A. De Araujo on 19 Dec 2004  •  Link

"being ill matched and of two colours"
Sam is getting to be a real control freak; telling a french girl how to dress; the nerve!!!

Diana Bonebrake on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

Gee. At least Sam admitted to calling his wife a whore in his diary...

vicenzo on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

Today we get a better picture of the upward mobile couple of the day.

Todd Bernhardt on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

re: "and so home."

To a chilly reception, no doubt! But, as Diana says, at least he admits his mistake to himself, showing he knows he acted the fool ... it's not just contrition for appearance's sake.

Bradford on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

Temper, temper! But apparently the gap between misbehaving and recognizing it as such is not too long. In other situations he holds his tongue; will we see him doing so, eventually, in regards to Elizabeth?

Bullus Hutton on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

"I took occasion to fall out with my wife very highly .. and to very high words, so that, like a passionate fool, I did call her whore, for which I was afterwards sorry"
Hey, this is terrific! It's only in a loveless relationship that there isn't the occasional tempest. Elizabeth must have been a very spunky person to wind the normally decorous Sam up to the point where he insults her so; I can hear her French accent right now regaling him for presuming to criticize her, I bet the cab driver was saying "Strewth! Upper class kids these days are a pain in the *rse, tweren't that in my day!"

Australian Susan on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

"ribbands being ill-matched"
Why on earth did this get Sam so riled? What exactly is meant by a "ribband" in this context? Some kind of lacing of her bodice? Did ladies of negotiable affection wear gaudy "ribbands"? Is that what has upset Sam? Or is his tailor's son's eye put out by mismatched trimmings? Or does he think his wife should be more tidily dressed as befits his station?

Glyn on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

"to the office, and there sat late, and so home."

Working late at the office is preferable to going home to face Elizabeth. If I'm any judge of character, he'll be up early for work tomorrow just to get out of the house!

J A Gioia on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

like a passionate fool, I did call her whore

i think we see here the conflict of the former puritan college boy now making his rise in an increasingly licentious society. sam is mostly okay with the outer aspects: theater-going, lavish drinking and eating, gift-giving, adorning himself (all part of the job). he looks wonderingly at liturigcal changes, lets his observances of sunday and daily prayers slip a bit, but is clearly uneasy about the effect this is all having on his home. (remember his dream about liz getting thrown from the horse.) he wants his wife to look good, he *needs* his wife to look good (cf: lady sandwich's admonition about liz's outfitting a couple weeks back), but somewhere - not so deep down - is a voice calling 'SHAME!'.

Ruben on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

Elizabeth:
was born in Devon. Her father was French but the mother not. I feel sure that her first language was English lernt from mother. She spoke English with the children in the street and at home with her brother. Her father spoke a broken English, probably a Frenglish dialect.
But Elizabeth? Why would she speak English with an accent? To me it looks like she spoke French with an accent!

Grahamt on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

I agree with Ruben:
Elizabeth was born to an Anglo-Irish mother in Devon, so if we were to speculate on her accent, then an Oirish/west-country burr mix might be likely, but it certainly wouldn't be French. I speak from experience; my daughter, like Elizabeth, was born in England of one French, one English parent and speaks English without the slightest trace of a French accent, and French with just a slight English accent.

David A. Smith on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

"like a passionate fool, I did call her whore"
I think the explanation for his choice of words is simpler -- he was very angry and threw a hurtful word, the way we might use the C or MF or CS words, intended as lashes and not as literal descriptions.

Glyn on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

Yes, but WHY was he angry? Elizabeth "dresses herself fine" for two important occasions where she had to look her best - a christening with old friends, and to meet the painter - why is this so irritating to him?

Mary on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

There's something wrong with them thar ribbons...

At least, in Sam's eyes. He makes two points about them: they are 'ill matched' and 'of two colours'. 'Ill matched' alone might simply indicate carelessness or lack of taste, but the emphasis on the two colours seems to imply that there is something tarty and offensive about them. Too gaudy? Too frivolous? (I'm reminded of Shakespeare's "parti-coloured fool"). Australian Susan's query about the dress of 'light ladies' leads in a tempting direction but I've been unable to chase down any corroborating reference to the dress of 17th century prostitutes.

BradW on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

There's something wrong with them thar ribbons...

Let’s keep in mind that Eliz. was dressed this day to sit for her portait.

A detail of clothing which might have passed inspection for church, might send the wrong signal if recorded forever in oils. Every detail of portraits of that era were supposed to be significant, symbolizing family history, accomplishments, political alignments, etc.

