jeannine

Articles

jeannine has written 14 articles:

Encyclopedia topics

jeannine has written summaries for eight topics:

Annotations and comments

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

Comments

First Reading

About Thursday 21 April 1664

jeannine  •  Link

"demonstration of the flexible use of rooms"
Cactus, It somewhat reminds me of 'potty' training a child. We had a little toddler size toilet that we'd put down in the house in whatever room we may be for awhile (ie. sitting reading in one room, cleaning in another room, etc.). Although it's adorable to converse with a little kid as they learn to do their business, something is lost in the translation when applied to having an adult conversation! There are so many things that are so cute in children but not so cute in the adult world...alas... poor Lady Sandwich and poor Sam.

About Monday 18 April 1664

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"where Mrs. Lane was gone forth, and so I missed of my intent to be with her this afternoon"
I sometimes wonder if Sam doesn't have 'appointments' in mind for the days ahead but he just reveals then daily. If he'd been planning to meet Mrs. Lane and did have intentions of a tryst it may help explain his misplaced jealousy towards Elizabeth as of late -nose pulling, keeping her out of church for fear of Pembleton, etc. Maybe his little get togethers (some, not necessarily all) are well planned in advance and his guilt awaiting the next appointment runs awry.

About Saturday 16 April 1664

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From Helen Heath's "The Letters of Samuel Pepys and his Family Circle" here is the letter that Sam wrote to his Cozen Scott today regarding Cozen Scott's declining to act as the attorney for John Pepys Sr. in his Administrator role in the estate of his son, (Sam's brother) Thomas. Note-formatting will probably be a little off and the letter isn't dated until the 20th.

Aprill. 20. 1664.
Good Cozen
I wrott the last night to my father touching the businesse you wrott to mee about and am sorry to finde you soe soone discon-[tenlted at that which I am sure was proposed to you by him and accepted of by you as a friendshipp done to your selfe; for you very well know Dr. Pepys would have been glad to have administred, and that my father (who lives soe farr off) would never have done it, had not your undertakeing to act as his atturney encouraged him there- unto. Wherefore lett mee desire you to consider the prejudice which may arise to your selfe as well as him by an over hasty receding from what you have obliged your selfe to. For my part I am sure I shall bee a deepe sufferer who ever lookes after the businesse. However I will soe far concerne my selfe in the matter as to endeavour (by calling upon you shortly) to instruct you the best I can in the accounts which are left with you. In the meane time you neede not wonder that noe mony is left with you, since to my knowledge my father hath pay'd the summes following,
To my Cosen Stradwiche for biskett ...... 4. 11. 00
To Mr Sexton for wine .. .. .. . . 2. 2. 06
Church dutys .. .. .. . . .. 2. 8. 00
Coffin .. . . . . .. .. .. 1. 9. 00
Doctor .. .. . . .. .. .. 1. 0. 00
Wages to the mayd & for mony my Brother had of her .. . . . . .. . . . . 5. 5. 00
Takeing out letters of Administration and other charges .... .. .. . . .. 2. 17. 6
Rent to his Landlord .. .. .. .. 5. 13. 9

[total] 25. 06.09

besides other layings out which I know not of.

The Inventory you say comes to but 15£ odd mony, and the best part of his wearing cloths you have in your Custody, Soe that for ought appears hee hath layd out more than hee hath yet received and that only for Funerall expences, Rent and Servants wages which had beene but a greater trouble to you to have looked after. You are very well secured your owne Mony, and can bee accountable for noe more then you receive, and therefore neede not disquiet your selfe at any Creditors demands more then to give them the hearing, and satisfaction when you shall bee enabled. I will see you very shortly and hope this will cleare your present doubts. I remain your [and] J V['s] very affectionate Cozen
S Pepys

About Friday 15 April 1664

jeannine  •  Link

Bergie --You are correct-probably on both counts--the taxes, and the scanning error! As you said it should be "10 at night"

About Tuesday 12 April 1664

jeannine  •  Link

"where dined my father, poor melancholy man"
As I was reading this (prior to reading the annotations) I was thinking that John Sr. must be horribly depressed at the loss of his son -just as Terry stated (thank you Terry!). Although Sam seems to have 'bounced back' rather quickly after the loss of Tom, John Sr. is still his parent and must be devasted -poor finances and illegitimate baby aside-no matter what it's still your child.

About Sunday 10 April 1664

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"Are they salving their consciences about not taking up Tom's bastard-too well connected to stoop so low?"

JWB -what an interesting thought - perhaps this is a way to ease one's guilt. I wish we knew if Sam had shared the news about Tom's child with Elizabeth???? Perhaps he had, or perhaps he might not want to hear her feelings on the subject for fear she may want to take the child in. Oh the things we'll just never know....

About Sunday 10 April 1664

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"Pepys, I assume, is disappointed to find that whatever Fuller might have told him about the Pepys family, and inspired the purchase of the volume, failed to achieve the immortality of print."

So, alas Michael, he decided to immortalize himself through his own 'print'......(lucky for us!)

