'tweens' who won't do their lessons and get the boot from home! But then again, with Sam's love of music I suppose it is only fair to cast off anyone who can't carry a tune or at least strum a lute!

About Monday 17 April 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"This day was left at my house a very neat silver watch"

I wonder if anyone has ever done an inventory of all of the 'gifts' that Sam has received over the years. I'm also curious if any of these items are still around in a museum or collection perhaps?