Perhaps she was trying to show the interweaving of her French and British lineages? And he thought that the wrong signal to be seen in a portrait of the wife of a King’s Official?

Pedro. on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

Elizabeth: "Oirish/west-country burr mix might be likely."

This begs the question of how different her accent would be to that of Sam, he been educated in London and Cambridge. The beginnings of "Received Pronunciation" some say can be traced back before Sam's time.

Puttenham, in The Arte of English Poesy (1589), believes the best English to be “the usual speech of the Court, and that of London and the shires lying about London within sixty miles and not much above”.

“I have not been guided by our vulgar pronunciation, but by that of London and our Universities, where the language is purely spoken.” (Vocal Organ, 1665)
http://www.litnotes.co.uk/rphist.…

Pedro. on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

This day in the Lords, a message from the King concerning "a Plot in Agitation."

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

Glyn on 20 Dec 2004  •  Link

Possibly connected to the arrests reported by Pepys on 1 December

vicenzo on 21 Dec 2004  •  Link

re: house of L: did comtemplate to expel the army rifaff, in spite of the fact that it was soldiers that helped to restore the crown to ALL ITS GLORY.
Humans??? ref above

Bradford on 21 Dec 2004  •  Link

Back at
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
we have seen one Mr. Lucy and a Mrs. Carrick calling each other groom and bride and pulling at one another's ribbons in a deal of byplay both Sam and Elizabeth found silly; so perhaps ribbons signify more than we realize. If anyone digs up such information, there's no section about them in the Fashion background yet, where it might prove useful.

dirk on 21 Dec 2004  •  Link

Ribbons

Both men's and women's costume were commonly fit with decorative ribbons - a practice that would grow to preposterous proportions in the years to come. Possibly using ribbons of more than one colour on the same dress was judged ridiculous or vulgar?

One pic of an unknown English lady at court:
http://womenshistory.about.com/li…
(Note the ribbons!)

More contemporary pics of two of Charles II's mistresses:

http://www.costumes.org/history/1…
(Duchess of Portsmouth)

http://www.costumes.org/history/1…
(Barbara Villiers)

Glyn on 21 Dec 2004  •  Link

Concerning Dirk's entry above, this is a good example of Pepys's news-gathering abilities, which is part of his job. His contacts informed him of the arrests almost 3 weeks before the government announcement, and presumably he has by now informed Mongagu.

language hat on 21 Dec 2004  •  Link

"Why on earth did this get Sam so riled?"

We have no way of figuring this out, and wouldn't even if we were living in 1661 and Sam told us the anecdote over ale at the Dolphin. Married couples can quarrel over anything or nothing if there's tension in the air. I speak from experience.

"You know, dear, those ribbons aren't quite matched."
"Yes they are! And who are you to talk about my ribbons anyway? Just look at your hat!"
"My hat is fine, and I don't like your tone of voice..."
And away we go!

vicenzo on 21 Dec 2004  •  Link

Ribbons be for men on their chest to tell the world how great they be.
Ribbons be for girls to be have around the thigh for the explorer to find.
Ribbons be for the maypole for the girls to hang on to for the ride.
Ribbons be for the winning horse.
Ribbons be for the bonnet to show ones support.
Ribbons be for adorning the package for ones present.
Ribbons are also to be torn to shreds if they be the wrong ones.

Glyn on 17 Feb 2005  •  Link

I stand with Bullus on this one regarding her accent. She may have been born in Devon, England but how long did she stay there? We know that she was taught at a convent school in Paris and I'm sure none of the nuns would have a backward and primitive language such as English.

And I'm going to use GrahamT's argument against him: he says that his own bilingual daughter speaks with the slight accent of her father's (i.e. Graham's) language. If that was also true of Elizabeth then her accent would have been French (however slight).

Philip on 5 May 2005  •  Link

being ill matched and of two colours

Just over a decade earlier the Levellers used coloured ribbons to indicate political allegiance. It is said that they wore sea-green one to indicate their allegiance. According to John Lingard in his "History of England", at the funeral of Robert Lockyer (usually spelt Lockier) a New Model Army soldier hanged for mutiny in 1649, "some thousands of men and women followed with black and green ribbons on their heads and breasts". So it is possible that different colour combinations of ribbons could have indicated different things. It is also possible that Sam a man about town knew something about the significance of that combination before the argument started which Beth did not. But from what he writes, he had told her by the end of it!

