Sunday 18 May 1662
(Whitsunday). By water to White Hall, and there to chappell in my pew belonging to me as Clerk of the Privy Seal; and there I heard a most excellent sermon of Dr. Hacket, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, upon these words: “He that drinketh this water shall never thirst.” We had an excellent anthem, sung by Captain Cooke and another, and brave musique. And then the King came down and offered, and took the sacrament upon his knees; a sight very well worth seeing. Hence with Sir G. Carteret to his lodging to dinner with his Lady and one Mr. Brevin, a French Divine, we were very merry, and good discourse, and I had much talk with my Lady. After dinner, and so to chappell again; and there had another good anthem of Captain Cooke’s. Thence to the Councell-chamber; where the King and Councell sat till almost eleven o’clock at night, and I forced to walk up and down the gallerys till that time of night. They were reading all the bills over that are to pass to-morrow at the House, before the King’s going out of town and proroguing the House.
At last the Councell risen, and Sir G. Carteret telling me what the Councell hath ordered about the ships designed to carry horse from Ireland to Portugall, which is now altered. I got a coach and so home, sending the boat away without me. At home I found my wife discontented at my being abroad, but I pleased her. She was in her new suit of black sarcenet and yellow petticoat very pretty. So to bed.
43 Annotations
First Reading
A. De Araujo • Link
"a French Divine"
a clairvoyant? a clergy?a "star"?
Australian Susan • Link
French Divine - Protestant (Huguenot) cleric.
Dr Hacket. A great hero of mine! During the late Civil War, the Cathedral at Lichfield (where I lived for 6 years as a teenager), was held by the King's party, beseiged by the Parliamentarians and heavily damaged. Lichfield is unique in English cathedrals in having three spires - the larger single spire behind the two paired ones at the front of the cathedral, was wholly brought down by cannon fire, bringing the roof with it. Once the seige was broken, the Parliamentarains garrisoned the cathedral (it was the only defnsible area in the city, having an enclosed Close with 2 gates - built out from the medieval city walls).They stabled their horses in part of the building. It became a ruin. Richard Hacket was appointed Bishop and had the chance to live in Coventry (it was a joint Diocese at that time). Thankfully foir Lichfield, he came there and literally saved the cathedral, organising the resbuilding of the spire (huge civil engineering work). He restored the place to it former (and present) glory. If you visit, you will notice that the stone of the main spire is a different colour from the spires at the front - a different quarry was used.
So it looks as though Hacket is being rewarded by his Roayl patron by being allowed to preach before him on one of the three main Feasts of the Church - Pentecost.His sermon is based on the Woman at the Well - Jesus accepting water from an outcast Samarian woman and telling her he can give her living water.(John 4).
As was usual, the most important person present at the Communion receives the Sacrament first, but it seems from Sam's description, that only the King received. Unusual. Sam seems more interested in the music than anything else, but I'm glad he liked Hacket's sermon. Hacket was a most remarkable man.
Australian Susan • Link
"came down and offered" i.e. performed his offertory - his donation of alms for the poor and for the work of the Church.
Nix • Link
The "French Divine" --
He was from the Channel Isle of Jersey.
"1648-52 M. Daniel Brevint, M.A.
"Fellow of Jesus College Oxford."
"Born in St John in 1617, he was the son of Daniel Brevint, Rector of St John.
"It is notable that for about two years, the father and the son were Rectors of Parishes at the same time. Brevint ceased to be Rector of Grouville at some time in 1652; then he clearly left Jersey, and lived in France for several years. After the Restoration of Charles II, he settled in England, and became, in January 1681-2, Dean of Lincoln, where he died in 1695, aged 78.
"For fuller details on this distinguished Jerseyman, who married one of the daughters of the famous Philip de Carteret, see the Article on him in the Bulletin of 1910.
"Let us add that, during his lifetime, he gave a quarter of the froment of rente to the poor of Grouville (see the Journal of Elie Brevint, 1662)."
http://www.societe-jersiaise.org/…
Sjoerd • Link
A French Divine
Exactly how this Mr. Brevint measured up divinity-wise i could not say, but if the dates on the "De Carteret" genealogy site are correct mr. Brevint later on married the youngest sister of his host Sir George De Carteret, Ann, and she is three years old today, while he is 34?
(Though..a 50 year age difference between brother and sister from the same mother...a bit strange that)
http://www.decarteret.org.uk/data…
Australian Susan • Link
Phillip Carteret could have been the Philip who was George's cousin. Like so many (self-?)important families, there are umpteen Philips in the family tree.My Googling has not turned up a proper family tree. Anyone had better success?
