jeannine

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jeannine has written 14 articles:

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

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First Reading

About Wednesday 16 November 1664

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“The Navy White Book” from “Samuel Pepys and the Second Dutch War” (transcribed by Matthews and Knighton, edited by Latham)

Nov. 16. 1664. Considerable in the circumstances of Sir W. Batten’s opposing of Sir Warren’s knees and complaining about bad knees in his Deptford yard. It is to be remembered that in the beginning, when we were first thinking of contracting with Sir W.W. about his knees, we were mightily opposed to Sir W. B. that the knees of roots were not as good as those of the arms; nay, Nr Chr Pett was got in word or writing to say the same. But being afterwards informed, we sent down to see them and found them so good as in Aug. 63, I to contract for 50 loads, reserving the power to ourselves, if we needed them, to have 50 more. These we had, and in July 64 contracted for 200 loads more, having a liberty given us to have our instruments to go and mark them, and none else to be brought down. These were all brought to Woolwich and the new 2nd-rate ship [The Royal Katherine] almost wholly built with them, and Mr Pett commended them to me many times, saying they were worth 3£. 10s. per load between man and man [on average] and the better than they proved he never saw any, nor was any fault found with them all the time that Sir W. B. was in the yard during the whole time of their lying there while the ship was building.
Again, in Sept, 64 we contract for 100 loads more to be taken and marked by our own instrument, out of 1000 loads of timber – part of which was brought in at Deptford, being of the same timber with what was formerly, and marked by the same man that heretofore did it, who is no ordinary labourer (as Sir W. B. says) but an able shipwright, as Pett and others tell me, and hath been a master of the yard many years ago, and able to judge of timber as any man in England.
However, Sir W.B. finds bad ones in Deptford yard, and bad they were indeed. But Sir W.W.’s instruments will swear that they are the very same that were marked by the King’s officers. Now Sir W.B. would needs have somebody go thither after the Woolwich man had been there and marked them, and Meres should be the man, but not to go alone, though I urged [it] – which in my conscience he would not suffer, because then he would be the sooner suspected, but I do verily believe that Meres (though Deane did go along with him for colour) did spitefully mark some of these on purpose at this time. For now, because Mr Castle hath a ship loading of Ribadeuz knees come, and the better to put the gloss upon his (which indded are good, or at least well hewed and well looked), these are found out – not before nor any stir afterwards [editor note-not as the result of the disputes caused by Batten insisting on Castle’s being awarded the contract] , that we had contracted for Castle’s.

Timber-measurer’s knavery. But one thing is most strange- that being down at Deptford yard, I did take notice of them thinking of nothing, and demanded the measurer what the contents of such a piece was; he told me so much, and that it was one of Sir W.W.’s knees, and showed me that he head measured it and measured it –telling me too ( and also Sir J. M. had said a little before, that he had the answer given him by him) that he doth make abatement where the timber is not well hewed away. But now when the pursuit comes, they all answer that they indeed did receive them, but it was upon a Sunday, only to keep them from being carried away in the River, and that they never intended to receive them.
We pay 4£. 15s. for Castle’s knees, which is known to cost him 3£. 8s. Now I am told that upon Comr Pett’s seeing them the other day, he caused one of them to be hewed, and the grain of it did show that it was not among knees, but a forked piece which now appears a standard [a straight piece] – but with quarter of the strength that must break another this will be broke in the joint, it being not knit as standards are that grown in natural knee.

About Wednesday 16 November 1664

jeannine  •  Link

“The Navy White Book” from “Samuel Pepys and the Second Dutch War” (transcribed by Matthews and Knighton, edited by Latham)

Novembr 16. 1664. Observed upon the charge in building the Royall Katharine, begun May 1662 and ended Octob. 1664.

Whereas the estimate of the carpentry and caulkery of the ship was given in and signed to by us …..2250£.
I find by the book, as I have caused it to be kept, and as the clerk of the cheque hath by my desire cast it up and given me under his hand -- as follows –

[Sam had a little table which can’t be duplicated in the annotation properly but the info follows~~ note that rates are in £]

Shipwrights employed in building her 5094
Shipwrights employed in laying ways
& c. for the launching of her 0300
Caulkers 0126

[Sam totaled this to be 5520£]

Vide no 7 [blank]

Vide no 8 He reports it 1200£ less. Q. the reason of it?
Dec. 23. 1664 –having spoken with him he tells me that the first he made only by estimate and the latter by exact computation from the book.

