Tuesday 12 November 1661
At the office all the morning. Dined at home alone. So abroad with Sir W. Pen. My wife and I to “Bartholomew Fayre,” with puppets which I had seen once before, and the play without puppets often, but though I love the play as much as ever I did, yet I do not like the puppets at all, but think it to be a lessening to it. Thence to the Greyhound in Fleet Street, and there drank some raspberry sack and eat some sasages, and so home very merry.
This day Holmes come to town; and we do expect hourly to hear what usage he hath from the Duke and the King about this late business of letting the Swedish Embassador go by him without striking his flag.1
24 Annotations
First Reading
vicente • Link
"striking his flag:"
modern meaning:I." In international law, striking the colors indicates surrender.".
http://www.history.navy.mil/trivi…
more trivia from tarpaulins inheritors:
dirk • Link
"striking the flag"
This has nothing to do with surrender, it's all about the "right of salute": the visitor strikes the flag for the host. This was by no means an international rule at the time, but Britain had been enforcing it for some time in its territorial waters. (In May 1652 the refusal of the Dutch admiral Tromp to strike his flag resulted in a naval battle between the Dutch and the British ships of admiral Blake! This led to the first Anglo-Dutch war. Only with the Peace of Westminster in 1654 would the Dutch eventually comply with this British request.)
A. De Araujo • Link
"first Anglo-Dutch war"
as an unintended consequence it lead to the defeat of the Dutch in the northeast of Brazil; the jews,allied with the Dutch fled to Aruba, New Amsterdan and Rhode Island(Touro Synagogue)
dirk • Link
sa(u)sages
"The Gentlewoman's Companion: or, A Guide to the Female Sex" (1675), in the chapter "A Bill of Fare of Suitable Meat for every Month in the Year", suggests the following menu choices (containing both *marrow-bones* and *sausages*) for the month of December - well November is close enough I think!
1. Stew'd broth of Mutton and Marrow-bones.
2. Lambs-head and White-broth.
3. A Chine of Beef roasted.
4. Mince-Pyes.
5. A roast Turky stuck with Cloves.
6. Two Capons, one larded.
Second Course.
1. A young Lamb or Kid.
2. Two brace of Partridg.
3. Ballonia Sausages, Anchovees, Mushrooms, Caviare, and pickled Oysters, in a Dish together.
4. A Quince-Pye.
5. Half a dozen of Woodcocks.
http://chaucer.library.emory.edu/…
(yes, this is a single link)
vicente • Link
great find
Pedro. • Link
the Swedish Embassador
This chap, on his entrance to London, caused the fray between the French and the Spanish on 30th of September.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Holmes is imprisoned for two months. "A minor incident with the Swedish Ambassador plus a taste for flamboyant dress earned him the disfavour in the diaries of Pepys who had a ‘natural fear of being challanged’ by Holmes."
From David's annotation..Holmes family page with portrait of Sir Robert Holmes:
http://www.a-court.fsnet.co.uk/d2…
vicente • Link
Man of superior Position requires Obeyance even if he is an AH [another Human] "This has nothing to do with surrender, it's all about the "right of salute": the visitor strikes the flag for the host.”
No it’s not just about the right of salute, it is about giving of submission to the Alpha being, ‘sumtimes’ called etiquette or manners.
Might is right, is the basis of a nod of a noodle to out right supplicating [ prostration ]spread eagled in the mud. As noted in note 1 [one] Kapitan lost his job and 2 months in the nick, and right old chewing out.{bin there done that, did not get the nick, just a posting to the worse outpost[ala beau geste?] in the former British Middle East command. i.e a failure to move right hand, palm outwards,fingers straight,elbow in line with shoulder, to ones Cap in a timely manner to a Gentleman in Blazer of Heton] for letting the man not giving his dues.
Failing to Respect ones Superiors[betters] in the past has led to wars, beatings,deaths et al..
remember the Levellers and comrades.
dirk • Link
"right of salute"
The British were very obstinate on this: they insisted on never striking their flag, not even in a foreign port. They even expected the others to strike theirs in such a case. To them the flag of the UK was absolutely superior to any other, even when on foreign soil on friendly terms. Excessive national pride? Probably, but as some would argue, it's what made Britain great. Others of course would call this pathological obstinacy (-:
By the way, this "striking the flag" as a required salute is not done any more nowadays: although "saluting" the other party is still customary among warships and when entering another nation's ports.
vicente • Link
"The British were very obstinate on this" yep its their jute blood.
Australian Susan • Link
"Raspberry sack"
This sounds rather nasty. Sherrylike wine with raspberry juice? Or like raspberry vinegar?
I wonder why he doesn't like the puppet play in BF? I have only ever read the play, not seen it performed, but the puppet show is an integral part of the play it seems to me. So why does Sam think it is better without it? Makes the play too long? (it is long).
