Tuesday 11 September 1660
At Sir W. Batten’s with Sir W. Pen we drank our morning draft, and from thence for an hour in the office and dispatch a little business.
Dined at Sir W. Batten’s, and by this time I see that we are like to have a very good correspondence and neighbourhood, but chargeable. All the afternoon at home looking over my carpenters. At night I called Thos. Hater out of the office to my house to sit and talk with me. After he was gone I caused the girl to wash the wainscot of our parlour, which she did very well, which caused my wife and I good sport. Up to my chamber to read a little, and wrote my Diary for three or four days past.
The Duke of York did go to-day by break of day to the Downs. The Duke of Gloucester ill. The House of Parliament was to adjourn to-day. I know not yet whether it be done or no.
To bed.
23 Annotations
First Reading
Brad W. • Link
I caused the girl to wash the wainscot of our parlour, which she did very well, which caused my wife and I good sport
Can't blame them, I like to watch other people work too....
Seriously, what can he mean? Perhaps the tireless and amiable Jane made a game of the work, and they all had a laugh?
Nix • Link
"I see that we are like to have a very good correspondence and neighbourhood, but chargeable" --
Samuel seems to be saying that he an Batten should be able to get along well -- but what does he mean by "chargeable"?
OED gives 10 definitions of "chargeable", and I am having trouble making any of them fit sensibly to this usage:
1. Burdensome, troublesome. Obs.
2. Weighty, grave; important. Obs.
3. Involving responsibility; responsible. Obs.
4. Burdensome (as a tax or payment); costly, expensive. Obs. (Formerly the most frequent meaning.)
5. Liable to be called to account, answerable, responsible. Obs. or arch.
6. Liable to be charged with (a fault, etc.).
7. Subject to a charge, tax, or payment.
8. Liable to be made a charge or expense (to the parish, etc.).
9. Capable of being charged as a liability, obligation, debt, fault, offence, upon, on a person, etc.
10. Proper to be charged to an account.
Paul Brewster • Link
The House of Parliament was to adjourn to-day. I know not yet whether it be done or no.
L&M footnote: "It did not adjourn until the 13th."
Paul Brewster • Link
I see that we are like to have a very good correspondency and neighbourhood, but chargeable
My guess is that SP fears that the cost of entertaining the neighbors ("keeping up with the Joneses") will run into quite some expense (i.e., Once they invite you over for dinner and feast you lavishly, you'll be forced to reciprocate in the same high style.).
chip • Link
My initial response to chargeable was that of charge, as charged with energy. I took Pepys to mean that there are some lively characters on Seething Lane, and the atmosphere promises to be charged. I realize this is over 90 years before dear Ben Franklin flew his kite. But we still say, he or she is a charge. But now that Paul and Nix have chimed in, I am not so sure. Maybe it does have to do with money. It would be so like Pepys to think of it.
Paul Brewster • Link
I caused the Girle to wash the wainscote of our parler, which she did very well; which caused my wife and I good sport.
I wonder if washing a wood panelled wall is something so la-di-dah that it gets them to giggling about there newly achieved place in high society.
Paul Brewster • Link
Chargeable, a
I think the roughly contemporary quotes from the OED for definition 4 give me the best clue to SP's meaning.
4. Burdensome (as a tax or payment); costly, expensive. Obs. (Formerly the most frequent meaning.)
...
1618-29 in Rushw. Hist. Coll. … The Innes and Victualling-houses in England are more chargeble to the Travellers, then in other Countreys. 1660 Trial Regic. … That [royalty] was a dangerous, chargeable, and useless Office. 1706 Estcourt Fair … Oxford is a chargeable Place, Sir, there is no living there without it [money].
Roger Arbor • Link
... and for those who venture out into today's City of London... will find it's rather 'Chargeable' too.
I was reading that London (as a whole) is now the most expensive place (for a visitor) on the planet. I'm sure Pepys would have tut-tutted... and counted the cash (again).
helena murphy • Link
Is one to understand that the maid can competently clean the wainscotting with a broom and water? Is the source of the mirth the fact that they can economise on proper cleaning materials?
Beeswax is recommemded for wood and in its absence according to Lisa Picard's "Restoration London", candle-ends, turpentine, with a little oil of lavender to perfume them was the acceptable polish of the day. It seems as if their disposable income is spent on clothes,correctly so in a society where social rank was paramount. They also receive many gifts of food and drink ,and when disposed to buy their own dinner it can be an inexpensive rabbit.
David A. Smith • Link
"very good ... but chargeable"
The key is the 'but', connoting a downside. Sam is discovering that when you live with the movers and shakers, there's plenty of action, but you have to spend money to stay in the game. And to spend it, you have to make it. From life in the slow lane, he's a-whirl in the fast lane, with breathtaking financial income and equally breathtaking financial outgo (not just the neighbors, but the wife, the colleagues), and the constant whiff of vacant space underneath (Will Pett go down? Will so-and-so lose his position?)