Vide no 9 An abstract of the provisions expended in the new ship.

About Tuesday 15 November 1664

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Not so hidden pleasures

Sam forgot all about his dear spouse
Sneaking off to a sleazy alehouse
He dressed himself in his poor black suit
Through Moorfields they took a secret route
With hopes to find himself intertwined
With Bagwell in a place he thought blind
As he groped at her hidden treasures
He found himself full of great pleasures
Though Sam hid for the world not to see
He recorded it for history…………

About Tuesday 15 November 1664

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"Blind alehouse"

Forgive me for being politically incorrect here, but, I was sort of hoping this literally was a "blind" alehouse. I can picture a Monty Python scene, with John Cleese and team groping around, dumping ale all over Sam, eating off his plate and a bunch of other totally outrageous things. It would have served Sammy right and God knows his behavior would have fit right in!

About Monday 14 November 1664

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"The Elias, coming from New England (Captain Hill, commander), is sunk; only the captain and a few men saved"

How horrible to be a man left aboard a sinking ship, knowing that you are about to drown. God rest their souls.

About Sunday 13 November 1664

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Homonyms

Sometimes the Diary will hit something that is so pertinent to ‘life’ that it causes a smile. Sam’s entry today with ‘to bee or not to bee” hit that note for me. Last night my daughter’s spelling homework was to learn and differentiate the uses of different homonyms, and I am the at home quiz master. After 15 minutes of creating nonsense sentences such as “I went TO get toe shoes and bought TWO tutus TOO”, Sam’s use of “BEE” as opposed to “BE” was a delight to see!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo…

About Sunday 13 November 1664

jeannine  •  Link

To bee or not to bee

To bee or not to be
But what bee did he see?
Ortographizing bee?
A bungling buzzing bee?
A Castlemainish bee?
A sweetly loving bee?

No none of these you see
No not a spelling bee
Nor ev’n a bumblebee
Not a diva queen bee
But Bess his honey bee…..

About Sunday 13 November 1664

jeannine  •  Link

To be or not to be....(so you can read along with Sam!)

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action. - Soft you now!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remember'd.

About Saturday 12 November 1664

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Sam to Mr. Coventry (from “Further Correspondence of Samuel Pepys” edited by Tanner)

12 November, 1444.

. . . We did yesterday attend the Lords Commissioners, who seem resolved to sit close to the Navy business, for they against Monday morning next have commanded us to bring them the names of all his Majesty's ships in service, their stations, the time for which at this day each ship is victualled, and an account of all the ships in the River, with their names, burthen, and force, which are abIe to carry demiculverins in their lower tier, and besides all this, a state of his Majesty's stores in all the yards. They enquired of us our opinion touching the 2 commissioners intended for Portsmouth and Harwich, to which Sir John M[ennes] answered he was a stranger to them both. Sir W. B[atten], saying nothing of Colonel Middleton, represented Taylor for such a fanatic as put them all to a sudden rejecting his name and recommending it to us to name another. I told them that I believed the naming of him was with a single respect to the ability of the man, not only in his art (which his Majesty was well informed) but the report given of his dispatch in his place the last Dutch War. It was answered, others as able that were loyal might be found out to supply the place. Sir W. B. since hath asked me who we might name, and whether it were not necessary he should be a shipwright that should go to that place. I told him I would not have to do with the altering of the choice already made, but let their Lordships do as they see fit. And thus that business stands. Somebody I suppose he will propound, but I hope I shall find some fair way of suspending the choice till you are advised of it. . . .
. . . To our general hurry of business, and the waiting 3 times a week (personally or by written reports) upon the Lords Commissioners (which I am sure cannot be afforded without neglecting the main), my Lord Treasurer hath sent the enclosed report, which will ask a great deal of care and time, I think. . .

About Friday 11 November 1664

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Duke of Monmouth's name -Scott.

One thing that Charles II was exceptional at was marrying off his bastard children early and into money. He was generally devoted to them all (in varying degrees, as Monmouth was clearly among his favorites). Where money was such an issue for him it was always important for him to try to find the best mix of money/rank that he could get and move them over onto someone else's 'balance sheet' and off of his. In the case of Monmouth, the use of the name "Scott" came along with the marriage, which was also to his benefit. [Spoiler] As with many of the Stuart marriages, this one will be miserable for Monmouth's wife, who he will basically 'disown' in favor of a later mistress. Sort of goes with the territory of the times.