Patricia on 23 Jul 2006  •  Link

I gasped aloud when I read this entry: that's how real and immediate these people have become to me, and I thought, "this is private, I shouldn't be reading this."

Aqua on 23 Jul 2006  •  Link

Taught in Convent School, Papa could not abide the Convent, she stayed only a few weeks, schooling appears to be at the court.

pat Stewart Cavalier on 10 Sep 2012  •  Link

The accent you have depends on the country you live in not on the mother or the father. My daughters are half French and lived in France ; they speak English and French with a French accent. My grandsons are half French and half German and live in Germany ; they speak French and German with a German accent. Same thing for all my friends with half and half children.

Bill on 25 Oct 2014  •  Link

" fall out with my wife very highly about her ribbands"

RIBBAND, or Ribbon, a narrow sort of silk, chiefly used for head ornaments, badges of chivalry, &c.
---The Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, 1766

john on 20 Dec 2014  •  Link

Methinks this is a tempest that erupted from being made to wait Tuesday at the Privy Seal's pleasure. That "vexed" him then and probably stayed with him, resulting in displaced aggession.

San Diego Sarah on 2 Nov 2024  •  Link

Lots of action in the Commons today:

Conference; Conspiracy.
Mr. Solicitor General reports from the Conference had with the Lords, arising upon the Message sent from his Majesty, That the Lord Chancellor declared, that the same did concern Things of a high and dangerous Nature: And that there had been a real Design, which had been forming ever since March last, to disturb the Union and Peace of the Kingdom: And named several of the Parties engaged; with the Manner and Contrivance of their traiterous Design; and the Progress they had, from time to time, made therein: And that, although their Designs were at present disordered, as to the Effecting of them in this Town (to which end they had made a general Invitation of disbanded Officers and Soldiers, and other disaffected Persons, to resort hither about the 11th of this Month); yet still they were practising to put the same in Execution in the Country: And that the Lords, to provide a Remedy against these Evils, had appointed a Committee of Twelve of their House; and did propose it to this House, to appoint an answerable Number of their Members, to be joined with the Lords; who might, during the Recess, examine the said traiterous Designs: And to report it to the House, with such Expedients as they shall find necessary, for preventing and suppressing thereof, and securing the Peace of this Kingdom, in the Juncture of Affairs: And that they were to meet at the Lodgings assigned to my Lord Chancellor, in Whitehall; and to adjourn from Time to Time, and Place to Place, as they find convenient.

Committee on Conspiracy.
Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Lords, to appoint a Committee of 24 Members of their House, to be joined to the Committee appointed by the Lords, as aforesaid.

And the Question being put, That this Committee should be named according to the usual Course;

The House was divided: And
The Noes went out.
Mr. Seymour, Tellers for the Noes: 92.
Sir Rich. Temple, With the Noes,
Lord St.John, Tellers for the Yeas: 142.
Lord Angier, With the Yeas,
So it was resolved in the Affirmative, That a Committee be appointed, according to the usual Course.

And a Committee was accordingly appointed, of the Persons hereafter named;
Mr. Comptroller,
Mr. Vice Chamberlain,
Mr. Solicitor General,
Mr. Waller,
Lord Bruce,
Lord Fanshaw,
Sir Richard Onslow,
Serjeant Charleton,
Sir Robert Atkins,
Mr. George Mountague,
Sir John Duncombe,
Sir George Ryve,
Sir Robert Howard,
Sir John Goodrick,
Lord Falkland,
Mr. Clifford,
Mr. Lowther,
Sir Thomas Meres,
Sir Allen Apsley,
Lord Herbert,
Sir John Brampston,
Mr. Vaughan,
Sir Baynham Throgmorton,
and Sir Thomas Littleton.

San Diego Sarah on 2 Nov 2024  •  Link

CONCLUSION:

Call of the House.
Resolved, That this House be Called on Thursday, next after Twelfth Day: And that every Member then absent, whose Excuse shall not be allowed by this House, shall pay 5/.s for his Default.

Committee on Conspiracy.
Resolved, That the Committee now appointed to join with the Committee named by the Lords, do make Report of their Proceedings on Friday, next after Twelfth Day.

Prisoner in the Tower, dead.
Sir John Robinson, Lt. of the Tower, acquainted this House, that Isaac Pennington, one of the Regicides who were Prisoners in the Tower, is dead.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, at Eight of the Clock.
https://www.british-history.ac.uk…

San Diego Sarah on 2 Nov 2024  •  Link

Ignore the Duchess of Portsmouth -- she doesn't set foot on England's green and pleasant land until after the Diary.

