jeannine
Articles
jeannine has written 14 articles:
- The Bedchamber (26 July 2005)
- Annotators of Sam (22 December 2005)
- A Walk with Ferrers (8 February 2006)
- The Journal of “My Lord” Sandwich (2 May 2006)
- Between a Son and His Father: Sam’s Letter to John Sr regarding Brampton (17 May 2006)
- A Voice for Elizabeth (31 May 2006)
- Queen Catherine’s Illness and Court Politics (30 August 2006)
- Twas the night before New Years! (29 December 2006)
- Inventory of the tailor shop (31 March 2007)
- Carteret and the King (22 July 2007)
- The Plot Against Pepys by James Long and Ben Long (16 August 2007)
- Sam’s N-A-V-Y (25 December 2007)
- The Next Chapter of Samuel Pepys (31 May 2012)
- Plague: Murder has a New Friend by C.C. Humphreys (31 August 2014)
Encyclopedia topics
jeannine has written summaries for eight topics:
- Sir Charles Berkeley (1st Earl of Falmouth, 1st Viscount Fitzharding)
- Catherine of Braganza (Queen)
- Sir George Carteret (Treasurer of the Navy 1660-7, Vice-Chamberlain of the Household 1660-70)
- Sir Edward Hyde (Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor 1658-67)
- Sir Edward Mountagu ("my Lord," Earl of Sandwich)
- Barbara Palmer (Countess of Castlemaine)
- Elizabeth Pepys (wife, b. St Michel)
- Frances Stuart (Duchess of Richmond)
Annotations and comments
jeannine has posted 1,236 annotations/comments since 16 June 2004.
Comments
First Reading
About Thursday 20 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
Glyn and Terry -more discussion of Balty's desire for assistance from Sam is in the June 18, 1660 entry and interesting discussion in that day's annotations too.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
To add to the idea set forth by Yonmei on that day-- a great deal of the structure of the society where Sam lived relied on a "caste system" of sorts and the idea of being "entitled" to some position in life due to blood line (or perceived bloodline), which we may find unfounded in today's world, existed more widely at that time. It was pretty customary to dole out jobs (titles, etc.) based on anything other than merit and the upper classes and especially titled people seemed to expect it. In fairness to Balty, who could have been a totally useless individual in terms of work ethic and/or actual job skills, he may not have been out of line with the expectations of society or those that his parents may have led him to believe to expect due to thier understanding of their ancestry.
About Friday 21 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
"Spitting Sheet" --In line with AH's and LH's comments -perhaps the spitting sheet could have been similar to a "duvet cover" in today's world --something either laid over or attached to the "better quality" cover underneath in order to protect it. Today a plain white down (feather) comforter, which is harder and more expensive to clean, would slide into a duvet cover, which would protect it be easier to clean, etc. -possibly the spitting sheet is along similar lines--something more easily removed for cleaning and intending to protect the underlying fabric.
About Friday 21 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
"helping to put up my hangings in my house in my wife’s chamber" --Does anybody have any idea what those hangings would consist of ?? (we KNOW they would not include Sam's painting of Lady Castlemaine, or the diary would have ended today!)
About Tuesday 18 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
"where our Aqua Scripto Man has a wide and profound classical education, more of the kind learned in old European Universities, than the kind learned in Baghdad’s shuk"...Ruben, I always thought Vincent got his education based on a core element of culinary skills --you know that adding a little "pinch of salt" usually spices things up quite nicely (as he does here!). Come to think of it, that little "pinch of salt" is also pretty good around the rim of a margarita glass....and if you keep pinching that salt around the margarita glass each time you refill it, after a while, you wouldn't care what name "pinch of salt" called himself...
About Monday 17 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
Today Sam notices that Charles is surrounded by Lady Castlemaine as well as the Duke of Monmouth (Jamie Crofts,his illegitimate son by Lucy Walters). As Davison reports (p 165) “Charles by this time had created his illegitimate son James, Duke of Monmouth. It was not without one last flare of protest from Catherine, justly insulted at the suggestion of a public recognition of the boy. The Duke of York wrote to the Lord Chancellor [Clarendon] on the matter.
‘My brother hath spoken with the Queen yesterday concerning the owning of his sonne, and in much passion she told him that from the time he did any such thing she would never see his face more. I would be glad to see you before you go to Parliament that I may advise you what is to be done, for my brother tells me he will do whatever I please’.