A. Hamilton • Link
proroguing the House
The usage here seems to be consistent with the 3rd definition of "prorogue" from the OED:
3. To discontinue the meetings of (a legislative or other assembly) for a time, definite or indefinite, without dissolving it; to dismiss by authority until the next session. Originally and chiefly in reference to the British Parliament.
Originally a particular application of sense 2; the meaning being to "put off, postpone" the assembly or sittings of a parliament which had been summoned or was in session…
A. Hamilton • Link
A French Divine
Following the deCarteret links above I deduce that M Brevin was most probably (already) married to the first cousin of Sir George, by name Anne, daughtrer of his uncle Philip. Brevin bron 1627, Anne deC. born 1629, now both 30-somethings.
Robert Gertz • Link
"Bess, Sir George told me to wait on him and one does not tell Sir George Carteret that it's ten of the clock and one is fed up and going home."
Grrr...
"And if you'd care to look at my poor worn feet after five hours of pacing in the gallery at the Council chamber..."
Painful removal of shoe...Revealing badly blistered, swollen feet.
"Ouch! Mon Dieu, Sam'l! My poor darling...Jane! A bowl of warm water!"
"Nice dress by the way."
Pauline • Link
"Nice dress by the way."
Ohhh, I think “suit” may mean undie-type garments. Perhaps something more feminine than a “union suit”, given our definition last month of sarcenet.
(OED: Sarsenet, sarcenet 1. A very fine and soft silk material made both plain and twilled, in various colours, now used chiefly for linings; a dress made of this.) Linings are usually silky thin fabrics that won’t interfer with the garment fabric’s characteristics—much like a slip and other lingerie in that negligibleness.
It is midnight and “[s]he was in her new suit of black sarcenet and yellow petticoat very pretty.”
For which he pleased her.
Cumgranissalis • Link
"...They were reading all the bills over that are to pass to-morrow at the House, before the King's going out of town and proroguing the House….”
Pro rogueing : closing up shop for the honeymoon period.
my version or summary of H of L
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Other wise as seen by the Lords.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
rogo,rogare, rogavi, rogatum /vt: to ask to propose [a bill]; rogatus, request; Rogatio, bill.
leading to prorogo to extend, prolong, continue, to defer
Cumgranissalis • Link
One of my ancesters had 24 offspring and Four Wives [no divorce was needed]; His eldest grandson was older than his last child conceived at aged of 83 and born at the age of 84, by his wife or so the Vicar did note in the family tree and Bible. [He be busy for over 60 years]So anything be possible [Probable?]
Michael Robinson • Link
Captain Cooke (more)
See:-
http://www.katapi.org.uk/SingingC…
He was also Pelhem Humphrey's father-in-law and Purcell's first teacher. He is credited with re-establishing the English choral tradition after the restoration.
Australian Susan • Link
"I pleased her"
Slightly later on (early 18th century), Sir John Churchill (Later Duke of Marlborough) was so happy to be back with his beloved wife after continental campaigning that, she relates in her diary, "he pleasured me twice in his jackboots."
Australian Susan • Link
"twilled"
This means warp had one thread and weft three. Useless information: the Turin Shroud is twilled linen (which is one fact about it which makes people think immediately it is not authentic 1st century cloth).
Linda • Link
Are pews only found in the smaller churces, not the great cathedrals of England? I have never noticed pews in any cathedral or church in France and am wondering if only English churches had them. I assume everyone stood for entire services in Notre Dame in Paris, for example. Seating there is now done on folding chairs.
Britney Spears • Link
Proroguing
This means that the house goes into temporary recess, and will assemble in the future without having new members elected (unless an MP resigns his seat).
Even if the king decides he's done with this parliament, I think he has to call it back into session before he can dissolve it.
Mary • Link
Elizabeth's new suit.
Outer garments, surely. This indicates a black bodice and overskirt with a 'show' yellow petticoat at the front; a suit of clothes. It's Elizabeth's new outfit, she's been waiting all day to show it off to Sam and has been kept hanging around in it until he finally comes home at nearly midnight. No wonder she's cross.
andy • Link
where the King and Councell sat till almost eleven o'clock at night, and I forced to walk up and down the gallerys till that time of night.
