Tuesday 12 May 1663
Up between four and five, and after dressing myself then to my office to prepare business against the afternoon, where all the morning, and dined at noon at home, where a little angry with my wife for minding nothing now but the dancing-master, having him come twice a day, which is a folly.
Again, to my office. We sat till late, our chief business being the reconciling the business of the pieces of eight mentioned yesterday before the Duke of York, wherein I have got the day, and they are all brought over to what I said, of which I am proud.
Late writing letters, and so home to supper and to bed. Here I found Creed staying for me, and so after supper I staid him all night and lay with me, our great discourse being the folly of our two doting knights, of which I am ashamed.
23 Annotations
First Reading
Pedro • Link
“therein I have got the day, and they are all brought over to what I said, of which I am proud.”
And yesterday…
at 4s. and 5d., and by Pitts at 4s. and 9d., which was the greatest husbandry to the King? he persisting that the greatest sum was; which is as ridiculous a piece of ignorance as could be imagined.
Maybe the argument is that the King is entitled to 1% of all pieces of eight that are taken from the High Seas. If he has to pay for these in sterling, then the less he pays the better. They may increase or decrease in value, but at the present time the less he pays the better?
daniel • Link
"having him come twice a day, which is a folly. "
Hey, Sam, lighten up! TGIF, uh, T!
Pedro • Link
Correction to my post above.
The King would not pay in kind, but would receive a better conversion rate. He would get more pieces of eight for the sterling equivalent.
Australian Susan • Link
"having him come twice a day, which is a folly."
I would love to know what Pembleton was feeling about all this.Pleased to have the regular income? Worried that his frequent attendence might be misconstrued? Anxious about getting between husband and wife in a dispute?
Watch this space.....
in Aqua Scripto • Link
Damnation!! were be that varmint! that scally wag! of a valet?"...and after dressing myself ..." doublet or hose , boots be tight!..........
TerryF • Link
"dressing myself"
Wayneman, where are you, boy?! Or is Sam just so early up & at it that not even the chickens are astir? and after "we did dance till it was late" last eve?!
What energy!!
TerryF • Link
(editing again in the dark, Or, great minds....)
in Aqua Scripto • Link
"General wot ye say" "...where a little angry with my wife for minding nothing now but the dancing-master, having him come twice a day, which is a folly. Again, to my office. We sat till late, our chief business being the reconciling the business of ..."
"So solly, me mind be full of torts, did ye say pieces of eight , oh!, I was tinking of that beastie of ingrate"
Robert Gertz • Link
"So...Eh...Mrs. Pepys getting on well with the...Ummn...dancing master?"
"Oh...Yeah..."
"Ah." Thin smile from Creed... "Mayhaps a bit too well, eh Pepys?"
"I was sayin' the same meself, sir, just the other day." Hater cuts in.
"Mind your tongue, sir." Fierce Pepysian glare at Hater... "Especially after thy recent troubles, Hater, I'd be one to try and temper my forthrightness and stick solely to the work at hand."
"Now, now Pepys." Creed, smile broadening...If Ferrers could be here right now... "The man's got your best interests at heart. Off with thee to thy labors, Brother Hater."
"Aye, Mr. Creed. 'Ware, sir...Of jealousy. That green-eyed monster that..."
Hater dodges and hurries off as Sam throws his accounts book at him...
"I see why you're anxious to keep the man on, Pepys. The Friend knows his Shakespeare." Creed grins.
"Comes twice a day now, eh? And dear Bess can't seem to think of anything but the dance and its master, eh? But then, after seeing your Mr. Pemberton I must say...If I were a woman, I might be finding myself rather single-minded on the dance at that."
"Shet up."
Oh...I can't wait to tell Ferrers about this, Creed beams.
***
Doting knights? Minnes I could understand but Carteret? If Sam means Sir George I think he's underestimated the Treasurer.
Of course if he means Batten and Minnes, well...
