About Tuesday 10 February 1662/63

jeannine on 11 Feb 2006  •  Link

Bradford, The Coat of Arms is the same as the one on Hunt's book. Wish I could explain the significance, but alas, we'll have to find a coat of arms expert amongst the troops to help out here. Thanks for the link to that site.

About Monday 9 February 1662/63

jeannine on 10 Feb 2006  •  Link

Gee Robert, After reading your "personal note" today I think that both you and Sam have found yourself in pickle.

About Sunday 8 February 1662/63

jeannine on 9 Feb 2006  •  Link

"Dropped Baby"
Todd, I have read many versions of this baby at the ball story in biographies of other people of the time, all with a different twist (it was stillborn, alive, the ladies of the court raised, it, etc.) My guess (from the point of view of someone who has given birth) would be that the child was born elsewhere and perhaps left in the room where the dance would be taking place. "Dropping" a baby in between dance steps, without missing a beat and without notice would be the envy of many a mother, I'm sure!
Having a child solo, without money for support, with a "good name" to uphold, etc. often meant that babies born in this manner were abandoned so that the lady could hide the fact that she'd given birth, not bring shame to herself and/or family and keep herself "marketable" in the marriage arena. Sometimes, in the better cases, the father/mother would secretly smuggle the child away, pay a poor family, distant relative, etc. to raise the child.

About Sunday 8 February 1662/63

jeannine on 9 Feb 2006  •  Link

“ a child was dropped by one of the ladies in dancing, but nobody knew who, it being taken up by somebody in their handkercher”
Slight spoiler..
This baby is said to be the child of Winifred Wells, who is a maid of honour to the Queen, and the King. Although this was one of the many “minor” flings that Charles will have throughout his reign, the results, as these things go, was a child, who, although not noted in this entry, was a stillborn baby. Most would assume that a dead child would be given some sort of burial and or handling that would reflect even the lowest form of civility but as we’ll see in time when Sam records the sequel to this episode, that this will most sadly not be the outcome for this little one. Just be sure to note this baby in your mind and "stay tuned".

About Friday 6 February 1662/63

jeannine on 7 Feb 2006  •  Link

Nix, I agree and I suppose everything depends on one's changing point of view. At first a lawsuit may be seen as "what you should pay me". That lingers for awhile, headaches and stress keep escalating and slowly becomes "hmm, how much can I pay you to make you go away". Sometimes in the end the "win" isn't the money/land/whatever that one intitially sets out for. Making a payment to Mary and finding himself "freed" from the albatross around his neck may end up being the real win for Sam.
How many of us, in the course of life, haven't had similar situations in terms of business, investments, relationships, etc. when the intitial expectations get so eaten away over time that walking away, even at a "loss" is uplifting since it is freeing. Let's just hope for Sam's sake if this is in fact the end, that he can pick up, put it all in the past and not dwell on it.

About Friday 6 February 1662/63

jeannine on 7 Feb 2006  •  Link

End of Lawsuit...
If this indeed marked the end of the family dispute (which if I remember correctly is about the correct timing for the settlement), I have to say I felt a trifle disappointed"... Eric, if it is really the end it brings to my mind T.S. Elliot ( a little altered)..........

This is the way the lawsuit ends
This is the way the lawsuit ends
This is the way the lawsuit ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

About Thursday 5 February 1662/63

jeannine on 6 Feb 2006  •  Link

"we know your key is in the garden".. Pedro, no key needed! Sam is bringing Wayneman, he'll just climb in the window. Why change any standard operating procedures now....Wayneman is a proven and most effective method of the keyless entry ...(and this fact is why he's still employed by Sam no doubt!)

About Thursday 5 February 1662/63

jeannine on 6 Feb 2006  •  Link

"all* Susans are excellent cooks"...Okay Susan, what time is dinner?? We'll all be there. Hope you don't mind but I've invited the rest of the readers/annotators too, plan on about 10,000 or so.
How many sixpence do we think Sam can get away with giving his Susan before Elizabeth raises her eyebrow in concern (in case she didn't already do that today)!