San Diego Sarah on 2 Nov 2024  •  Link

Highlights from the Lords:

Message from the King, concerning a Plot in Agitation:
The Lord Chancellor acquainted the House, "That he had a Message to deliver from the King; which was, To let them know, that, besides the Apprehensions and Fears that are generally Abroad, His Majesty hath received Letters from several Parts of the Kingdom, and also by intercepted Letters it does appear, that divers discontented Persons are endeavouring to raise new Troubles, to the Disturbance of the Peace of the Kingdom, as in many Particulars was instanced: Which Matter being of so great Consequence, His Majesty's Desire is, That the House of Commons may be made acquainted with it, that so His Majesty may receive the Advice and Counsel of both Houses of Parliament, what is fit to be done herein; and to think of some proper Remedy to secure the Peace of the Kingdom."

Hereupon this House ORDERED, To communicate this Business presently to the House of Commons, by a Conference; and nominated these Lords following, to meet with a proportionable Number of the House of Commons, to consider of this Message of His Majesty's now delivered by the Lord Chancellor; and what proper Remedies are fit in this Conjuncture of Time to offer to the Houses, for securing the Peace of the Kingdom, with most Ease to the People:

Committee to meet with one of H. C. about it.
HRH the Duke of York
Dux Cumberland
L. Chancellor
L. Treasurer
L. Privy Seal
Dux Albemarle
L. Steward
Epus. London
Epus. Exon
Ds. Lucas
Ds. Bellasis
Ds. Berkeley de Strat.
Ds. Ashley
Power to the Committee to meet during the Recess, &c.
ORDERED, That this Committee, appointed to join with a proportionable Number of the House of Commons (at this Time, and upon this Occasion, being in the Time of the Adjournment of both Houses of Parliament), have Power to meet on Monday next, being 23 December Instant, in the Forenoon, the First Time at the Lord Chancellor's Lodgings in Whitehall, and afterwards at any other Time and Place as the Committee shall think fit; and to dispense with all usual Forms, Ceremonies, and other Things, as they shall find it necessary for the carrying on the Public Service.

Message from the King, about adjourning.
The Lord Chancellor further signified from the King, "That His Majesty, considering what Time of the Year this is (so near Christmas), holds it convenient that there be an Adjournment for a small Time; therefore is willing that both Houses do adjourn Tomorrow at Noon, until the next Day after Twelfth Day."

Hereupon it is ORDERED, That this be signified at the next Conference with the House of Commons; and to acquaint them with their Lordships Resolutions to adjourn accordingly at the same Time.

Message to H. C. for a Conference about these Messages from the King.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Justice Tyrrell and Baron Turner:

To desire a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, upon Occasion of a Message from the King.

San Diego Sarah on 2 Nov 2024  •  Link

CONCLUSION:

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir John Duncombe; who brought up these Bills, wherein they agree to the Amendments as they were sent down to them: ...

The Answer returned was: That this House will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

The Messengers sent to the House of Commons, return with this Answer:
That they will give a Conference, as is desired, concerning the King's Message. ...

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Wm. Childe and Sir Thomas Birde for the Conference on the Corporations Bill:
To let them know, that the Lords will give a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, touching the Bill concerning regulating Corporations.
The Lord Steward and the Earl of Portland were appointed to report this Conference.

Message from H. C. brought by Sir James Smyth and others for the Coldstreamers, &c. who served under Gen. Monck, not to be compelled to leave London, on the Proclamation:
To let their Lordships know, that the Commons had been moved, in the Behalf of the Coldstreamers and other Soldiers that served under the Command of the Lord Gen. Monck, at his coming out of Scotland into England, to know their Opinion, "Whether, in their Votes and Address to the King to send the disbanded Officers and Soldiers out of this Town, the said Officers and Soldiers were included?"
And the Commons have voted, "That their Intention was not to include "the said Officers and Soldiers;" whereunto they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

The said Vote being read, and after some Debate: It was Resolved, To have a Conference with the House of Commons, to let them know, that this House is of Opinion, "That the King's Proclamation is according to the Advice of both Houses of Parliament; and if any Officers of the Coldstreamers can make their Integrity and good Affections to appear, there is an open and ready Way for them to apply themselves for obtaining Dispensation and Leave for their staying in Town."

The Answer returned by the Messengers was: That the Lords will return an Answer, by Messengers of their own, concerning the Coldstreamers.