Catherine’s last flame of protest against the indignities offered her was probably made now. To create a son of another woman a Duke of Royal House was an outrage on herself and to any future children she might have. Charles only bent in reparation to women whom, like Lady Castlemaine he had injured in reputation, and to their children, was determined to openly acknowledge his son, and load him with honours. He was always extremely fond of all his left-handed children, and it gave him pleasure to shower favors on them. In spite of Catherine’s declaration that she would see his face no more, the patent was granted, and throughout his life Catherine treated the Duke of Monmouth, as she treated all of the rest of Charles’ children, with sweet and unvarying kindness. He was granted precedence over every other Duke in the Realm, except the Duke of York, and loaded with such distinction and favour that people whispered he was Charles’ lawful son, and would be his successor.”
About Saturday 15 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
Eric, "Splurge" you say, perhaps you forgot to add the part where Elizabeth's companion comes into join the family for a lovely cup of tea.... she enters gracefully dancing around the little collection combed out by Jane.....(great touch A. Susan!)
About Saturday 15 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
"a good play I bought to-day"....sounds like Sam has splurged on this play???? with all the talk of thriftiness, it's sort of surprising.
About Thursday 13 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
Mrs. Gay Gertz, Anyone reading Robert's annotations would KNOW he thinks the world of his wife and it shows! My husband's strategy is to encourage me to read more and more about Sam and the men of his time ~~ it's like having his own personal marketing committee, by comparison he'll ALWAYS LOOK GREAT! That, a good sense of humor, "selective listening" and ridding the house of any sharp axes are the hidden secrets to marital success in the 21st century.
About Thursday 13 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
Matthew--Thanks for the comments and good points about a modern perspective vs. Sam's time period. There is one angle that perhaps a 17th century Sam should be considering -- many unhappy wives were having affairs, running around behind their husband's backs,running away, etc. That was a reality of his time period and the Charles II culture that he dealt with on a day to day basis. Best to keep "the wife" happy and busy so that she doesn't follow the lead of other disgruntled wives.
Also, I agree with the penny pinching issue....but 2 against 1..Hmmm....anyone with kids knows that "selective listening" is a universal survival skill that is timeless and linked to the survival of the species, so Sam could have opted out of listening at any time.
About Friday 14 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
"Am I the only one who feels sympathy for him?"--Glyn, we have to keep in mind that we are only hearing one side of the story here. Also, you seem to be reading "nagging" into it while Sam seems (at least to me) to be implying that the way Elizabeth is talking that she's considered his points and "her discourse was full of good counsel" and addressed his concerns about cost. She could have been respectful in her bringing up the issue, we don't know and we don't hear her side. The other thing to remember is Elizabeth is NOT a wimp --she is strong minded --an attribute of personality and not necessarily of the time period, and perhaps in some ways a little like her husband. Also, without reading the letter we'll never know if she expressed any feeling or subjects outside of the companion issue (ie. her unending love for her husband, perhaps?). So, maybe the jury is still out so to speak.
About Thursday 13 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
Gee Terry shall we digree even further down the road of variations of (in)famous Elizabeths...
Lizzie Pepys took an axe
And gave her Sammy 40 whacks
And when she Saw her letter burn
She decided to take another turn
About Thursday 13 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
Robert-- perhaps Sam and Elizabeth live in a state of perpetual juggling of conflicts greater than just themselves, societal, personal differences and family ties-- Tomalin offers some insights here when she says "The character of Charles II set up another conflict for him. As a young man Pepys lived in a society in which two cultures co-existed: the sexually liberated low life found among the Whitehall clerks, tavern and shopkeepers of Westminster Hall, and the puritan culture in which he was brought up, with its ideal of continence and perpetual wrestling to resist temptation."( p201). Tomalin also explains that in regards to Elizabeth "The deepest bond in her life may well have been with her brother Balty;it was reciprocal, and each is shown looking out for each other in the pages of the Diary" (p. 210). Perhaps Balty for all of his faults listened to Elizabeth and respected her feelings, and made an effort to help her, which is something that Sam is clearly not doing here. The sadness is that for all of the energy and creativity that Sam puts into solving problems, exploring alternatives, etc. at the office, he hasn't carried this skill set into his personal life to help his wife. Even if the best solution was not one of Balty's suggested companions, he knows his wife is lonely and could help to guide her into activites, find a place to "fit" and help her choose some friends that could provide a "safe haven" where she could flourish. She took the time and thought to put her words into writing whcih clearly shows something is hurting in her life. To deny her a voice may give him the immediate result of sidestepping the hiring of a companion, but will no doubt plant a lingering seed of resentment in Elizabeth. A sad day.