About Sunday 10 April 1664

jeannine  •  Link

"Reading in Dr. Fuller's book what he says of the family of the Cliffords and Kingsmills"

This reference is in regards to the parentage of Elizabeth's mother Dorothea. An interesting point of debate has to do with the parentage of Elizabeth's mother Dorothea and her relation to the Kingsmills and Clifford families.

Marjorie Astin's biography of Elizabeth "Mrs. Pepys her Book" states that Dorothea was the "daughter of Lavinia and Matthew Penneford of Gort, and widow of Thomas Fleetwood. She was closely connected with the Kingsmills, a family of considerable worth and consequence, who had resided at Basingstoke, Hants, from the twelfth to sixteenth century; they had received a grant from the Royal Mill there, from which they derived their name. In 1601-1602, Francis Kingsmill served in Ireland under Sir George Carew, and acquired lands at Ballybeg Abbey, Co. Cork. He was knighted in Dublin in 1603." In regards to the Clifford families Astin states that "It is through her mother that Mrs. Pepys [Elizabeth] claimed descent from the Cliffords of Cumberland," (Astin, pp. 10-11), yet Astin does not give details of the relationship.

In his book, "Pepys in Love: Elizabeth's Story" Patrick Delaforce presents the more common view that Elizabeth's mother Dorothea was "the youngest child of Sir Francis Kingsmill" which is consistent Tomalin's book [p. 54] and with the much questioned letter that Balty wrote to Sam dated Feb 8 1673/4 where he refers to his mother as "my mother, Daughter, to Sir Francis Kingsmall". If Tomalin and Delaforce based their belief of Dorothea's parentage on Balty's letter then there may be some room for doubt, as his letter is thought by some [Tomalin p. 55] as somewhat "overstated" in its facts.

Delaforce also presents Elizabeth's maternal grandmother, and another Dorothea, as the daughter of Sir Conyers Clifford, of the Cliffords of Cumberland. Now to round out the family circle and add to the confusion, Delaforce links Elizabeth to Lord Sandwich as a remote cousin via the Clifford relation.

Although there appears to be some relation to the Kingsmill's and Clifford's from Elizabeth's mother, it's not clear if Dorothea was actually a daughter of Sir Francis Kingsmill and/or somehow otherwise closely related to that family and/or an actual granddaughter to the Clifford family. In any case, Dorothea's marriage to Elizabeth's father cemented her future and she was cut out of any inheritance in the process. In terms of reading Fuller's background on the family, it must have been an interesting evening for Sam and Elizabeth, but the reality that they would never benefit from any of these relations must have given them a twinge of pain.

Where I am hopelessly "genealogically challenged" in trying to figure out these connections, perhaps it will suffice to say that "somehow" Elizabeth's family may be connected to the Kingsmills and Cliffords and Sam and Elizabeth seem to be enjoying trying to figure it all out.

More background is in the article on Elizabeth at http://www.pepysdiary.com/indepth…

About Pease porridge

jeannine  •  Link

From "Pepys at Table" by
Drive and Berriedale~Johnson p 30-31

"Although dried peas frequently appeared on everyone's table, especially in winter, there are plenty of recipes for fresh pea soup - mot of which are excellent....April would have been early for fresh peas. Mrs. Blencowe's recipe also refers only to 'peas' but it is so good with fresh peas that I am assuming she had it in mind...."

To Make Peas Soope

The Receipt Book of Mrs. Ann Blencoew 1694

'Take about two Quarts of peas and boyl them down till they are thick; then put to them a leeke and a little slice of bacon and a little bunch of sweet herbs and let them boyl till they are broke. Then work them with ye back of a ladle thro a coarse hair sieve; then take about 3 pints of your peas and mix about 3 quarts of a very strong broth and work them very well together. Then sett them over a Stove and let them boyl very easily. Then as for your herbs, take out the quantity of a gallon of soope; take a large handful of spinage and one third of sorrill and one cabbage, Lettice and a little Charvell and Cresses and a head or two of sallery and Indive, and ye heart of a Savoy and a little mint, but mince your mint very small if it be green, but if it be dry, then drie it before ye fire to powder and sift it through a sieve, and mince ye herbs with one leeke very small and put them into a brass dish or saspan with half a pound of butter and let ym stive till they begin to be tender. Then put to them a quart of good gravy or strong broth but gravy is best, and when you have mix't it well then putt it into ye pott to ye pease and a little beaten cloves and mace. So let it stove about half an hour, then have a french roll, either dry'd in the oven or toasted by ye fire, in thin slices, then season ye soope to your palate and serve it up. If you please you may put forced meat balls into it, or any other thing as pallattes and sweetbreads or Combs."

About Friday 8 April 1664

jeannine  •  Link

From "Pepys at Table" by
Drive and Berriedale~Johnson p 30-31

"Although dried peas frequently appeared on everyone's table, especially in winter, there are plenty of recipes for fresh pea soup - mot of which are excellent....April would have been early for fresh peas. Mrs. Blencowe's recipe also refers only to 'peas' but it is so good with fresh peas that I am assuming she had it in mind...."

