Thursday 24 May 1660

Up, and made myself as fine as I could, with the Linning stockings on and wide canons that I bought the other day at Hague. Extraordinary press of noble company, and great mirth all the day. There dined with me in my cabin (that is, the carpenter’s) Dr. Earle and Mr. Hollis, the King’s Chaplins, Dr. Scarborough, Dr. Quarterman, and Dr. Clerke, Physicians, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Fox (both very fine gentlemen), the King’s servants, where we had brave discourse.

Walking upon the decks, where persons of honour all the afternoon, among others, Thomas Killigrew (a merry droll, but a gentleman of great esteem with the King), who told us many merry stories: one, how he wrote a letter three or four days ago to the Princess Royal, about a Queen Dowager of Judaea and Palestine, that was at the Hague incognita, that made love to the King, &c., which was Mr. Cary (a courtier’s) wife that had been a nun, who are all married to Jesus.

At supper the three Drs. of Physic again at my cabin; where I put Dr. Scarborough in mind of what I heard him say about the use of the eyes, which he owned, that children do, in every day’s experience, look several ways with both their eyes, till custom teaches them otherwise. And that we do now see but with one eye, our eyes looking in parallel lines.

After this discourse I was called to write a pass for my Lord Mandeville to take up horses to London, which I wrote in the King’s name,1 and carried it to him to sign, which was the first and only one that ever he signed in the ship Charles. To bed, coming in sight of land a little before night.

15 Annotations

First Reading

language hat  •  Link

canion, cannion, canon (OED):
[In form canion, a. Sp. ca?on tube, pipe, gun-barrel, "the cannions of breeches" (= F. canon, It. cannone), augmentative of ca?a, It. canna tube: see CANNON. The F. form canon was also used in the same sense.]
pl. Ornamental rolls, sometimes indented, sometimes plain or straight, laid like sausages round the ends of the legs of breeches.
1583 STUBBES Anat. Abus. (1877) 56 Hose.. with Canions annexed reaching down beneath their knees. 1611 COTGR., Chausses -- queue de merlus, round breeches with strait cannions. 1660 PEPYS Diary 24 May, Made myself as fine as I could, with the linning stockings on and wide canons. 1677 Songs Costume (1849) 182 By thy dangling pantaloons, And thy ruffling port cannons.

Alan Bedford  •  Link

"...with the Tinning stockings on ...".

Thanks Language Hat, for the OED citation that renders this as "with the linning stockings on" - this sounds more like "linen" which is something you could make stockings of.

Matt McIrvin  •  Link

From what I've been able to dig up on the Web, modern scientific opinion seems not quite in line with Dr. Scarborough's theory: normally stereoscopic vision with both eyes working together emerges in infancy, at just a couple of months of age.

Scarborough might have been misled by the appearance of people with strabismus or "lazy eye," which can sometimes be overcome through training. (I had surgery for it in childhood, and my eyes still sometimes wander separately chameleon-style, especially when I'm very tired; but it's not voluntary.)

mw  •  Link

A detail:

Two eyes viewing an object form a parallax, (not parrallel lines) a vital part of my business.

Kevin Peter  •  Link

Pepys seems to be very proud of having written something to be signed by the king. He sure seems to be enjoying life.

From the last sentence, it appears that they are already sailing back to England. That didn't take much time at all.

Second Reading

Bill  •  Link

"... made myself as fine as I could, with the Linning stockings on and wide canons that I bought the other day at Hague."

Sam boarded ship in England as a relatively poor man. We've had indications the last few days that he has been spending his new wealth to enhance his new situation.

Bill  •  Link

CANNIONS (of Canon, F.) Boot-hose; an old fashioned Garment for the Legs.
---An Universal Etymological English Dictionary. N. Bailey, 1675

CANNIONS Boot-hose tops; an old-fashion'd Ornament for the Legs.
---The new world of words. J. Kersey, 1720.

