Monday 4 November 1661
In the morning, being very rainy, by coach with Sir W. Pen and my wife to Whitehall, and sent her to Mrs. Hunt’s, and he and I to Mr. Coventry’s about business, and so sent for her again, and all three home again, only I to the Mitre (Mr. Rawlinson’s), where Mr. Pierce, the Purser, had got us a most brave chine of beef, and a dish of marrowbones. Our company my uncle Wight, Captain Lambert, one Captain Davies, and purser Barter, Mr. Rawlinson, and ourselves; and very merry. After dinner I took coach, and called my wife at my brother’s, where I left her, and to the Opera, where we saw “The Bondman,” which of old we both did so doat on, and do still; though to both our thinking not so well acted here (having too great expectations), as formerly at Salisbury-court. But for Betterton he is called by us both the best actor in the world. So home by coach, I lighting by the way at my uncle Wight’s and staid there a little, and so home after my wife, and to bed.
17 Annotations
First Reading
Robert Gertz • Link
Sam's behaving himself I see...Picking Beth up for the show, etc. There's a nice air of conjugal companionship in this entry as well as respect for Beth's opinion (of course she agreeing with him no doubt that helped...)
Anyone else see "Stage Beauty"? I was a little disappointed with the Betterton in it.
vicente • Link
The Bondman
bought a copy of play + refs at
http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive…
"...saw “The Bondman” acted; an excellent play and well done. But above all that ever I saw, Betterton do the Bond man the best...."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive…
"...White-Fryars, where we saw “The Bondman” acted most excellently, and though I have seen it often, yet I am every time more and more pleased with Betterton’s action...."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive…
"....and I and my wife sat in the pit...." 'salisbury court'
http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive…
Mary House • Link
What would you do with a plate of marrowbones? Suck the marrow out of them or maybe first break them to get at the marrow?
john lauer • Link
Marrow-ball soup goes by various (ethnic) names. Very tasty.
Pauline • Link
"What would you do with a plate of marrowbones? "
In these times, we suck the marrow out or twirl it out with the tip of a knife. Best hot, or at least warm.
upper_left_hand_corner • Link
Marrowbones: Osso buco anybody?
Mary • Link
marrowbones.
Long-shanked, slender spoons were made, expressly for extracting the marrow from the bones. They turn up in antique shops with fair regularity.
Second Reading
Louise Hudson • Link
Marrow is usually spread on bread.
john • Link
Beef-marrow consumption ceased for a while due to BSE (mad-cow disease).
Louise Hudson • Link
Not in Sam's day, surely.
Terry Foreman • Link
"But for Betterton he is called by us both the best actor in the world. "
Mrs Pepys had a dog named Betterton in 1664 (Shorthand Letters, p. 22) -- perhaps so-called because of his acting. (L&M note)
Terry Foreman • Link
"by coach with Sir W. Pen and my wife to Whitehall, and sent her to Mrs. Hunt’s, and he and I to Mr. Coventry’s about business, and so sent for her again, and all three home"
L&M: Sc. 'homewards', Mrs Pepys being dropped by Tom's in Salisbury Court on the way.
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
George Palmer, John Love, and other English merchants, to Sandwich
Written from: In Faro
Date: 4 November 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 73, fol(s). 600
Document type: Original
Hearing that "the Turks" are in strength, and infest all parts of the Mediterranean, entreat a convoy for their ships.
FROM:
Carte Calendar Volume 32, June - December 1661
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
Edward Edwards, 2005
Shelfmark: MS. Carte Calendar 32
Extent: 464 pages
https://wayback.archive-it.org/or…
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Faro is a municipality, the southernmost city and capital of the district of the same name, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far…
This map suggests Faro has a sheltered harbor.
https://mapcarta.com/Faro
Ir was normal for the Navy to provide escort ships for fleets of merchantmen.
San Diego Sarah • Link
Also from the Carte Collection:
William Staines to Sandwich
Written from: Tetuan
Date: 4 November 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 73, fol(s). 602-603
Document type: Holograph
When the Admiral had left Tetuan the writer acquainted the Governor with the Admiral's message; and obtained from him a warrant for the free trading here of merchant ships.