To Make Peas Soope

The Receipt Book of Mrs. Ann Blencoew 1694

'Take about two Quarts of peas and boyl them down till they are thick; then put to them a leeke and a little slice of bacon and a little bunch of sweet herbs and let them boyl till they are broke. Then work them with ye back of a ladle thro a coarse hair sieve; then take about 3 pints of your peas and mix about 3 quarts of a very strong broth and work them very well together. Then sett them over a Stove and let them boyl very easily. Then as for your herbs, take out the quantity of a gallon of soope; take a large handful of spinage and one third of sorrill and one cabbage, Lettice and a little Charvell and Cresses and a head or two of sallery and Indive, and ye heart of a Savoy and a little mint, but mince your mint very small if it be green, but if it be dry, then drie it before ye fire to powder and sift it through a sieve, and mince ye herbs with one leeke very small and put them into a brass dish or saspan with half a pound of butter and let ym stive till they begin to be tender. Then put to them a quart of good gravy or strong broth but gravy is best, and when you have mix't it well then putt it into ye pott to ye pease and a little beaten cloves and mace. So let it stove about half an hour, then have a french roll, either dry'd in the oven or toasted by ye fire, in thin slices, then season ye soope to your palate and serve it up. If you please you may put forced meat balls into it, or any other thing as pallattes and sweetbreads or Combs."

About Wednesday 6 April 1664

jeannine  •  Link

"And what is likely to have happened to the unfortunate child, viewed by all as an inconvenience and a commodity?"
Spolier -In Helen Heath's book of Sam's family letters she speculates (and probably with good reason) that the child died some time in the first year or so of her life.

About Wednesday 6 April 1664

jeannine  •  Link

"the other is alive; her name Elizabeth'

I have a twinge of modern day sadness here I must admit. Perhaps some flattery to Sam's Elizabeth as that is the name of the child (did Tom name her???)
Of note, Sam doesn't express ANY interest to see the child. Perhaps denial that it's Tom's, anger that it may be a financial burden, etc. As we know Sam and Elizabeth will never have children, one could only wish that Sam's world situation would allow him to welcome this one into his home.... and heart.....

About Tuesday 5 April 1664

jeannine  •  Link

"One could get the impression here of a man disengaged both from the subject of the speech and the audience who hears it. This observation by Pepys is very unflattering to Charles II on many levels."

Sam, and others of the time, would have similar observations of Charles II from time to time. He was not well respected as a leader in this sense. Although he had the intellect and skills to do the job well, he is characterized as disinterested in doing it and would prefer his sports, horse racing and his women. Sam, may be similar to Charles in his love for the ladies, his desire for 'nice things' , etc. but Sam is not lazy and would never be unprepared for a public appearance, so I would imagine this really gets under his skin to watch.

About Saturday 2 April 1664

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"Good luck, Captain Holmes. These papers will self-destruct -- well, you're *ordered* to burn them -- in 5 seconds..."
Todd, while I was typing my entry above, I was thinking of the old episodes of "Mission Impossible" where the orders would be given and then the tape recorder would explode --sort of a similar situation for Holmes.

Also, as Pedro confirms -those with money tied up in the Holmes activity (Coventry) would be all for war, while those with no incentive (Sandwich) would rather enjoy their non-political lives. Sam probably isn't aware of the extent of the selfish motives behind the instigators or those egging them on.

About Saturday 2 April 1664

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"Still puzzles me Pedro that they've sent Holmes off and the Duke is eager for war yet no one seems to have convened a meeting of the top naval personnel"
What was pointed out in the bio of Holmes (which Pedro gave me as a 'reading assignment' and I finally finished!) is that Holmes was sent out with orders that gave him leeway to provoke the Dutch, but that those giving those orders wanted the flexibility to also disavow any of his actions. Therefore, if it seemed that Holmes' activity swayed towards an unfavorable reaction back home, then Coventry could hang Holmes out to dry and cover his true intentions of favoring a war. Coventry has a bit of snake in him and it's not clear that Sam will see this for what it is.
To Holmes advantage he can make some good money for himself along that way, as long a he can tolerate the risk.
Personally, I don't think it's fair for Sam to pass a judgment on Sandwich. Why should Sandwich want to be involved in provoking a war when there's nothing in it for him. He's probably passing time while the other busy bodies do their clandestine politicking. I'd rather be playing cards too.

About Tuesday 29 March 1664

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"Here is now hung up a picture of my Lady Carteret, drawn by Lilly"
I have been trying to find a link to this picture on the web but no luck. Her Lely portrait appears in the book, "All For the King" by Balleine, but I believe it may be privately owned by the Carteret family and therefore not available anywhere on the web (????)as the notation below her portrait reads "printed by permission of R. Malet de Carteret". George's portrait by Lely carries the same notation and I can't find that on the web either.

About Tuesday 29 March 1664

jeannine  •  Link

"Sir G. Carteret in his humour a very good man, and the most kind father and pleased father in his children that ever I saw. Here is now hung up a picture of my Lady Carteret, drawn by Lilly, a very fine picture, but yet not so good as I have seen of his doing."
As much as Sam may have had his negative opinions about Carteret in the past, he was a very devoted husband and father, and consistent in his devotion to his wife and children throughout his life--- a real achievement in the Courts of Charles II.
(Balleine's "All for the King")