About Thursday 10 November 1664

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"My little girle Susan is fallen sicke of the meazles, we fear, or, at least, of a scarlett feavour."

When the servants get sick like this, is it common for them to stay in their Master's house or return home for care? Granted she may be too ill to travel, but I'd be curious if Elizabeth is caring for her, other staff, etc. and what the norm would be.

About Thursday 10 November 1664

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(Note: See the Nov 8th annotations for the first complaint of Batten’s “carriage and cunning” – I loaded that annotation a day late. There are 2 notations in the Navy book today –Sam must have been on a roll!)

“The Navy White Book” from “Samuel Pepys and the Second Dutch War” (transcribed by Matthews and Knighton, edited by Latham)

Nov. 10. And his abusing of Sir W. Warren’s. And yet could not hinder Sir W.B. this day, being alone with me in the office, to offer his son 2s more. But he will not take less than 4£ 15s and I know will get it at last –though at this time of dearth of work in the town, there is nobody can buy them of him but us.

Knavery of purveyors in Sir W. Warren’s knees. But above all is observable, his cunning to raise an inquiry after some ill-looked knees at this very time of Sir W. W.’s, and in my conscience did get some bad ones to be brought thither on purpose, and now to make complaint of them, that by their being seen they might raise value of his son’s goods – and will have the fault laid upon Sir W.W., though the contract says he is to serve none but what our people mark, and his people will swear that these very knees were marked by the King’s own purveyor [Robert Mayer, timber purveyor, Woolwich] upon this contract, and all the remedy the purveyor [has] is to say that he never marked these, but they are brought by Sir W.W. without their choice (which Sir W.W. will bring all his people to answer the contrary) and the timber-measurer, who now says they were not received into the yard, did when I was there lately inquiring and finding fault with them, say that he had measured and received them, but that they were first chosen by Mr Meres, and said that where the timber is very much too rough upon them, he did make abatement for it, which did satisfy me then.

[And then another entry follows on that day]

Nov. 10. 1664. Sir W. Batten’s knavish course in carrying on a contract that he hath a mind to. And particularly in some good of Mr. Wood’s. He will when Sir J. Mennes or I alone are with him at the buying of any provisions that he hath a mind to buy, he will bid and then raise the price by great steps (as this day in some timber bought of on Monday), as by 2 or 3 s. in a load, without any reason or consideration of ours, or whether we agree, and so impose upon us the denying to consent to what he so openly offers at the Board. And thus he did the other day on Tuesday last with Mr Wood, when I said I would give no more, he would give more and offered it. And when at last I told him that I would not give a farthing more, Wood went away; and being gone, he told me that we should lose this bargain, it being of Dram timber – and some deals and pieces of fire timber [timber used for fuel in the ship’s galleys] of 10 ft in a piece (which he would never have heard of any other man’s), and that it being at Harwich it were good to have them: when I told him there was no necessity, for at the very time we had a whole and greater ship’s loading of the same goods and better, and masts unlading of Sir W. Warren’s there. Yet he told me he would not lose it, and by God would send to him that we would have it – when he knows that his ship was put in, being almost shipwrecked there, and if we had not the goods must have landed them and put them off there, for the ship was rendered highly uncapable of going to sea. This is so, and this he knows.

About Tuesday 8 November 1664

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“The Navy White Book” from “Samuel Pepys and the Second Dutch War” (transcribed by Matthews and Knighton, edited by Latham)

Nov. 8. 1664. About Sir W. Batten’s carriage and cunning in the management of his son Castle’s bargain of knees. It is observable this day (Mr Coventry being gone out of the office but a quarter of an hour) that Sir W.B. did order his son Castle to come in, my Lord Barkely only and myself being there) and offered his knees (which indeed are well squared, but not in that proportion) and got (by saying himself that they were worth 4£ 10s) my Lord B. to offer 4£ 12s at the first order; which was too late for me to recall or remedy but by stopping my Lord to offer more, which I did.

About Tuesday 8 November 1664

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"For voting I believe there are lots of free proxie servers available. Phil probably knows."

Things were so much easier in the days of Sam when any 'good' man (except perhaps John Evelyn) could be bought! I am sure if Sam were to come back from the dead he'd figure out an easy way to make the voting numbers go his way.......all in the name of the King of course!

"Ah, if it isn't Mr. William Webcounter, although it should be Sir William for a man of quality such as you, let's go for a little stroll, we've got business to speak of..."