Enters, at great length, into the details of his negotiations for satisfactory Articles of Peace.
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William Lever to Sandwich
Written from: Malaga
Date: 4 November 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 73, fol(s). 604
Document type: Holograph
Reports that Vice-Adm. Sir John Lawson left him at Malaga with charge to make provision of various necessary stores for the service of the squadron.
Communicates various advices & passages of news received from England, and from Madrid; amongst them the encounter between the respective retinues of the French and Spanish Ambassadors to the Court of Whitehall, in a struggle for precedence, which he says cost the French 14 lives, and the Spaniard three ...
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Tetuan -- Tétouan, north-central Morocco. The city lies along the Martil River (Wadi Martil), 7 miles (11 km) from the Mediterranean Sea. In the 16th century Tétouan was populated by Moorish Andalusian refugees. Spanish troops captured it in 1860 ... https://www.britannica.com/place/…
Malaga -- https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
Admiral Sir John Lawson - https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
No info on William Staines or William Lever sadly.
MartinVT • Link
“The Bondman,” which of old we both did so doat on, and do still;
"Of old" feels like it was many years ago, but it could not have been, theatres having just reopened in 1660. Sam must be referring to a previous performance he attended at Salisbury Court (which he called Whitefriars) on March 1, 1661 (https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…) together with Mr. Shepley. Perhaps Liz was along that day, but not recorded in the diary? Or, he could have attended the Bondman another time with her, and not mentioned it in the diary.
San Diego Sarah • Link
Pepys doesn't have his ear to the keyhole at Whitehall -- the Lord Steward of the Royal Household, James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde, is today "appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland, 4 Nov. 1661".
He takes over from 3 placeholders, who had been doing their best as the previous Lord Lieutenant had avoided going there.
One of the placeholders was the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Sir Maurice Eustace, and they had been trying to implement Charles II's "royalification" of Ireland
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
The declaration is over 200 pages long, typed. That's how many pages hand written?
They were not doing it well enough by Westminster's standards:
James Butler, Duke of Ormonde, Lord Steward of his Majesty's Household, to Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Sir Maurice Eustace
Written from: Whitehall
Date: 21 October 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 44, fol(s). 87
Document type: Copy
Sir Maurice's letter concerning the recusant lawyers has been read to the Lord Chancellor of England, who was observed to appear somewhat surprised at what was done, in that matter, but will, upon any notice being taken of what hath passed, render all the service he can.
"For God's sake," adds the Duke, "in things of this great importance, especially where you find yourself overbalanced, beware what you do. There is great notice taken of the multiplicity of letters written by you to various persons here who make no scruple so to expose them to the view of others, as though they meant ... to value themselves upon their correspondence with you."
Which brings us to
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde, Lord Steward of his Majesty's Household, to the Lords Justices
Written from: Whitehall
Date: 5 November 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 49, fol(s). 79
Document type: Copy
Yesterday, in Council, his Majesty was pleased to declare his pleasure that the writer should repair into Ireland to serve him as Lord Lieutenant.
Besides the satisfaction of joining with their Lordships in the advancement of his Majesty's service he will be glad to receive from them all advices they shall deem conducive thereto.
All gleaned from
Carte Calendar Volume 32, June - December 1661
For more information on the Carte manuscripts and calendar, see the Carte Calendar Project homepage.
Shelfmark: MS. Carte Calendar 32 Extent: 464 pages
https://wayback.archive-it.org/or…
Good luck, Your Grace.
Michaela • Link
I’m really enjoying The Bookshop, the Draper and the Candlestick maker on BBC Radio 4 (Sounds) which tells the history of the High Street from medieval times onwards. The first episode covers Sam’s period, and it sounded so familiar. It also reminded me that women were precluded from going out much except to other people’s houses because there were no public toilets for them, and of course because they would be looked askance at for not being accompanied.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play…