This will send a shudder of recognition through anyone who has had to sit through the interminable committee meetings of my city council (and countless others) just in case they might be called upon by their betters. The ways of English Government do not seem to have changed over the years! I bet Sam had to run for the last carriage home too!
A. Hamilton • Link
and I forced to walk up and down the gallerys till that time of night.
The hallways outside the Senate cloak room in the U.S. Capitol Building are known as Gucci Gulch because during important legislative business (which can go into late hours)they are thronged with fashionably dressed lobbyists, wearing those snafflebit loafers, all waiting to see how their business has thrived. Sam is on a similar mission here.
Sjoerd • Link
Yes, Mr. Brevint married the cousin Ann, not the sister, so bless 'im.
language hat • Link
suit
Definitely not underclothes. OED:
of women's attire: in earlier use, an entire set of garments for wear at one time; in recent use, a costume (i.e. coat and skirt).
1761 Brit. Mag. II. 444 A suit of cloaths is weaving for a lady of quality, which will amount to 36 l. per yard. 1770 LANGHORNE Plutarch (1879) I. 103/2 The bride was to bring with her only three suits of clothes. 1778 F. BURNEY Evelina x, They have promised me a compleat suit of linen against the evening. [...]
A. De Araujo • Link
"but I "pleased" her"
isn't very advanced for the age,when women were not supposed to enjoy sex?
Alan Bedford • Link
"but I 'pleased' her"
Probably more on the line of “I made a satisfactory explanation”, you naughty boy.
Rex Gordon • Link
" ... but I pleased her."
Yes, I think he means merely that when he explained how the business of the evening had detained him, she was mollified. After all, if he had "pleased" her in the sense of Australian Susan's jackboot quote (even once, not to mention multiples), he'd have told us all about it ... in French or Italian!
Clement • Link
"...when women were not supposed to enjoy sex?"
I thought that odd social value didn't begin until the 19th c. in the U.K. ("close your eyes and think of the Queen" referred to VR, not ER, I think) though perhaps earlier in U.S. due to our somewhat nascent Puritanism.
We're still struggling against some similarly unnatural social mores.
Glyn • Link
Anyone here kept a woman waiting for four or more hours without her knowing when you would turn up, and when to reheat the meal and should she start without you, and was she wearing her best new clothes at the time? - how did she feel about it and how much swearing was involved?
Thank God, for the telephone.
But if they're all working on a Sunday, especially such an important one, then the deadline must have been extremely close.
dirk • Link
pews
Pews are "native" to protestant churches/temples of all nominations, because these services require lots of reading and listening. Catholic churches on the continent never had them, because catholic mass is a very different matter. Chairs (not pews)became common in catholic churches in the late 18th century - before that time people stood through mass.
Robert Gertz • Link
"...I pleased her." And here I took the simple way of assuming he just meant he gave her a good explaination of where he'd been all evening.
Well, it was late. And she must've been quite the eyeful in that new outfit.
Sweet that she waited up all that time to show off to him...
Robert Gertz • Link
Even with the telephone and knowing I'm up to my ears, mine still gets anxious and furious.
As do I when I wait for her late returns (especially in that electric chair)...
But it's always sweet after the initial growls.
Cumgranissalis • Link
The Pews were on the most part for those that could afford their cost or upkeep or have been set aside for their pleasure. The other 80% of the parish, it be Stand or Pray.
Remember Sam mentions Pews because it be a "P"rivilege to be in one, if it be normal, it be not worth the wasted ink.
Privilege was, is and will be the mark of a man's position in society, along with all the trappings that separate the chaff from the wheat. Then it becoach and six with livery , now the "*": Plummage,plummage and which tree ye doth sit in.
Australian Susan • Link
Until teh Reformation in England, it was the usual practice, as noted by Doirk above, to stand during a service. If you were old, ill or otherwise feeble, you stood by the wall and leant on it. This is the origin of the phrase "the weak go to the wall". If you go into an ancient cathedral in England and up into the grand stalls in the choir area where the prebends and such like sat, you will see that they had seats and sometimes a sort of bottom support to rest bums on, so they could lean back in the stall and rest up, but give the appearance of standing.
All the old Gothic Cathedrals were designed and built to be without seating in the Nave and transepts, but today are of course cluttered with seats or pews. Wouldn't they look grand without them? Wonderful expanses of tiled floor.