About Monday 10 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
Castelo Melhor..tidbits for the future-SPOLIERS but not applicable to Sam.
1. During the Popish Plots Castel Melhor will stand beside and advise Queen Catherine as a steadfast friend and advisor. His letters back and forth to Portugal will provide some insight into the frightening situation that she will be faced with.
2. While Charles is at his deathbed, Castel Melhor will be attending to Catherine. When James, etc. is scrambling to find an English speaking priest (her group will all be of her native tongue) it will be Castel Melhor who will come up with and find Father Huddleston, who will perform Charles' documented conversion into the Catholic Church.
3. When Castel Melhor returns to Portugal, out of friendship he will name his home in honor of Catherine.
4. Although unable to attend her furneral due to his age, etc. his brother will represent the family.
A lifelong "friend" to the Portuguse cause and one of the few and most steadfast friends that Catherine will have.
About Monday 10 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
Thank you Terry and Pedro for filling in alot of gaps.... but question of the day to all... do you think that Sam's life would have been better off if he also had a copy of the L&M Companion with him so he could figure out the details of himself,his world and the world around him?? Alas, we'd be lost without it.
About Sunday 9 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
"It’s startling, as on other Sundays, to see Sam sampling so many churches of a Sunday morning, treating them the way we do shops in a mall."
Stolzi-In his book "Samuel Pepys In the Diary" Percival Hunt writes of Sam's family church (St. Olave's) and then has another essay devoted to the 30 or other churches that Sam visits during the life of the diary. There is no actual explanation as to "why" Sam goes to a variety of churches but Hunt does set forth the one consistent theme. "Even when Pepys went to another church, he was not led by change of place into writing vividly of its service. As at St. Olave's his interest came chiefly from the unchurchly. Instinctively, his interest rose at novelty, even trivial novelty....(gives assorted examples)..When all was usual, Pepys, if he wrote anything, catalogued, with no comment or a barren one. His mind set to work when he faced the new;and he was not concerned with judgement of its value." (p. 47)
Perhaps Sam's high level of curiosity and his vigor to take in all of life around him drew him to explore, visit, look for the unique and write about it?
About Saturday 8 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
Robert, you are quite probably quite right about Sam as a father,except, of course for THE TEENAGE YEARS --a play in 4 Acts...which I am waiting for you to write and bring to Broadway...
Act 1-Brampton Visit Oct 1662--Sam won't wear his new scallop to THAT church, wine stinks, sends out for wormwood, etc. and generally disses family.
Act 2- Brampton after Sam leaves--Family sits around drinking "their" wine, disses Sam
Act 3- 15 years later-"Lord's Day" Sam Jr.'s bedroom- Sam gives Jr. his beloved scallop to wear to church, Sam Jr. squirms around the issue, finally blurts out, "Father, I can't wear that old thing, it's SOOO 60's" - leaves room in huff, borrows scallop from uppity neighbor, parades into church wearing it.
Act 4-Later in the evening, Sam and Elizabeth,alone in 2 chairs- Bewildered Sam says " I have no idea how he turned out that way". A silent Elizabeth smiles.......
About Saturday 8 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
Xjy-"And I don't apologize at all for exceeding Sam's word count with my own", well if only those not guilty of the same are going to cast stones then I guess I have to be mute on this one!
About Saturday 8 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
"being loth to go home, the house is so dirty" (spolier, but no secret)As much as I think that the tragedy of Elizabeth's and Sam's life is that they will never have children, I can't help but be struck by this comment in a humourous way. Sam is so meticulous and organized in his manner that the clutter, activity and general 'mess' that comes along with having kids would possibly be a challenge to him in more ways then one (although I do believe that the benefits would outweigh the intrusion to his organizational needs). Then again, that type of confusion may make the office even more appealing!
About Friday 7 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
The search for treasure.. reminds me of a lady with 5 little boys who drove her crazy when they were out of school for the summer. She'd tell them about buried treasure in the back yard and send them out with pails, shovels, etc. to play. The yard looked like a disaster but she got a nice quiet break for a few hours for about a week or so, until they gave up. Perhaps Elizabeth is paying this group to keep her "boy" busy and out of trouble.
Also, no disguise is mentioned on the mystery lady today and yet no description of her either. She was probably paid to show up, give the men a days worth of work and is off at a play, or shopping and then tea party with Elizabeth and the Queen.
About Wednesday 5 November 1662
Jeannine • Link
A. Hamilton-Thanks! That explains it --I couldn't find "one" issue, but the theme summary fits nicely and makes sense.