jeannine

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jeannine has written 14 articles:

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jeannine has written summaries for eight topics:

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

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First Reading

About Thursday 12 October 1665

jeannine  •  Link

The Stuarts...

Hmm, as I read this all I keep thinking of is what a creep Charles II was BEFORE he became Charles II in terms of privateering, prizes, etc. When it comes to money, he's not exactly one to be trusted, and everything should always be in writing!!!

Many years earlier, while Charles was in exile Rupert and Charles had a falling out over similar situation of who should get what, and Charles, being the slime that he can be, sent George Carteret in to be the bull dog for him. Although in the end the moeny gets sorted out, the painful feelings often last a lifetime.

About Wednesday 11 October 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"This night is kept in lieu of yesterday, for my wedding day of ten years; for which God be praised! being now in an extreme good condition of health and estate and honour, and a way of getting more money,"

Oh and by the way did I somehow forget to mention anything about my wife, what's her name...?He probably thought he married himself 10 years ago...

About Tuesday 10 October 1665

jeannine  •  Link

“I’m afraid Sam has lost me in the convoluted story about the prize goods. Do any of the ancillary sources explain what’s going on better than he does?”

Yes, Paul, Ollard does a good job in ‘Cromwell’s Earl”. As Pedro had previously explained, there was a procedure for how prizes were to be distributed. Seamen could take things lying around but nobody was to break into the cargo, which would be called “breaking bulk”. All of the cargo and the ship were to go to the Prize Commissioners who would sell it, account for it, and the divide it according to established rules and policies.

Ollard explains that Sandwich had allowed an immediate partial sharing of the cargo. Remember he’s always been ‘lousy with money’ but not a greedy person as he generously gave some of the share to Sam and Brouncker. Two days before he doled out these good he’d gotten a congratulatory letter from the King for his excellent work. This approval and all of the excitement of the Navy Board over the win and the Prizes probably made him less than vigilant in sticking to the rules.

“On September 21st Sandwich signed an order for a preliminary distribution of prize goods amongst himself and his colleagues, apparently at the solicitation of Penn, his Vice-Admiral, who, according to Sandwich, assured him ‘that the King and Duke of York’ intended him particular favour’. Feeling uneasy that he might have exceeded his authority he wrote to Carteret, who was with the court at Oxford preparing for the assembly of the Parliament, asking him to inform the King and Duke of what he had done. On the 28th Carteret replied in the most assuring terms. His action was entirely understood and would be underwritten. Unfortunately to gain the Duke’s approval he had to show the letter to William Coventry who had remarked ominously: “Heere my Lord Sandwich has done what I durst not have done.’ Although everything was going to be all right Carteret indicated that it would be prudent to restrain his admirals from actually selling the goods until he had the King’s authorization in writing”.

[Spoiler part as quoted from Ollard] “This eminently sensible advice was disregarded. Before long rumours were flying around the city fabulously profitable bargains to be obtained in silks, spices, china and all the most expensive luxury goods of the East India trade. Albermale, always jealous and resentful of Sandwich’s apparently effortless rise in a few years to positions that it had taken him a lifetime to win, heard, enquired and acted. The customs authorities were empowered to seize the goods and legal proceedings, it was clear, would follow against all those involved. Pepys, more alert than his master, instantly sensed danger. He wrote at once to warn him and began to make his own plans for getting out of the business as quick as he could.

Also in the background here are very complex politics with Coventry and the DOY working against Sandwich. Much of this controversy unravels during this month there will be a lot more on this subject to come.

About Tuesday 3 October 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"that the fine Mrs. Middleton is noted for carrying about her body a continued sour base smell, that is very offensive, especially if she be a little hot."

Another person to add to the list of poor souls who will be known in history predominately for some odd, negative comment(s) about them that Sam has reported on! Think of all of the people with disgusting hands ( a favorite stomach turner of Sam’s), ugly faces, poor manners, etc. whose memory survives through Sam’s Diary. I wish we’d kept a list of them! It would be great to have some college student do their research on that subject and it would be a hoot to read! I am sure that the collective group of people in their ill-fitted clothing complete with stinky body odor are whacking him in the head right about now.

About Sunday 1 October 1665

jeannine  •  Link

Growing up 'to get 'bagged' meant you 'got caught'. It may not have an entry in any dictionary and perhaps is some sort of local slang, but that was the intent.

About Sunday 1 October 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"But, Lord! the mirth which it caused me to be waked in the night by their snoaring round about me; I did laugh till I was ready to burst, and waked one of the two companions of Temple, who could not a good while tell where he was that he heard one laugh so, till he recollected himself, and I told him what it was at, and so to sleep again, they still snoaring."

What is it about people who snore--they never believe it when you tell them that they do it. When I was little my grandmother would come to stay and after juggling kids to make space for her, she would sleep in the bed next to mine. She snored so loudly that you could probably hear it a mile away. My older brother, about age 7, told her that she snored and she didn’t believe him. So, he slid a tape recorder under her bed and when she went for her nap she was bagged. He then pulled out the tape recorder and played it and to my mother’s horror he was then bagged! Glad Sam thought it was funny, I loved her, but boy was I miserable!

About Saturday 30 September 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"The great burden we have upon us at this time at the office, is the providing for prisoners and sicke men that are recovered, they lying before our office doors all night and all day, poor wretches. Having been on shore, the captains won’t receive them on board, and other ships we have not to put them on, nor money to pay them off, or provide for them. God remove this difficulty!"

Terry's comment "Evelyn cannot do miracles" is sadly true, but given his moral character I am sure that he would have granted this one if he could and without any financial benefit to himself.

