Something that does not appear to have been noticed by earlier annotators. Jacke Noble claims the child was conceived on Guy Fawkes night (with 3 handy witnesses to Tom's confession) but SP recorded her birth on 6 April, only 5 months later. It casts some doubt on Tom's paternity. Tom died on 15 March. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Remember the convenient new bell: Saturday 3 October 1663 "At noon I home to dinner, and then abroad to buy a bell to hang by our chamber door to call the mayds. ... We then to set up our bell with a smith very well, and then I late at the office. "
"Camoxed" Sarah, The Salty One kept many annotators guessing (and amused) the first time round. He could verge on cryptic at times. The carpenter's son he was referring to was the inventor of the marine chronometer, John Harrison. Harrison was self-educated, so unlike SP, he did not get formal qualifications from either of the two English universities, CAMbridge or OXford, i.e. he was not camoxed.
Regarding shorthand and names, this passage from the 'About the text' page clarifies all:
'Pepys wrote the bulk of his diary in a shorthand devised by Thomas Shelton, with only a few words, such as names of people and places, written longhand; shorthand was more widely used by scholars in Pepys’ time than it is today ...' http://www.pepysdiary.com/about/t…
There is no evidence so far that SP used "black" as a synonym for "ugly". On the contrary, apart from today's instance which is ambiguous, SP has used term six times, of which two are neutral and four are positive. Even the detested Pembleton is mentioned positively in this regard.
21 January 1659/60 - where poor Mr. Cook, a black man, that is like to be put out of his clerk’s place 9 October 1660 - one Damford, that, being a black man, did scald his beard with mince-pie 13 January 1660/61 - his wife’s daughter is a very comely black woman 30 April 1661 - very pretty modest black woman 6 October 1661 - There was also my pretty black girl, Mrs. Dekins 15 May 1663 - (The dancing master) who is a pretty neat black man
Why would "pricklouse" be a term of contempt for a tailor? Here's a suggestion. Skilled tailors, presumably like SP's father, made clothes from clean, new cloth. However the poorest, least skilled tailors repaired worn out, lice-infested clothes and would literally prick a louse or two while sewing. So the insult comes not from being called a tailor but an incompetent tailor good for nothing more than repairing used clothing.
"It's a pity Sam wasn't able to nip it in the bud here ... he certainly seems to be trying."
I somehow think that Capt. Holmes wasn't the type of guy who would allow his bud to be nipped. The title of Richard Ollard's biography of Holmes was "Man of War". Here's an excerpt from the back cover: "Adventurous, energetic, combative and unscrupulous, Robert Holmes first attracted the attention of Prince Rupert as a young cavalry officer in the Civil War. As a Royalist exile, he accompanied the Prince first into the French service and then, in one of the strangest and most romantic episodes in naval history, on a cruise that carried the Royalist colors -- no longer flying in England -- to Portugal, the Mediterranean, West Africa and the West Indies."
" ... my wife and I and her woman by coach to Westminster, ..."
It's a safe assumption that "her woman" refers to Ms Ashwell, for example from two weeks previous on March 15 "Up and with my wife and her woman Ashwell the first time to church, ..."
SP indicated his state of mind during the day: "This day though I was merry enough ...". SP regularly records things not going quite to plan without any indication of annoyance. Today for example, too early for the christening, so a quick coach ride to Chelsea to get some fresh air. It was probably just an accepted part of life.
From the Online Etymology Dictionary betimes (adv.) "at an early period," early 14c., from betime (c. 1300, from be- + time) + adverbial genitive -s.
and
be- word-forming element with a wide range of meaning: "thoroughly, completely; ... Be- can also be privative (as in behead), causative, or have just about any sense required. The prefix was productive 16c.-17c. in forming useful words, many of which have not survived, such as bethwack "to thrash soundly" (1550s), betongue "to assail in speech, to scold" (1630s).
I wonder, did Sam ever rise betimes to betongue and bethwack his errant boy?
"And here Mrs. The. shewed me my name upon her breast as her Valentine, which will cost me 20s."
Yes, the precocious daughter is definitely Theophila (The). Why the expense? St Valentine's day often involved the exchange of small gifts, sometimes gloves. And sometimes (for a favorite coz) lots of gloves. I think it's safe to assume that SP was referring to the front of The's dress rather than part of her anatomy.
Linda, this might help. It's an update for E's link above: "I found this page with a roundup of biblical feet quite entertaining (some four letter words for excretory functions)." http://www.telecomtally.com/a-eup… Not only Ruth and Isaiah but Ezekiel as well.