A diary is a private confessional. Here we see play out all his anxieties, and if some of them only peep through the textual interstices, it's a measure of how deep-seated (and perhaps not yet fully realized) those are.
Paul Brewster • Link
Good Sport
Maybe the comment is facetious for an argument. After all SP is assigning housecleaning duties to the girl when that's the wife's prerogative. After the "good sport" he retreats to his chamber.
Mary • Link
Good sport
Paul's is an amusing suggestion. Pepys, since the dismissal of thieving Will, has no personal servant in the house, so possibly he feels the need to assert his authority by getting the girl to do his bidding in a domestic matter; this might irritate any housewife.
Second Reading
Bill • Link
CHARGEABLE.
1. Expensive; costly. Watton.
2. Imputable as a debtor crime. South.
3. Subject to charge; accusable. Spectator.
CHARGEABLENESS. Expence; cost; costliness. Boyle.
CHARGEABLY. Expensively. Ascham.
---A Dictionary Of The English Language. Samuel Johnson, 1756.
MarkS • Link
Regarding washing the wainscot, I don't think that the word 'wash' is being understood correctly.
One definition of wash is 'to cover or coat with a watery layer of paint or other coloring substance.' (Free dictionary. I'm sure the OED has better definitions along with dates, but I don't have access.) This meaning is preserved today in a 'wash' on a watercolour painting, and 'whitewash'.
We know that Pepys had the carpenters in the house that day, presumably repairing the woodwork. What Jane was doing was applying a wash, probably a varnish or lacquer, to the bare wood left by the carpenters. She wasn't cleaning, she was painting. This was normally the job of a workman or tradesman, hence the amusement. She was doing a man's job, and doing it very well.
Robin Peters • Link
Mark has a point there. I spent several years as a carpenter restoring Panelling in a large Tudor manor house, which entailed dis-assembling and rebuilding with new oak where it was too rotten. These panels came from various periods dating back to Tudor times. Many of the earliest showed signs of having been painted, with paint residue in the grooves, and then stripped and stained. I was told that this was thought to have been common practice and the vogue for dark panelling was a later fashion. The new parts of the restored panels were carefully stained and then polished to match the existing.
Chris Squire UK • Link
I agree that ’chargeable' = costly here.
‘Neighbourhood . . II. Abstract uses.
6. a. Friendly relations between neighbours; neighbourly feeling or conduct. Now rare.
. . 1611 W. Vaughan Spirit of Detraction 81 Then farewell kinde neighbour-hood, farewell good fellowship.
1650 Bp. J. Taylor Rule of Holy Living i. §1. 8 Works of nature, recreation, charitie, friendlinesse and neighbourhood.
1708 Swift Sentiments Church of Eng.-man ii, in Misc. (1711) 149 All the Laws of Charity, Neighbourhood, Allyance and Hospitality . . ‘
Terry Foreman • Link
CHARGEABLE = Costly (L&M Large Glossary)
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
"The Duke of Gloucester ill."
Pepys must have heard that Henry, Duke of Gloucester's doctors were expecting him to recover from the smallpox.
Recent Charles II has been exploring the possibility that Henry might marry the Prince of Condé's niece. (Anyone know who that was? Google tells me about Conde's daughter, not his niece.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henr…
Another Wikipedia disagrees: Charles II planned to betroth Henry to Princess Wilhelmine Ernestine of Denmark to reinforce the English-Danish maritime alliance, and King Frederick III of Denmark also agreed to the marriage, but the prince's early death prevented this union.
Henry's death led to the throne eventually being passed to William III and Mary II — the children of Henry's older sister and older brother, respectively, and later to the House of Hanover.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hen…
Of course, both reports may be correct -- young Gloucester was a pawn in the diplomatic marriage market, and you can never have too many choices -- the main diplomatic consideration being what was better: being closer to Protestant Denmark or being closer to Catholic France?
San Diego Sarah • Link
"The Duke of York did go to-day by break of day to the Downs."
The Princess Mary had taken a liking to the Roman Catholic Henry Jermyn, in 1658. It sparked a feud between her and Charles II who didn’t consider the upstart good enough for his sister (plus it took her off the diplomatic marriage registry):
Mary Stuart, Princess of Orange, in her turn, poured out her wrath to Lady Katharine Stanhope, wife of Herr van Heenvliet, asserting that her brother ’had ruined her fame; that if he were in his kingdom he could not make her satisfaction; that hereafter she would never have anything to do with him, what change soever should be in his or her fortune; that she was no more his subject, nor would be; that she was a free woman, and might marry, or have kindness for whom she pleased, without demanding anybody's leave; that she would not deny she was pleased with Henry ’the little’ Jermyn's love, and that she had a kindness for him.'
FROM: THE TRAVELS OF THE KING – page 374
1658 DECEMBER
Now it’s 2 years later. I am wondering if Henry Jermyn was on the ship bringing Princess Mary of Orange to England.