About Wednesday 4 February 1662/63

jeannine on 5 Feb 2006  •  Link

Mystery Mary

Now, now, we have to keep in mind, this is Sam's house we're talking about...don't you remember when he had all of that work done to the house he had a revolving door put in the house for the stream of maids....one comes in, another goes out and on and on......

About Wednesday 4 February 1662/63

Mrs. Malaprop on 5 Feb 2006  •  Link

Mystery Mary (spoilers)

Mary is definitely not Ashwell, nor Mary Mercer (arrives Sept 1664, but not as a maid). Perhaps it is one of the "String" of fill-ins. There may be more shifting here to come.
(Patrick Delaforce's book on Elizabeth has a chapter about maids/companions etc. and this Mary isn't even named)

About Saturday 31 January 1662/63

Mrs. Malaprop on 4 Feb 2006  •  Link

Thank you all for your lessons on grammer and all of your word choice accomodations. I totally apprehend exactly what you are saying and will use these lessons to become a suburb writer. But for "fewer" and "lesser" your affluence over my understatement is small and I'm still confused. In regards to my word choices there I'll have to pick between the guesser of two evils.

About Tuesday 3 February 1662/63

Elizabeth's Diary on 4 Feb 2006  •  Link

Dearest Diary,

The next meeting of SAMUEL (Secret Academy of Mischievous Unsung Elegant Ladies) is approaching and I must be prepared to present my findings to date. It proves most difficult to prepare a concise understanding of my multi-variable research with my dearest sweet Sam coming and going on such an uncertain schedule. Where this work is of the utmost importance to females everywhere I must carry on no matter what hardships I endure.

The work done by this group of self-sacrificing ladies of quality has been astounding and no doubt will open the eyes of future generations of women to come as we seek an understanding of the mysterious ways of our most beloved male companions. While I ponder my work, the Queen continues her study on the scientific question “Is it possible to move her husband’s brain from his breeches to his head?” Her sister-in-law the Duchess of York, in related research queries “Is it possible to actually place a brain into the head of her husband?” The Countess of Chesterfield builds on the theory of evolution that ladies of this secret science society have known for centuries. She is exploring the evolutionary question “If all men did evolve from monkeys, why is my husband a jack ass?” Most highly practical are Katherine Boyle Viscountess Ranelagh’s secret experiments performed on her husband. Her work, entitled “Boyle’s Other Gases” reveals the effects of excessive cabbage and other “dietary non-niceties” on the male digestive system. What that poor woman has gone through for the purposes of scientific understanding sets a stellar example to all. I am humbled by her bravery in the face of what has for years been rendered a field of silent but deadly research. Her work paves the way for adjustments in our cooking which will delightfully reunite even the most aroma sensitive couples who before always stood rooms apart! What a wondrous discovery for martial bliss.

I continue to explore the daunting question “How much, how frequently and what type of pressure need be applied before a man will actually spend some money on his wife?” Although unsettling at times, the experiments I have set up have provided ample information for scientific fact finding. My efforts of late are seemingly moving towards the breakthrough of Sam’s actually spending money to hire little Ashwell as a companion for me. My notes are overwhelming on this topic and the calculations of these diverse measurements most difficult, but I must persevere. What we women do to grow in our understanding of our cherished partners is never ending! Alas, my beloved Sam is arriving; I am off to greet him, so I must bid you au revior for now.
Elizabeth

About Monday 2 February 1662/63

jeannine on 3 Feb 2006  •  Link

"so small wages"
Do you suppose Sam will always be so aware of money or do you think he'll loosen up over the years when he makes more? Someone remind me in 1669 and we can compare then!

