Saturday 28 September 1661
At the office in the morning, dined at home, and then Sir W. Pen and his daughter and I and my wife to the Theatre, and there saw “Father’s own Son,” a very good play, and the first time I ever saw it, and so at night to my house, and there sat and talked and drank and merrily broke up, and to bed.
14 Annotations
First Reading
Robert Gertz • Link
Interesting title... "Father's own Son" Sounds more like something you'd come across in the Victorian era.
Sam's keeping his vow to Beth up admirably I see.
Bradford • Link
Or akin to that country-western classic, "I'm My Own Grand-Paw."
In fact this is the subtitle of a comedy by---you'll never guess who:
"Monsieur Thomas, or Father's Own Son," by John Fletcher, c. 1610-1616, or 1619, depending on which Website you believe. What did Sam make of this speech, cited by an elderly Bartlett's Quotations?:
O woman, perfect woman! what distraction
Was meant to mankind when thou wast made a devil!
---Monsieur Thomas. Act iii. Sc. 1.
Maybe the perspicacious can link us to a plot summary.
RexLeo • Link
"..and then Sir W. Pen and his daughter and I and my wife to the Theatre,.."
I wonder how much it cost at that time to go to the Theatre which Sam seems to be doing every day. I don't think at current prices a typical "salary man" can indulge in this passion as often.
Paul Chapin • Link
how much it cost to go to the Theatre
From what I've read and heard, I have the impression that going to the Theatre then was pretty much like going to the movies today. Anyone and everyone could and did.
Nix • Link
"Monsieur Thomas can hardly be called a good play, though it has good scenes. The dilemma of the travelled young gentleman, who is obliged, at the same time, to convince his father that he is a rake and his mistress that he is a reformed character, has comic possibilities which are not quite effectively worked out."
The Cambridge History of English and American Literature (1907-21), Volume VI.
http://www.bartleby.com/216/0514.…
Xjy • Link
Going to the movies...
"I have the impression that going to the Theatre then was pretty much like going to the movies today. Anyone and everyone could and did."
All right for some :-) Films aren't cheap. If they were, no-one would bother with videos.
Mind you, I expect the lure of live entertainment was much greater then than today -- what else was there but the church :-(
daniel • Link
" -- what else was there but the church :-(“
-which could be considered also a form of live enteretainment for Sam and his fellow parishioners.
Glyn • Link
Good question. In Pepys' defence, he always seems to go to the cheaper seats.
A basic set meal in a tavern (meat and broth and a beer) cost 3 pennies. I'm assuming this would be about the same.
Wim van der Meij • Link
'Father's own Son'.
Warrington has the following on this play: "The only mention of this play occurs in an enumeration of plays belonging to Will. Beeston, as governor of the Cockpit, in Drury Lane. This list is dated 10th August 1639. - See Collier's 'Annals of the Stage', ii.92"
David Ross McIrvine • Link
FATHER'S OWN SON
You can download the complete text of "Father's Own Son"--the Beaumont & Fletcher play Sam sees--under the other title MONSIEUR THOMAS--in various formats
here:
http://ota.ahds.ac.uk/texts/1021.…
By the way, Cyrus Hoy (whom I used to refer to as "Cyrus the Great"), the editor of Beaumont and Fletcher's plays, was one of my Renaissance Drama professors, so I like that Sam saw so much of Fletcher and appreciated it so much.
gary m. dobbs • Link
Just had to write a quickie to say what a great concept this is. Makes learning so easy and I've used this page to eductate my eleven year old son on this period. Because it works like an everyday blog he has become fascinated and just asked me to purchase some books found mentioned on the site.
Thank you so very much
Second Reading
Sasha Clarkson • Link
Sir William has obviously forgiven Sam for his role in the recent practical joke.
Of course Batten, the instigator and hence the real "tankard prankard*", is away at the moment.
* Yes - I know the word doesn't exist, but it should! :)
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
From Sandwich's log, at Oeiras near Lisbon
September 28, Saturday
I spoke with the master of an English ship that came from Ribadeo that said the Spanish Plate fleet consisting of 42 sail whereof 16 were men of war, all very rich, arrived at the Groyne the 7th of September.
The fleet made the island of St Mary's only in their passage and thereabouts met with the advisors that turned them to the Groyne for jealousy of the English fleet.
The said master says that there is no army against the Portuguese in Galacia, but that the army that was against them is most dead, 6000 men died.
The Vice-King suspected to have been treacherous therein by poison is sent away a prisoner to Madrid.
Copied from
The Journal of Edward Mountagu
First Earl of Sandwich
Admiral and General-at-Sea 1659 - 1665
Edited by RC Anderson
Printed for the Navy Records Society
MDCCCCXXIX
Section III - Mediterranean 1661/62
@@@
Ribadeo - Located in the autonomous community of Galicia, in northern Spain, Ribadeo is a picturesque town that charms with its blend of maritime heritage, stunning landscapes, and seafood cuisine
It is located on the coastal part of the Camino del Norte. The town’s port was a bustling hub for trade, and the sea’s influence is evident everywhere.
The old town is made up of narrow cobbled streets, traditional houses, and views of the estuary that supported the community for generations
Seafood plays a starring role. From fresh oysters to savoury empanadas filled with tuna or shellfish, the culinary offerings are a delight. Pairing them with a glass of Albariño, a local white wine, is a gastronomic experience reflecting rich Galician culinary traditions.
One popular visitor activity is exploring Cathedrals Beach. Known locally as Praia das Catedrais, it is famous for its natural arches and caves, resembling Gothic cathedrals. The majestic rock formations create a surreal landscape best explored at low tide
Ribadeo is also a gateway for those walking the Camino de Santiago
https://caminoways.com/ribadeo-a-…
The Groyne -- what's the difference between a mole and a groyne? And where "the" Groyne was, who knows. Sandwich and the Admiralty knew.
Groynes are examples of hard coastal protection structures which aim to protect the shoreline from coastal erosion. For an article which describes the features, possible effects, and different types of groynes that extend from the shore into the sea see https://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/…
The island of St Mary's - there are several, and none fit as a place for the Spanish to intercept the Plate fleet sailing home from South America. Ideas anyone?
The Vice-King of Spain - Philip II is King until 1665, and his son was an infant. Could this be a reference to Philip's "chancellor"? His Wiki bio is unhelpful, as is the Google librarian
Galacia - Ribadeo is located in the autonomous district of Galicia; does it have a groyne?
San Diego Sarah • Link
According to ENGLAND IN THE MEDITERRANEAN : A STUDY OF THE RISE AND INFLUENCE OF BRITISH POWER WITHIN THE STRAITS -- 1603-1713
By JULIAN S. CORBETT
VOL. II
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON
NEW YORK AND BOMBAY
1904
"By the end of September, 1661, De Ruyter had been told the Plate fleet was safe in Coruna, ..."
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
So that's where the Groyne is probably located.
A timely historical note: La Coruna was the port hub for the 1588 Armada. On 22 September, 1588, 44 ships led by the Duke of Medina Sidonia arrived back at the Spanish Biscayan ports after successfully circumventing Ireland.
Twenty-two additional ships arrived in the next few days.
The crews of the returning ships had suffered greater than 50 percent casualties due to sickness and privation during the circuitous route home around northern Scotland after the Armada departed the North Sea in August.
The Duke was so ill he had to be carried ashore. In the coming days hundreds of survivors died aboard anchored ships, or in the streets of port towns.
When the Duke recovered enough to take stock of the situation, he realized that two-thirds of the Armada’s 20,000 men had perished, and half the ships had been lost since the expedition set out from La Coruna in July.
https://armadainvincible.com/?fbc…