The Messengers sent to the House of Commons return with this Answer:
That they will give a present Conference, as is desired, concerning the Bill touching Corporations.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir William Childe and Sir Thomas Birde about the Proclamation: To desire a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, concerning their Message touching the Proclamation. ...

The Messengers sent to the House of Commons return with this Answer:
That they will give a present Conference, as is desired, touching the Proclamation. ...

Adjourn.
https://www.british-history.ac.uk…

So the Coldstream Guards will be around for the foreseeable future in London.

San Diego Sarah on 2 Dec 2024  •  Link

The "plot" in question -- which Pepys says didn't find credible -- is explained at https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

San Diego Sarah on 18 Dec 2024  •  Link

We don't know what the ribbons colors were that Elizabeth was wearing, or why Pepys thought them so inappropriate as to have a fight about them. We just know it happened.
But I do know how mad I was with my husband for going to my office Christmas party with socks that didn't match. Same difference?
(I didn't call him names, so I didn't have to eat humble pie -- which was what Pepys did that he regretted.)

San Diego Sarah on 18 Dec 2024  •  Link

From Sandwich's log, at anchor in Tangier Bay:

December 17, Thursday.
Early came a vessle from Yarmouth, by the back of the Goodwin in 14 days. Says the Royal Charles was there in the Downs and 40 sail of ships more.
This morning came in the Yarmouth with letters from Sir John Lawson and news and news that de Ruyter with 15 sail of Dutch men-of-war are sailed eastwards to Mahon to clean.
This morning also came the Norwich from the Downs in 14 days with letters from Mr. Coventry.
Says he met Sir Richard Fanshawe in the Gift off the Northern Cape on Saturday last, the 14th instant.

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 city of Yarmouth
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
The Goodwin Sands and The Downs
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
"in 14 days" -- such a following wind called for 2 notations!
The Royal Charles
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
The Yarmouth
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
Vice Adm. Sir John Lawson
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
De Ruyter
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
Mahon, Menorca
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
to clean -- I believe this means their bottoms were to be careened
The Norwich
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
Mr. Coventry -- presumably Sir William Coventry
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
Amb. Sir Richard Fanshawe -- Lady Ann was pregnant, so she hadn't accompanied Sir Richard to Portugal thus far. He came home for Christmas 1661 and was there for the birth of yet another daughter:
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
The Gift -- I think we can assume the Great Gift in this case
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
The Northern Cape = Finisterre
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
"Saturday last, the 14th instant"
14 November - a Thursday
14 December = a Saturday
14 October = a Monday -- what is Sandwich talking about?

Scott Christmas on 20 Dec 2024  •  Link

Given that Sam called her a "whore" for having mismatched ribbons, I think it's safe to assume that he must've seen it as something emblematic of prostitutes. Maybe ladies of the night tended to wear lots of colors to attract customers? Or maybe they were too poor to be worried about whether their ribbons matched?

San Diego Sarah on 20 Dec 2024  •  Link

"During the 17th century, ribbons were very in vogue. Both men's and women's clothing of this period were extravagant. Clothing and every accessory were highly decorated with ribbons in many forms. Ribbon uses varied from trimming clothing, for use in braiding and curling hair, for ornamenting furniture, and for brightening linens.
"Demand for ribbons prompted a manufacturing revolution in which Coventry, England, and Lyons, France, became hubs of ribbon design. The ribbon industry evolved from the silk trade." -- Ribbon History
https://www.vintage-ribbon.com/co…

LKvM on 21 Dec 2024  •  Link

The information about Elizabeth's birth in Devon to an Anglo-Irish mother was not what I had ever thought and was shocking to me.
Up until I read the comments above I had thought her father was an aristocratic French Huguenot, and I had supposed that his wife was also Huguenot French and that they had emigrated to England as a French-speaking family and that at some point they had (oddly!) sent Elizabeth back to an RC convent(!) school, where she continued her French and at some point returned to her family in England, where they all spoke French at home.
But I was very wrong! She knew French from her father and English from her mother, and at home and outside the home she and her brother probably spoke English with neighbors and their children growing up, and then out in the London world she undoubtedly spoke only English, probably with the slightest of accents.
(An example of what I, as a former foreign language teacher, mean by "slightest of accents": I had a friend from Cuba who came to the States when he was twelve, the crucial latest age for learning to speak a new language accent-free, and as an adult he spoke perfectly unaccented English except for the word "position," which he prounounced with a hissing "s" instead of the "z" sound that we use in that word in English. Elizabeth probably also had occasional words that tipped off the listener to her French baclground.)