Robert Gertz • Link
Of course it's just a thought, Sam, but Bess might mind Pemberton and his attentions a tad less if you paying a little attention and you weren't sleeping with your dad or the latest house guest nearly every night.
Australian Susan • Link
"doting knights" Penn & Batten?
Australian Susan • Link
On debasing of coinage etc. here is a reminder that this sort of thing is still current - news article about UK's copper coinage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/busine…
language hat • Link
“doting knights”
Yes, can anyone shed light on this?
Mary • Link
doting knights
L&M confirm that Penn and Batten are the two in question.
"doting" here means weak-minded, stupid, foolish, imbecile. (OED sense 1; first appears in 1489)
in Aqua Scripto • Link
Eliza may not have the law on her side, nor 'rites' to speak of, but unlike the modern miss, who can earn a independant income, so can can tell the mere male to "***** **". She has to used other strategies to have an enjoyable life, not waiting 16 hours for this hard working fast tracking Man to share a few comforting stimulating moments, he does not mean any harm but he is totally wrapped up in his cocoon [a mistake many make], thereby not appreciating that this Lass has a brain, and there be no Soaps to content her, and not having an 'in' at the Hall, needs some stimulation. So now that he gets plenty of vigourish, can afford the latest in entertainment of the day, "the one ah two , swirl", and gossip with a like companion. Sam's needs be satisfied and he can look at Two old geezers with their sand boxes, and let them play while he makes the decisive moves in company policies. So few can rise to their level of incompetencies, as those in place of power do not let go until a crisis de-frocks them.
So Samuell has balance the future of Power at the office or have a fly in the ointment at home.
andy • Link
"So Samuell has balance the future of Power at the office or have a fly in the ointment at home".
How easy it is, to get one right, but not the other, and certainly not both at the same time.
Yes, Iago certainly knew a thing or two about men big in business or politics who spent too much time away from the marital bed.
Maybe Ferrers will go on vocational training as a dancing instructor??
Australian Susan • Link
"Two old geezers with their sand boxes"
Lovely, lovely image! Thank you IAS!
Clement • Link
Easy on Penn, he's only 41 or 42 here.
To 30 year-old Sam he may be a geezer (and a lot of other things) but at least he gets painted in his own hair a few years later.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
More than our stone-throwing lad can say about his surviving portrait.
in Aqua Scripto • Link
It would be, to day,be said "it be men in their dotage." "...great discourse being the folly of our two doting knights, of which I am ashamed..."
Second Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
I read "... great discourse being the folly of our two doting knights, of which I am ashamed ..." to mean Pepys was ashamed of gossiping with Creed ... opinions about your betters could be trouble. Remember how paranoid Pepys was at Christmas, fearing he would bump into Carteret (maybe it was Mennes?). Right now he's worried Mr. Hater will be "outed", and he will be compromised for not firing him. John Creed appears to be one of his BFFs, but if things go south ... I wonder if Creed was jealous of Pepys' relationship with Sandwich, and superior position which might have been his?
Bill • Link
“the folly of our two doting knights”
A DOTARD, a doting Fellow.
To DOTE, to grow dull, senseless or stupid.
To DOTE UPON, to be very fond of.
---An universal etymological English dictionary. N. Bailey, 1724.
Bill • Link
“so after supper I staid him all night”
To STAY … 3. To keep from departure .
---A Dictionary Of The English Language. Samuel Johnson, 1756.
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘stay, v.1 < Old French . . < Latin stāre . .
. . III. trans. To stop, arrest, check.
. . 20. a. To detain, hold back, stop (a person or thing); to check or arrest the progress of, bring to a halt; to hinder from going on or going away; to keep in a fixed place or position. Now only literary.
. . 1627 W. Duncomb tr. V. d'Audiguier Tragi-comicall Hist. our Times ii. 31 While the rain stayes you here.
. . 1686 tr. J. Chardin Trav. Persia 255 He stay'd me to dine with him . . ‘