Whoever appointed him to lead the charge for the sick and wounded soldiers picked the best person to do so. Given all of the other characters of the time he is a bright light (even if his Diary is 'dull' compared to Sam's). Although nobody's perfect, Evelyn has a strong moral compass and deep faith to guide him and I am sure he feels true empathy for the people he is trying to help.

About Thursday 28 September 1665

jeannine  •  Link

'and feeling for a chamber-pott, there was none, I having called the mayde up out of her bed, she had forgot I suppose to put one there; so I was forced in this strange house to rise and shit in the chimney twice'

Boy did I pick a sh**ty day to get caught up in the Diary! My heart goes out to the poor maid. I bet she'll never forget to leave a chamber pot for anyone ever again. Can't imagine how disgusting this will be to clean up! So, here’s a career opportunity question du jour?

How sad that our Sam was so caught
Without a close by chamber pot
He twice had to leave his ‘debris’
In the ashes of a chimney
No matter how much one is paid
Would you want the job of the maid?????

About Monday 4 September 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"you are all invited to The Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Mass, USA on Saturday Sept 13 at 2 PM"
Thanks Carl -last year was a lot of fun and I'll be there!

About Saturday 19 August 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"This Mr. Windham had entered into a formal engagement with the Earl of Rochester, “not without ceremonies of religion, that if either of them died, he should appear, and give the other notice of the future state, if there was any.” He was probably one of the brothers of Sir William Wyndham, Bart. See Wordsworth’s “Ecclesiastical Biography,” fourth. edition, vol. iv., p. 615. — B. ↩"

Forgive me for not having the exact details (traveling without books) but as I recall, Rochester, Windham and Montagu had become friends on board. When this 'deal' was discussed Montagu declined being part of it (religious reasons) but the other 2 made the pact. One of Rochester's biographers (can't recall which one) implied that when Windham didn't come back with an affirmation of the afterlife that this had a terrible effect on Rochester's faith and added to his spiral downward.

Also, of note, Montagu was the Queen's horseman who had gotten the boot by Charles II for squeezing her hand. After he was fired, Catherine, out of loyalty to her very platonic friend (on her part) did not replace him. Slight spolier, but she will replace him over time with Montagu's brother Ralph, who turns out to be quite the colorful character outside of his role as Master of the Horse.

About Friday 11 August 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"only in the morning a pleasant rencontre happened in having a young married woman brought me by her father, old Delkes, that carries pins always in his mouth, to get her husband off that he should not go to sea, ‘une contre pouvait avoir done any cose cum else, but I did nothing, si ni baisser her’.

It almost seems like Sam perhaps has gained a reputation for trading jobs for sex??? Perhaps the word has made its way to Old Delkes?????

About Sunday 6 August 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"Polylingual: Latin, Spanish, French — ah, the eros of having one’s head combed"...

That mixed with his drooling all over the page as he was thinking about the poor little girl--(ugh)--make it especially hard to translate!

About Saturday 5 August 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"In the morning up, and my wife showed me several things of her doing, especially one fine woman’s Persian head mighty finely done, beyond what I could expect of her;"

I know it was mentioned a few days ago, but I don't think we ever got an answer. Do we know if Sam kept Elizabeth's artwork and if, so, is it still in existence?

Also, spoiler here but “I am told also that the Duke of Buckingham is dead, but I know not of a certainty” –not true –he will outlive the King.

About Monday 31 July 1665

jeannine  •  Link

Culture differences ??

How lovely that Sam can appreciate the 'solemn' wedding. "But the modesty and gravity of this business was so decent, that it was to me indeed ten times more delightfull than if it had been twenty times more merry and joviall." Perhaps witnessing a couple who take marriage vows seriously ??? or the difference in an upper class 'event'???

I am sure that in his days Sam has attended many different types of weddings, including perhaps some on the bawdy side of the tracks. His comments today are intriguing to me.

Also, of note --has anyone caught his overall comments about the "Ladies" --Lady Sandwich and Lady Carteret are perhaps 2 of the few women that Sam continuously writes of as gracious, kind and overall just plain classy.

About Monday 31 July 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"I had no idea something I once did with some other girls at a sleepover dated back to the Renaissance"

I played the same game too. And speaking of sleepover games.....I can't wait to see Sam's entry when he finds himself sitting at the table with Elizabeth and the maids asking his Ouiji Board "will Harman marry Pall?" and getting an answer that says, "not likely". Then he'll pull out his Magic 8 Ball and ask if Balty will ever find a job of his own, he'll give it a shake and it will say "NO WAY!"

About Sunday 30 July 1665

jeannine  •  Link

"Up, and in my night gowne, cap and neckcloth, undressed all day long"

I don't ever recall a day when Sam was in his night gowne all day long (except perhaps when he was sick??).

When my daughter was little she hated getting out of her 'jammies' as we called her little footed pajamas. I was always rushing out the door to drop her at day care and get myself to work and often she'd be whimpering about having to take them off. The day care that she went to decided that in her honor that they would have jammie day once a month and everyone came to work or, in the kids place, got dropped off in their jammies and could stay in them all day if they wanted. Wouldn't the world be a more comfortable (albeit not so 'nice' looking) place if we could all have jammie day once in awhile!

About Wednesday 26 July 1665

jeannine  •  Link

“…The Duke of Monmouth is the most skittish leaping gallant that ever I saw, always in action, vaulting or leaping, or clambering….”

ADHD?

Susan--I don't know if it's ADHD syndrome or if it's "It's all about me" syndrome. I am very sure that the over-indulged Monmouth suffered from the latter.....