Erna D'haenen • Link
Indeed a wonderful sight, Australian Susan! If you are ever in Rouen, make sure you visit the Gothic église St. Ouen which has been cleared of all furniture. When the sunlight plays through the stained glass windows onto that great expanse of floor, prepare to be impressed.
language hat • Link
"the weak go to the wall"
Nothing to do with cathedrals -- "go to the wall" is an old phrase meaning 'succumb'; OED:
13. to go to the wall (or walls): a. to give way, succumb in a conflict or struggle.
1589 Pasquil's Ret. Aiiij, They neuer went to the wall, till they grewe to be factious. 1601 J. WHEELER Treat. Comm. 111 Wee should go to the walles, be wronged and exacted vpon euery where. 1859 H. KINGSLEY G. Hamlyn xxix, Sam and Mayford are both desperately in love with her, and one must go to the wall. 1861 LD. BROUGHAM Brit. Const. xx. 385 It is easy to see which power will go to the wall if a conflict occurs. 1867 TROLLOPE Chron. Barset xliii, In all these struggles Crosbie had had the best of it, and Butterwell had gone to the wall.
Proverb. [1535: see WAW]. 1549 CHEKE Hurt Sedit. (1641) 53 When brethren agree not in a house, goeth not the weakest to the walls? 1579 LYLY Euphues (Arb.) 53 The weakest must still to the wall. 1592 SHAKES. Rom. & Jul. I. i. 18. 1651 CULPEPPER Astrol. Judgem. Dis. (1658) 80 You know the old proverb, The weakest goes to the Walls.
(Note: I have no idea what they intend by "1535: see WAW" -- I've been to WAW and seen nothing remotely related.)
Cumgranissalis • Link
"the weak go to the wall" or else fill the wall with English dead
Australian Susan • Link
Weak go to the wall
OK - picture the scene. Class of Early English History students on field trip. Crowded into the small Anglo-Saxon Chapel of St Wilfred at Repton. Esteemed lecturer talks about size of churches being smaller in those days 'cos everyone stood up. Pointed out how many of us there were in a small space. Then he not only *told* us, he *demonstrated* how the old, infirm or whatever, who could not stand upright leant against the wall, and, he said, standing leaning against the ancient dank and mossy stones, that *that* was the origin of the phrase!! So there. Never believe what even esteemed Anglo Saxon Hostory Profs. (who shall remain anon) tell you. (Wonder if I ever quoted him in an essay....?)
language hat • Link
"Never believe what even esteemed Anglo Saxon Hostory Profs. tell you"
Yeah, it's sad the tripe otherwise knowledgeable people will spout about language. Not their fault; we all love a good story, and it's incredibly hard to develop an automatic guard against plausible but untrue stories about words.
Australian Susan • Link
I think I need to buy this book:
Port Out, Starboard Home: And Other Language Myths
Michael Quinion
Amazon ref.http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140515348/
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"They were reading all the bills over that are to pass to-morrow at the House, before the King’s going out of town and proroguing the House."
John Browne, Clerk of Parliaments, attended this meeting and read 12 bills. This was the normal procedure at the end of session. The last occasion on which it was done was on 27 June 1685. (L&M note)
Terry Foreman • Link
"what the Councell hath ordered about the ships designed to carry horse from Ireland to Portugall...is now altered"
A previous order required several merchant ships, employed to carry horse-troops from England to Portugal, to make the return journey to Kinsale and there take on more cavalry. They were now ordered to sail back back to Plymouth instead. (L&M note)
Bill • Link
"She was in her new suit of black sarcenet and yellow petticoat"
A SUIT, a compleat Set of Garments.
---An Universal Etymological English Dictionary. N. Bailey, 1724.
Terry Foreman • Link
"...with Sir G. Carteret to his lodging to dinner with his Lady and one Mr. Brevin"
L&M: Daniel Brevint, Canon of Durham, later (1681) Dean of Lincoln, who had married Anne, Carteret's sister. Not French, but like Carteret a Jerseyman. He had been educated in France (at Saumer) and ha spent his years of exile there during the revolution, becoming spiritual director of Turenne's wife, and had returned from Normandy only a few months before: Corr. J. Cosin (ed. Ornsby), ii. 26. His visit to London may have been connected to his presentation to Brancepeth, co. Durham, a rectory in the royal gift, at about this time: CSPD 1661-2, pp. 256, 370.
Terry Foreman • Link
"They were reading all the bills over that are to pass to-morrow at the House, before the King’s going out of town"
L&M: To meet the Queen at Portsmouth. He had on the 15th requested the Commons to expedite business: CJ, viii. 29.