Glyn • Link
It's simply restating a scientific fact. If 2 + 2 = 4 in England, then 2 + 2 = 4 in France; if a Frenchman is a foreigner in England, then he is also a foreigner in France. Obviously. The French understand this, but pretend not to just to annoy.
Grahamt • Link
Sasages vs sausages:
This is a good clue to how pronunciation has changed since Pepys' day.
By the way, Ballonia Sausages - in the menu above - later became Boloney sausages (a very cheap sausage from Bologna in Italy) that even later came to mean obfuscating nonsense, as in "it's a load of boloney"
language hat • Link
"This is a good clue to how pronunciation has changed since Pepys' day.”
Not really; it’s just an indication of how unstable spelling was back then. The word was probably pronounced more or less the same way then as now, but check out the OED’s list of spellings (numbers indicate centuries):
5 sawsyge, 6 sawsege, -cedge, sausige, saucege, saussege, 6-7 sausedge, 7 sausidge, sausege, sauceidge, sawcege, -sidge, -sadge, -sedge, saussage, saucige, sossage, 7-8 sawsage, saucidge, (7, 9 vulgar sassage, 9 vulgar sossige), 6- sausage;
Grahamt • Link
sasages vs sausages (pt 2)
No doubt Language Hat is correct:
but the diary was written in shorthand, not spelled out. maybe Wheatley, the Victorian transcriber, put his own spin on it. Can someone with the Latham and Matthews say how they transcribed it? I was just assuming this was another example of "the Great Vowel Shift" and it had been transcribed phonetically. Who can say categorically that "au" was pronounced "o" and not "a" in the 17th century? (Note that in the south-west of England, it is pronounced sass-edge)
Mary • Link
L&M reads "sasages"
The whole question of the monophthongisation of Middle English 'au' is very complicated (see Dobson: English Pronunciation 1500-1700 Vol 2, pp.783 onwards). Contemporary grammarians differed amongst themselves in their interpretation of the resulting vowel-sound. Best general assumption (i.e. when not taking place within special consonantal circumstances) is a very back-pronounced, open 'a' sound ..... so open that a few grammarians describe it as 'o'. Rhyme evidence would be useful, but none of the poets seems to have felt the need to rhyme 'sausage' with anything!
Second Reading
Sasha Clarkson • Link
The Swedish Ambassador was a distant relative of the astronomer Tycho Brahe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahe
Re "boloney": in Austrian German, one may dismiss something trivial as "es ist mir Wurst". (It's sausage to me!)
Terry Foreman • Link
"My wife and I to “Bartholomew Fayre,” with puppets which I had seen once before"
See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Terry Foreman • Link
"This day Holmes come to town; and we do expect hourly to hear what usage he hath from the Duke and the King about this late business of letting the Swedish Embassador go by him without striking his flag."
L&M: Sailing for Sweden, the ambassador (Nils Nilsson Brahe) had refused to lower his flag on meeting the Royal Charles in the mouth of the Thames. Capt. Robert Holmes had fired three shots to make the Swedes heave to, but they had escaped under cover of night while Holmes was waiting for confirmation of the ambassador's story that he had acted with Charles the II's express permission. Holmes was examined by the Council on the 27th of November, deprived of his command and committed to the Tower. He was pardoned and released a few days later. See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
Lord High Admiral James is in Portsmouth today, organizing the Navy. I posted the memo about it incorrectly at
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Holmes had insisted upon the Swede’s lowering his flag, and had even fired a shot to enforce the observance of the usual tribute of respect, but the ambassador sent his secretary and another gentleman on board the English frigate, to assure the captain, upon the word and honour of an ambassador, that the king, by a verbal order, had given him leave and a dispensation in that particular, and upon this false representation he was allowed to proceed on his voyage without further question."
That Holmes was captain of a frigate was significant. They were not warships.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
San Diego Sarah • Link
From Sandwich's log, at anchor in Tangier Bay:
November 12, Tuesday.
The Newcastle came from Arzila, with Mr. Rolt and the Hawk ketch.
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
@@@
The Newcastle
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
Arzila
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Mr. [EDWARD?] Rolt
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
The Hawk ketch, its third mention
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
San Diego Sarah • Link
News from Algiers reaches Florence before it gets to Tangier, OR Sandwich leaves it up to Vice Adm. Lawson to too his own horn in his own logs:
Domenico Vico, Venetian Resident at Florence, to the Doge and Senate.
The English fleet off Algiers under Admiral Lauson has in a few weeks taken about twenty of their ships and continues to chase others.
It has so harassed them that the Algerians sent deputies to treat for peace or a truce. But Lauson told them that he could not listen to them as he had definite orders for peace or war.