About Tuesday 8 November 1664

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"If the whole Readership participated…"

Hmm, where I just about exhausted all of the Royals in jibjab can-cans, Charlestons, etc. I think we need some reader nominees for our marketing campaign next year. We can take a collection, send them to the Pembleton School of Dance, create a couple of you tube videos and we're golden! Who could compete with that??

Any volunteers? I promise nobody will have to dance in a tutu (unless of course we need to get one last voting push)...

About Tuesday 8 November 1664

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"Rushing in to answer any hard questions whose poor handling might make Jamie look like (ok, I won’t say we all know who) an idiot."

[slight spoiler] In his book on Prince Rupert, Frank Kitson explains that James, DOY, was really pushing for the chance to make a name for himself in battle. A lot of the politics, etc. we've seen going on (ie. if Sandwich would go to sea, etc.) were attempts by James to position himself to be the “rock star” of the sea. We can only imagine that someone as astute as Coventry would be aware of this.

In regards to correspondence, etc. Kitson explains that prior to going to sea that James issued extensive fighting instructions, etc., which perhaps were drawn up by Coventry although Kitson doesn’t say. The reason so many instructions are handed out prior to leaving is that any 'signals used were primitive, consisting over variation of position in the ship where various standards and ensigns were flown. There were also a small number of signal flags that could be hoisted in various places, the meaning of which varied according to where the flag was flown. The firing of a gun was also used on occasion either to call attention to flag or lantern signals or to modify the signals in a pre-arranged fashion. At anchor, where flags might not catch the wind, a sail could be displayed in a certain way to transmit a particular order. At night, lanterns hung in different parts of the rigging could be used in the same way, and pre-arranged orders could be passed by the firing of a gun. Messages could of course be sent between ships by boat, a method that had to be used if a complicate instruction had to be given or if the fleet were too far spread out for the admirals’ signals to be seen.” (Kitson, page 155)

Needless to say, it’s clear that the plans, strategies, correspondence, signaling, etc. had to be determined and understood far before getting on a ship as without any ‘modern’ way to communicate the pre-planning had to be fully set. Perhaps James had Coventry acting as his scribe ?

About Tuesday 8 November 1664

jeannine  •  Link

"Mr. Coventry come, and after doing a little business, took his leave of us, being to go to sea with the Duke to-morrow."

From Coventry's background it doesn't seem like he's had any sea experience. Seems odd to me that he'd be going to sea with the DOY. Not sure exactly what function he'd be expected to perform there. Would this be the norm for these times and/or his role?

About Tuesday 8 November 1664

jeannine  •  Link

Voting Fever

Alas, not since Disco Fever have things been so hot as yesterday’s voting for Best Literature Blog Awards. Sam and Elizabeth offer all of your voters this Grand Finale!

http://www.jibjab.com/starring_yo…

Pepysian culture, an amazing website and a genius of a webmaster seems to have lost out to pop culture. My 10 year old (almost 11) summed it up and said “Mom, I looked at the other website, it was all about movies and stuff and was a big piece of crap. At least Sam’s site has some brains behind it!” So, I smiled, let slide the scolding for the use of the word ‘crap,’ and life goes on.

Now let’s all get back to 1664 where we can look forward to upcoming wars, plagues, great fires and those amazing “Sam-isms” that make reading the Diary and sharing it with friends so worth while!

About Monday 7 November 1664

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Voting Crunch Time!

Now is the time to think creatively as we are in the final crunch. We need to note that the voting is going to be really tough as a large part of Pepys readership is located outside of the US while the competition seems US based.

That being said, it's time to send out reminder emails to friends, family, etc. Also if you have any email lists there may be a few people on those lists who would gladly cast a vote for Pepys. I just sent out an email to some select work associates, a parent's group and a reminder to my kid to vote in study hall.

If you include the url from the voting site (link below) it makes it so easy for them to vote.

We need to work collectively here to make this happen as the odds are NOT in our favor. I've been watching the voting for the last few days and Sam seems to peak in the am (eastern US time) and then fall off as the rest of the world awakens. So, we need to send this along, and, in the process we may actually get a few more readers added to our bunch! Thanks all and keep going!

What has always made this site so wonderful is that it is open for all to participate and share ideas –it’s not a one sided blog page, but unique in it’s ability to welcome us all!

http://2007.weblogawards.org/poll…