Luckily, I found my own helpful annotation:
During the Interregnum, Henry Jermyn, nephew of Harry Jermyn, Earl of St. Albans, obtained a post in the household of James, Duke of York. Despite strong disapproval by Charles II, he became James' Master of the Horse at the Restoration, and rode in the 1661 Coronation.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
I have a feeling Henry suggested to James that being the first to welcome his sister home was a good idea. And, of course, Jermyn would be beaming over James’ shoulder.
SPOILER: There is a rumor that they married on her deathbed – but it’s only a rumor.
http://anthonyadolph.co.uk/harry-…
I’m glad Mary had a little fun. She was so good to the Stuart brothers during their exiles, and the Dutch really didn’t like her. Her's wasn't an easy life.
Stephane Chenard • Link
Meanwhile, speaking of princess Mary, Capt. Teddiman reports that, the Resolution having finally reached Hellevoetsluis to fetch her, My Lord "went on shore (...) to see the town", where he presumably enjoyed the sunset and a few brewskis, then "returned aboard that night".
From Sandwich his journal, at https://archive.org/details/journ…, page 81.
San Diego Sarah • Link
Stephane was kind enough to answer my appeal for an identification of the French Princess whose hand Wikipedia would have us believe Charles II was proposing for the hand of Prince Henry.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Wiki is what it is!
San Diego Sarah • Link
"The Duke of York did go to-day by break of day to the Downs."
The Venetian Ambassador provided more details than Pepys when writing to the Doge:
218. Francesco Giavarina, Venetian Resident in England, to the Doge and Senate.
…
The duke of York went as reported to meet his sister, the princess of Orange. He intended to put to sea, but a fierce gale arose and instead of being taken towards his sister he was driven to the extremities of this kingdom.
Finding it impossible to do as he intended, he landed and returned post to London on Wednesday morning, exceedingly distressed at finding his brother Gloucester dead.
He had heard nothing, as they could not send him the news, not knowing where he was.
The princess, who put to sea, was driven back and obliged to return to Holland, so it is not known when she will embark again and arrive in England.
FROM Citation: BHO Chicago MLA
'Venice: October 1660', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 32, 1659-1661, ed. Allen B Hinds (London, 1931), pp. 199-211. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/… [accessed 27 October 2023].
Oct. 1. 1660 NS / SEPTEMBER 21, 1660 O.S.
Senato, Secreta.
Dispacci, Inghilterra.
Venetian Archives.
San Diego Sarah • Link
The Royal marriage market is in full swing: the Venetian Resident reports:
It seemed the marriage of the Princess Henrietta to the duke of Anjou was well on the way to a conclusion, but since the arrival of the Spanish ambassador it has grown cold and now the king seems to wish her to come to London.
[Henrietta Anne AKA Minette]
[Monsieur Philippe, Duke of Orléans (1640 – 1701), was the younger son of Louis XIII of France and his wife, Anne of Austria. His elder brother was Louis XIV. Styled as the Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his uncle Gaston in Feb. 1660.]
There is talk of negotiations with the emperor, and they say further that Prince Roberto [Rupert] is coming to England as ambassador extraordinary for Caesar with commissions to offer congratulations and to ask for the princess.
[Leopold I (1640-1705), Holy Roman Emperor, 1658-1705.]
Nothing definite can be learned at present as it all passes with great secrecy, but this is certain, if the French want to have her for their own house the Spaniards are equally anxious to see her in the House of Austria, for evident reasons.
It has been mentioned that France was trying to bring about a marriage between this king [CHARLES] and one of the daughters of the late duke of Orleans. This has died away, but another has started that Cardinal Mazzarini is maneuvering to give him one of his nieces, that her portrait has already been sent to England and that the affair is already well advanced.
[Monsieur Gaston, Duke of Orléans (1608 – 2 February 1660), the third son of Henry IV of France and his second wife, Marie de' Medici. Philippe, Duke of Anjou is now the Duke of Orleans, but the Doge and Senate are not used to referring to him by that name.]
Nothing definite is known here and those who could not be unaware of the truth deny such transactions as baseless and indeed they would be very difficult and hard to digest for many reasons.
We shall know more about it on the arrival of the count of Soesson, selected as ambassador extraordinary by the Most Christian, because he has a niece of his Eminence to wife (fn. 2) and will do everything in his power to have the king of England for a brother in law.
2. Olympe Mancini.
[Eugene Maurice of Savoy, Count of Soissons (1635-1673)
The Most Christian is Louis XIV.]
Besides these offers Portugal and Denmark also produce wives for this king, the first of a sister and the other of a daughter. (fn. 3)
[3. Anna Sophia, the eldest daughter of Frederick of Denmark was only 13 years at this date, and the only Protestant.
The other is Catherine of Braganza.]
They say that the Danish ambassador extraordinary has stayed on for this so long after discharging his chief business. Out of so many offers his Majesty should select one, but time alone will show which it will be.
The link is as in the previous annotation