On hearing this the citizens rose in revolt and went so far as to assassinate a certain leading official of Algiers, who it may be, opposed the proposals for peace.
Florence, the 12th November, 1661.
[Italian.]
FROM
Nov. 12. N.S. – Nov. 22 O.S.
Senato, Secreta.
Dispacci, Firenze.
Venetian Archives.
'Venice: November 1661', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 33, 1661-1664, ed. Allen B Hinds (London, 1932), British History Online
https://www.british-history.ac.uk…
San Diego Sarah • Link
And from the same archives we have this report about Holmes' defence of England's honor:
Nov. 18. N.S.
Senato, Secreta.
Dispacci, Inghilterra.
Venetian Archives.
87. Francesco Giavarina, Venetian Resident in England, to the Doge and Senate.
The Court is still without news of importance, but the new session of parliament in 12 days should supply material of more consequence. For the rest the cold weather, which dries up everything, and leaves nothing but the limp falling foliage.
There is no news of the fleet but a merchantman arrived recently from Smyrna reports having seen it at the Strait of Gibraltar cruising about the Barbary coasts in search of pirate craft.
On the way this ship fell in with pirates and was engaged by 3 vessels, but she defended herself boldly for 3 hours and was able easily to avoid search and escape, otherwise, in view of the inequality of forces, she might have remained a prey to the infidels.
The day before yesterday, late, letters reached the king from his bride, Braganza and their mother, but what they bring besides compliments cannot be known. They cannot contain much beyond a repetition of the promises so often made, which they would like to see fulfilled.
They are constantly talking of the sailing of the ships to fetch the bride and of the earl of Peterborough going to Tangier. The delays are due to nothing but lack of money and it is hoped that at the opening of parliament there will be provision in abundance. Without it the king can do nothing in the matter of money.
As there can no longer be any doubt, by all appearances, about the coming of the bride, although the precise moment is not known, the gentlemen of the Court and private persons are preparing rich liveries and sumptuous garments to be displayed at the entry of the bride and at the celebration of the nuptials, and the foreign ministers will have to do the like as a sign of respect.
I must ask the Senate to give me instructions what to do and also to supply the means, as I am too reduced to do anything after over 6 years of service at this Court, which is at present the most expensive owing to the excessive price of everything and the endless obligations, particularly many extraordinary expenses after the king's return, most of which fell on my private purse.
San Diego Sarah • Link
CONCLUSION -- and the part about Robert Holmes:
Whereas the affair of the French and Spanish ambassadors occurred at the arrival of the ambassador extraordinary of Sweden, so another remarkable unseemly event has occured at his departure.
He was brought to England by 3 Swedish ships, with which he entered the Thames. He himself came in a great and powerful warship of over 70 bronze pieces. During the few days he stayed in London he kept the ships at Gravesend.
After having performed his functions and taken leave of the king he went to embark to return to Sweden. At the mouth of the river it met with the guard, a great English ship called the Charles.
Seeing the Swede depart without lowering its flag this fired a gun without ball as a signal of what they ought to do. As no notice was taken the English fired another with ball which shaved the principal Swedish ship without doing it any harm. But as even this did not bring the Swede to reason a third was aimed at the sails, which did not miss. The English captain then sent on board the ambassador to inform him that he must lower his flag, that being the general practice in the house of others. The Swede replied that he had no such order from the king, without specifying whether it was the king of England or Sweden.
In this ambiguity the captain sent an express to Court to report the incident and receive instructions.
His Majesty approved of all his proceedings, directing him to continue them, and ordering other ships of war to go to his assistance. But before these instructions could reach him fresh advices arrived here from him reporting the departure of the Swede in the darkness of the night, with a favourable wind, without his being aware of it.
The king has strongly resented the action, expressing his desire for satisfaction for the ambassador's indiscretion and highly incensed against the English commander who, according to the laws of the nation, may have to pay with his head the penalty for his lack of vigilance, for as he was diligent and praiseworthy at the beginning he should have been more exact and punctual afterwards. (fn. 8)
FOOTNOTE 8: An account of the affair is given in the Kingdom's Intelligencer Nov. 25–Dec. 2, 1661. Capt. Robert Holmes was in command of the Royal Charles. He was summoned before the Council and committed to the Tower on 17–27 Nov. Ibid. His command was taken over by Capt. Robt. Clark. Cal. S.P. Dom. 1661–2, page 149. See Pepys: Diary, Vol. ii., page 135.
In obedience to the instructions of the 22nd October I am circulating about the Court with suitable remarks what your Excellencies send me in the matter of the English ambassador at Constantinople, and I will not fail to acquaint his Majesty with it as well.
London, the 18th November, 1661. N.S.
[Italian.]
(I suspect Sir Robert quietly said, "On your way before I have to arrest you!"