A footnote from Wheatley for this date:
Canons, canions, or cannions. Thus defined in Kersey's Dictionary: "Cannions, boot hose tops; an old-fashioned ornament for the legs." That is to say, a particular addition to breeches. Coles says, "Cannions, Perizomata." Cotgrave, "Canons de chausses." Minshew says, "On les appelle ainsi pourceque, &c, because they are like cannons of artillery, or cans, or pots." —Nares, Glossary. — M. B.

Bill  •  Link

The right of purveyance was an antient prerogative, by which the officers of the crown could at leisure take provisions for the household from all the neighboring counties, and the use of carts and carriages; and the price of these services was fixed and stated. The payment of the money was often distant and uncertain; and the rates were always much inferior to the market price; so that purveyance, besides the slavery of it, was always regarded as a great burthen, and being arbitrary and casual, was liable to great abuses.
---The History of England Under the House of Tudor. D. Hume, 1759.

Bill  •  Link

And considering what advantage may arise to the Kingdom, by Linning Manufactories, no Nation Spinning better and cheaper, We do earnestly intreat all who love the Honour , prosperitie and wealth of the Kingdom, cordially and speedily to set about the erecting of Manufactories for Cloath, Stuffs, Linnen & others.
---A REPRESENTATION of the ADVANTAGES, that would arise to this KINGDOM, by the erecting and improving of MANUFACTORIES. 1683.

Dick Wilson  •  Link

It appears that, upon landing, Lord Mandeville will set about seizing the horses that are required to haul the King and his court to London. The owners of the animals have no say in the matter, but they will be paid, "sometime, somewhere, we'll let you know how much. Ta."

meech  •  Link

I would like to know how he got seven people and himself in the carpenter's cabin all at the same time. Must have been cozy.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"Thomas Killigrew (a merry droll, but a gentleman of great esteem with the King)"

Courtiier, dramatist, and wit: he had been in exile with the King, and later in this year became patentee-manager of the first Theatre Royal: see http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

http://brittlebooks.library.illin…

John Evelyn's Diary – he and Mary Browne Evelyn live at Saye's Court, Deptford.

@@@

24 May, 1660.
Came to me Col. Morley, about procuring his pardon, now too late, seeing his error and neglect of the counsel I gave him, by which, if he had taken it he had certainly done the great work with the same ease that Monck did it, who was then in Scotland, and Morley in a post to have done what he pleased, but his jealousy and fear kept him from that blessing and honor.

I addressed him to Lord Mordaunt, then in great favor, for his pardon, which he obtained at the cost of 1,000/., as I heard. Oh, the sottish omission of this gentleman! what did I not undergo of danger in this negotiation, to have brought him over to his Majesty's interest, when it was entirely in his hands!

@@@

"Oh, the sottish omission of this gentleman! what did I not undergo of danger in this negotiation, ..."
John Evelyn, like Pepys, isn't given to cursing; this is about as bad as it gets.
I wonder what "danger" he experienced buying Col. Morley's pardon. Was it danger by association? Or does he mean inconvenience, unpleasantness, and/or aggravation?

Col. Herbert Morley, MP. https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

“Lord Mordaunt” could have been either John or Henry Mordaunt. Both brothers were in favor at this time, and both of their bios. make them sound rather course:
John Mordaunt, Viscount Mordaunt of Avalon and Baron Mordaunt of Reigate https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
OR
Henry Mordaunt, 2nd Earl of Peterborough KG PC FRS https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

Third Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Meanwhile in the House of Lords -- 5/24/1660

https://www.british-history.ac.uk…

Letter to the King, to congratulate His safe Landing, &c.

ORDERED, That these Lords following are appointed, to draw up a Letter to be sent to His Majesty, to express the great Sense of this House for His Majesty's safe Landing; to know His Pleasure, both for Time and Place, where this House may wait upon Him; and desire Him to consult His own Safety, for the Manner of His Return:

Comes Northumb.
Comes South'ton.
Comes Bridgwater.
Comes Denbigh.
Ds. Robertes.
Ds. Seymour.

Log in to post an annotation.

If you don't have an account, then register here.