About Sunday 1 February 1662/63

jeannine on 3 Feb 2006  •  Link

"Since you could turn up at the royal bedside and find your space already occupied"
Firenze-great comment and sadly true for Queen Catherine. There is an incident in her life where she did show up one morning at the King's bed to speak with him and she found a ladies shoe on the floor. Catherine made a polite comment that she would excuse herself for a moment so that "the little fool" hiding behind the curtain could get herself dressed and out of there (via the "back stairs" no doubt)so that she could speak to her husband. Catherine also around this time, used to wait outside HER OWN closet and clear her throat before entering so that if her faithless husband was fooling around with someone in there (as he was known to do) they'd have time to get proper before she entered.

About Monday 2 February 1662/63

jeannine on 3 Feb 2006  •  Link

"because I could hardly forbear weeping"-perhaps filling a void, perhaps just my speculation?
One of the thoughts that occurs to me from time to time is that perhaps in some way the servants fill a "void" in Sam's life. Where the Pepys don't have children and many of their servants are still "kids" and integrated into their life so intricately, perhaps on some level this is their "family". Sam writes of the things that are out of routine (ie. smacking Wayneman or scolding someone for mouthing off) but on a day to day basis, when they aren't mentioned he is still interacting with them. Perhaps to some extent those relationships have an element of his feeling "fatherly" towards some over time, as he easily could feel towards Jane, as seen by the emotions today.

About Sunday 1 February 1662/63

jeannine on 1 Feb 2006  •  Link

Bradford, I was confused by that too but was wondering, based on the recent ugly departure of Sarah (gossiping all the way to Penn's) that maybe Sam wants to be sure that she is in a place that has no "relation" to his household????? It seems sadly harsh as Jane has been with them for awhile and has been a good servant overall. Maybe others have a clearer take on this than I.

About Saturday 31 January 1662/63

jeannine on 1 Feb 2006  •  Link

"I’d dearly love to see her rough draft!"
It was really in code and it said,
"My huband gut uup ooot of the wrung side off the bed tis mornging. He's bin in a sheeeetty mood eber since."

About Thursday 29 January 1662/63

jeannine on 30 Jan 2006  •  Link

On a lighter note...

1. Can't help thinking how many fact driven Sam fans are thinking, "What a great idea, I never thought of that.. so I wake her up really early, start ranting at her about something and see what she'll do to shut me up so she can go back to sleep. And if I'm really smart I won't even have to throw in the waistecoate (or todays' equivalent). It might just be a good day after all." And just think, you can write it off to historical research to verify if it's as accurate and effective a strategy in 2006 as it was in 1663!

2. Miss Ann, perhaps you may want to consider this different point of view. Based on my limited talents, if I came home and wanted to Salsa Dance my family would buy me a plane ticket to Cuba(one way) and not allow me to return until I got it out of my system! Maybe it's better to have mom making a fool of herself elsewhere!
And seriously, but sadly, in Sam's day there were many women who did abandon their children ~~ for a variety of reasons ~~affairs, vanity, stupidity, economics or as a widow wanting to remarry someone else (ie. Isaac Newton's mother left him at a young age to remarry, and it scarred him for life). Then, as well as now, if a child was lucky, the father, or other family members would pull together for the good of the child.

About Wednesday 28 January 1662/63

jeannine on 29 Jan 2006  •  Link

Glyn, Very interesting look into 1693. Thank goodness Elizabeth wasn't held at gunpoint today as Sam will be. I am curious to know who "Lady Pepys" is in 1693 ---"my Lady Pepys saved a Bag of Money that she had about her" (Mary Skinner perhaps????)

About Wednesday 28 January 1662/63

jeannine on 29 Jan 2006  •  Link

Robert I too am somewhat surprised that Elizabeth is out and around without some sort of escort. Even if London was "safe" I would think that as she moves up the chain in society that being escorted would be wise, not only as she'd be a more "showy" target (and I don't mean overdone here, just better dressed, etc.), she was quite pretty, and it would "look" proper. Must have been awfully frightening for her. I also wonder (and perhaps I am a little cynical here) if her tears weren't just about the stealing incident but perhaps she was a little unsure of how Sam would react about the financial loss of the waistecoate. As money is closely watched under his eyes, she could have been concerned that she'd be yelled at for being negligent in some manner.