Louise Mary provide the answer to your question in the annotations for 23 September: "The cost of Sam's home improvements was indeed being born by the Navy. The Navy Treasurer's accounts give the sum of £320 as the estimated joint cost of the works to Batten’s and Pepys’ houses. "
This portrait of Catherine circa 1660/61 probably shows what Evelyn described as "her foretop long & turned aside very strangely" (see Bill's annotation above).
Bill I think SP was forced to wait outside because the sexton didn't unlock the door. You can see the staircase leading up to the Navy Office's pew in the drawing below.
"and a match carelessly with it, thinking that it was out"
Slow matches were used in Europe to fire matchlock firearms up to the early 1700s. From Wikipedia: "Slow matches were most suitable for use around black-powder weapons because a slow match could be roughly handled without going out, and only presented a small glowing tip instead of a large flame that risked igniting nearby gunpowder." No mention of the risk with gunpowder in pockets.
"[The] Youngmans careless Wooing" is contained in Pepys' own collection of broadside ballads. I see now that Pepys started this collection is the 1680s but it is still much closer in time and place to "today's" entry than the 1719 collection found by Brian Barr.
The University of California Santa Barbara has a archive of 17th Century ballads including the entire Pepys collection here: http://ebba.english.ucsb.edu/page…
The site has quite a bit of background information on the Pepys collection of ballads that might be of interest to annotators.
Comments
Second Reading
About Thursday 25 August 1664
Bryan • Link
Something that does not appear to have been noticed by earlier annotators.
Jacke Noble claims the child was conceived on Guy Fawkes night (with 3 handy witnesses to Tom's confession) but SP recorded her birth on 6 April, only 5 months later. It casts some doubt on Tom's paternity. Tom died on 15 March.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
About Wednesday 13 April 1664
Bryan • Link
"and so I rang up my people"
Remember the convenient new bell: Saturday 3 October 1663
"At noon I home to dinner, and then abroad to buy a bell to hang by our chamber door to call the mayds. ... We then to set up our bell with a smith very well, and then I late at the office. "
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
About Sunday 24 January 1663/64
Bryan • Link
"Camoxed"
Sarah, The Salty One kept many annotators guessing (and amused) the first time round. He could verge on cryptic at times.
The carpenter's son he was referring to was the inventor of the marine chronometer, John Harrison. Harrison was self-educated, so unlike SP, he did not get formal qualifications from either of the two English universities, CAMbridge or OXford, i.e. he was not camoxed.
About Friday 30 October 1663
Bryan • Link
Regarding shorthand and names, this passage from the 'About the text' page clarifies all:
'Pepys wrote the bulk of his diary in a shorthand devised by Thomas Shelton, with only a few words, such as names of people and places, written longhand; shorthand was more widely used by scholars in Pepys’ time than it is today ...'
http://www.pepysdiary.com/about/t…
For example this is the first page of the diary, where the names of several people can be seen:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wiki…
About Thursday 6 August 1663
Bryan • Link
There is no evidence so far that SP used "black" as a synonym for "ugly". On the contrary, apart from today's instance which is ambiguous, SP has used term six times, of which two are neutral and four are positive. Even the detested Pembleton is mentioned positively in this regard.
21 January 1659/60 - where poor Mr. Cook, a black man, that is like to be put out of his clerk’s place
9 October 1660 - one Damford, that, being a black man, did scald his beard with mince-pie
13 January 1660/61 - his wife’s daughter is a very comely black woman
30 April 1661 - very pretty modest black woman
6 October 1661 - There was also my pretty black girl, Mrs. Dekins
15 May 1663 - (The dancing master) who is a pretty neat black man
About Saturday 2 May 1663
Bryan • Link
Why would "pricklouse" be a term of contempt for a tailor? Here's a suggestion.
Skilled tailors, presumably like SP's father, made clothes from clean, new cloth. However the poorest, least skilled tailors repaired worn out, lice-infested clothes and would literally prick a louse or two while sewing. So the insult comes not from being called a tailor but an incompetent tailor good for nothing more than repairing used clothing.
About Monday 13 April 1663
Bryan • Link
NJ "Pom" is an affectionate term used by Australians (& New Zealanders) to refer to the English.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glo…
About Thursday 2 April 1663
Bryan • Link
"It's a pity Sam wasn't able to nip it in the bud here ... he certainly seems to be trying."
I somehow think that Capt. Holmes wasn't the type of guy who would allow his bud to be nipped. The title of Richard Ollard's biography of Holmes was "Man of War". Here's an excerpt from the back cover: "Adventurous, energetic, combative and unscrupulous, Robert Holmes first attracted the attention of Prince Rupert as a young cavalry officer in the Civil War. As a Royalist exile, he accompanied the Prince first into the French service and then, in one of the strangest and most romantic episodes in naval history, on a cruise that carried the Royalist colors -- no longer flying in England -- to Portugal, the Mediterranean, West Africa and the West Indies."
