John Matthew IV
Annotations and comments
John Matthew IV has posted 23 annotations/comments since 22 February 2016.
The most recent first…
Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
John Matthew IV has posted 23 annotations/comments since 22 February 2016.
The most recent first…
Comments
Second Reading
About Tuesday 22 October 1661
John Matthew IV • Link
Please do not post such spoilers. That takes away from the joy of following Sam and his world one day at a time.
Thank you.
About Wednesday 16 October 1661
John Matthew IV • Link
Terry:
Please do not post references to the future. Let us who are reading this one day at a time learn about these events as they happen.
Thank you.
About Tuesday 28 May 1661
John Matthew IV • Link
The stories above about Berwick-upon-Tweed were not accurate. Wikipedia has the story behind this urban legend:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ber…
About Friday 1 February 1660/61
John Matthew IV • Link
"After dinner into London and bought some books, and a belt,"
I loved this line. As one with many, many books and several belts, I could see writing that line myself with pleasure.
About Thursday 31 January 1660/61
John Matthew IV • Link
"and indeed it is good, though wronged by my over great expectations, as all things else are."
I loved this line as it can be used so often by me today. I am going to see a play tonight with great expectations.
The universality of Sam's writing is one reason I keep coming back to it.
About Sunday 27 January 1660/61
John Matthew IV • Link
Merry
That gives a whole new meaning to "Robin Hood and his Merry Men"!
About Sunday 20 January 1660/61
John Matthew IV • Link
When did Pepys' "journall" become his "diary"?
About Thursday 17 January 1660/61
John Matthew IV • Link
"whether to make his elder son heir, which my Lady is for, and I against, but rather to make all equall."
The old Primogeniture vs. Partible debate.
As an eldest son, I have always favoured Primogeniture.
About Sunday 13 January 1660/61
John Matthew IV • Link
"very comely black woman."
My edition of Wheatley has this simple footnote: "The old expression for a brunette."
About Wednesday 26 December 1660
John Matthew IV • Link
Mr. Foreman:
We'll get to 1663 in three years. Please no spoilers.
Thank you.
About Wednesday 21 November 1660
John Matthew IV • Link
"and sent for the barber"
Did barbers normally make housecalls or work out of barbershops?
About Saturday 13 October 1660
John Matthew IV • Link
So often reading Pepys diary we can say, "Some things never change."
I've eaten oysters in a pub, I've broken things in anger and felt remorse and I have spent lots of time setting up shelves.
But I have never seen an execution. To read it presented as just another thing Sam did on this Saturday is stunning.
"He was presently cut down, and his head and heart shown to the people, at which there was great shouts of joy."
Many things HAVE changed since 1660!
About Friday 7 September 1660
John Matthew IV • Link
And now 'Peter Pett and the Sovereign of the Seas' by Sir Peter Lely can be seen here:
http://collections.rmg.co.uk/coll…
Here's the image of a portrait plaque of our boy Sam:
http://collections.rmg.co.uk/coll…
About Wednesday 18 July 1660
John Matthew IV • Link
"I took all these people home to my house and did give them some drink."
Any ideas as what they would drink? I have never had the senses that Sam kept a bar at home. He's always going out for his morning draft.
About Saturday 9 June 1660
John Matthew IV • Link
No spoilers, Ivan. Please!
About Sunday 3 June 1660
John Matthew IV • Link
I plan to read this diary one day at a time, AndreaLouise. So about 10 years overall.
About Friday 1 June 1660
John Matthew IV • Link
We recently discussed the prefix "be-" and its decline.
However today we read the word "fuddled." Nowadays, "befuddled" is much more common than "fuddled."
And "fuddled" is a great way to describe how you feel after drinking all day!
About Sunday 27 May 1660
John Matthew IV • Link
My question is about poor Sam's ruined dinner: who eats lobster with vinegar?
About Wednesday 16 May 1660
John Matthew IV • Link
Three years late but please no spoilers Bill.
I am reading this diary day-by-day so I'll have most likely long forgotten this note about Opdam but please let's not include future history here.
About Friday 30 March 1660
John Matthew IV • Link
This is my first time reading Pepys, so everything is new. As there will always be new readers, please no spoilers in the annotations.