About Sunday 22 March 1662/63
Bryan • Link
" ... my wife and I and her woman by coach to Westminster, ..."
It's a safe assumption that "her woman" refers to Ms Ashwell, for example from two weeks previous on March 15 "Up and with my wife and her woman Ashwell the first time to church, ..."
SP indicated his state of mind during the day: "This day though I was merry enough ...". SP regularly records things not going quite to plan without any indication of annoyance. Today for example, too early for the christening, so a quick coach ride to Chelsea to get some fresh air. It was probably just an accepted part of life.
About Thursday 19 March 1662/63
Bryan • Link
From the Online Etymology Dictionary
betimes (adv.)
"at an early period," early 14c., from betime (c. 1300, from be- + time) + adverbial genitive -s.
and
be-
word-forming element with a wide range of meaning: "thoroughly, completely; ...
Be- can also be privative (as in behead), causative, or have just about any sense required. The prefix was productive 16c.-17c. in forming useful words, many of which have not survived, such as bethwack "to thrash soundly" (1550s), betongue "to assail in speech, to scold" (1630s).
I wonder, did Sam ever rise betimes to betongue and bethwack his errant boy?
About Tuesday 3 March 1662/63
Bryan • Link
"And here Mrs. The. shewed me my name upon her breast as her Valentine, which will cost me 20s."
Yes, the precocious daughter is definitely Theophila (The).
Why the expense? St Valentine's day often involved the exchange of small gifts, sometimes gloves. And sometimes (for a favorite coz) lots of gloves.
I think it's safe to assume that SP was referring to the front of The's dress rather than part of her anatomy.
About Friday 30 January 1662/63
Bryan • Link
Linda, this might help. It's an update for E's link above:
"I found this page with a roundup of biblical feet quite entertaining (some four letter words for excretory functions)."
http://www.telecomtally.com/a-eup…
Not only Ruth and Isaiah but Ezekiel as well.
About Wednesday 31 December 1662
Bryan • Link
A small correction above: " William, my clerk" links to William Howe. It should link to Will Hewer.
A very happy new year to Phil and all annotators and lurkers.
About Wednesday 3 December 1662
Bryan • Link
"He may be, by comparison, or is he just blowing his own horn?"
Louise, surely history has given us a clear answer to that question.
About Friday 26 September 1662
Bryan • Link
Louise
Mary provide the answer to your question in the annotations for 23 September:
"The cost of Sam's home improvements was indeed being born by the Navy. The Navy Treasurer's accounts give the sum of £320 as the estimated joint cost of the works to Batten’s and Pepys’ houses. "
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
About Sunday 25 May 1662
Bryan • Link
This portrait of Catherine circa 1660/61 probably shows what Evelyn described as "her foretop long & turned aside very strangely" (see Bill's annotation above).
http://www.npg.org.uk/collections…
About Wednesday 25 December 1661
Bryan • Link
Bill
I think SP was forced to wait outside because the sexton didn't unlock the door. You can see the staircase leading up to the Navy Office's pew in the drawing below.
http://www.gettyimages.com.au/det…
About Saturday 2 November 1661
Bryan • Link
"and a match carelessly with it, thinking that it was out"
Slow matches were used in Europe to fire matchlock firearms up to the early 1700s. From Wikipedia: "Slow matches were most suitable for use around black-powder weapons because a slow match could be roughly handled without going out, and only presented a small glowing tip instead of a large flame that risked igniting nearby gunpowder." No mention of the risk with gunpowder in pockets.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow…
About Monday 22 April 1661
Bryan • Link
The current link for Glyn's posting above:
http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.c…
"The print shows the visit of Mary de Medici, daughter of the grand duke of Tuscany, in 1639."
The current link for "Procession of Charles II's Restoration to the Throne" previously posted by Sjoerd:
http://www.kipar.org/period-galle…
About Thursday 11 April 1661
Bryan • Link
"[The] Youngmans careless Wooing" is contained in Pepys' own collection of broadside ballads. I see now that Pepys started this collection is the 1680s but it is still much closer in time and place to "today's" entry than the 1719 collection found by Brian Barr.
A facsimile of the printed ballad can be found here: http://ebba.english.ucsb.edu/ball…
The University of California Santa Barbara has a archive of 17th Century ballads including the entire Pepys collection here: http://ebba.english.ucsb.edu/page…
The site has quite a bit of background information on the Pepys collection of ballads that might be of interest to annotators.