Sunday 7 June 1663
(Lord’s day). Whit Sunday. Lay long talking with my wife, sometimes angry and ended pleased and hope to bring our matters to a better posture in a little time, which God send. So up and to church, where Mr. Mills preached, but, I know not how, I slept most of the sermon. Thence home, and dined with my wife and Ashwell and after dinner discoursed very pleasantly, and so I to church again in the afternoon, and, the Scot preaching, again slept all the afternoon, and so home, and by and by to Sir W. Batten’s, to talk about business, where my Lady Batten inveighed mightily against the German Princess, and I as high in the defence of her wit and spirit, and glad that she is cleared at the sessions.
Thence to Sir W. Pen, who I found ill again of the gout, he tells me that now Mr. Castle and Mrs. Martha Batten do own themselves to be married, and have been this fortnight. Much good may it do him, for I do not envy him his wife. So home, and there my wife and I had an angry word or two upon discourse of our boy, compared with Sir W. Pen’s boy that he has now, whom I say is much prettier than ours and she the contrary. It troubles me to see that every small thing is enough now-a-days to bring a difference between us.
So to my office and there did a little business, and then home to supper and to bed. Mrs. Turner, who is often at Court, do tell me to-day that for certain the Queen hath much changed her humour, and is become very pleasant and sociable as any; and they say is with child, or believed to be so.
24 Annotations
First Reading
Lurker • Link
Wonder exactly what they were arguing over in bed that he didn't bother recording...
dirk • Link
The Rev. Josselin's diary today
A very wet season, the lord show us mercy therein. god good to me and mine in outward mercies, and in the word. heard of Archbishop Juxons death, a quiet man, an advantage to that hot party, as they think, but who knows how god may shackle them, or use them, he can dispose instruments as he pleases; one of the greatest showers I ever knew putting the meadows much under water, lord remember us in mercy."
Robert Gertz • Link
"Our matters"? A general discussion of his jealously and her "neglect"? Or just a review of the Brampton travel plans?
***
"Wayneman is cute!" "Penn's boy is cuter!!" "Don't be ridiculous, Wayneman is the prettiest thing you've ever seen." "Compared to Penn's boy, Wayneman is a dog!"
Damn me, I appreciates it, but couldn't Mrs. Pepys just say I'm "ruggedly handsome in what bodes for a becoming manly way" Wayneman sighs...
Robert Gertz • Link
"Oh, Wayneman..." Will calls. "You're back just in time. Mrs. Pepys wants to see you. She has a new livery picked out for you that she says will make you the prettiest thing in England." Broad smile...
Lord, I want to die...I want to die now. A gloomy Wayneman trudges toward the front door of the Pepys' residence.
Well, after I fill Hewer's bed with the gunpowder I just bought off me mates.
A. Hamilton • Link
It troubles me to see that every small thing is enough now-a-days to bring a difference between us.
Sam is trying to get past his jealous spell but Elizabeth seems still on guard and ready to take issue.
Bradford • Link
Pretty is as pretty does, and the lineaments of the countenance that appeal to one will look nondescript to another, if not downright plug-ugly. (Gander today's celebrated celebrities for examples.) Amusing to find Pepys taking up the naughty Wayneman's side.
And also intriguing to see Sam proving a fact pertinent in any century: a sleep deficit must get worked off somehow sometime, no matter how much of a 24/7 dude you may be.
TerryF • Link
Little Whit Sunday (Pentecost) spirit today.
What a striking contrast between the Diary entry's header and the events that played out this dismal day!
in aqua scripo • Link
So, not every one tells Popsy "...do own themselves to be married, and have been this fortnight. Much good may it do him, for I do not envy him his wife..." Daughter be from the first nuptials. [no love lost with Step Mum???}
Australian Susan • Link
Pentecost
Today is celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples, 50 days after the Resurrection and 10 days after the Ascension. We receive the gifts of the spirit when we are baptised: Fortitude, Counsel, Understanding, Wisdom, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of God - or Reverence of God. (Isaiah 11:1-3). If we cultivate these gifts they produce the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity,Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Well, even if Sam had had sermons on these topics (quite likely) he would not profit from them, having slept through both!!
Australian Susan • Link
Readings for Whit Sunday: Morning Prayer: Deuteronomy 16:1-18, Acts 10:1-34 and Evening Prayer: Isaiah 11 and Acts 19:1-21 Of these readings two of them deal with the Holy Spirit(the Isaiah one which describes the gifts of the spirit and the Acts 19 readings which deals with baptism in the holy spirit which is distinct from the baptism offered by John the Baptist) The Acts 10 reading concerns Peter's conversion of Cornelius and his vision of all foods being fit to eat. The Deuteronomy reading outlines the festivals to be kept by the Jews, including the Festival of Weeks, which is Pentecost, so this is an indirect reference to the festival as observed by Christians. I wonder what Mr Mills and the poor young Scotsman chose to preach on. We will never know (seeing as Sam didn't!) Incidently, if he had attended a Eucharist service today, the readings would have been the description of the coming of the Holy Spirit from Acts 2:1-11 and John 14: 15-31, which is part of the Last Discourses of Jesus before his Passion and deals with the coming of the "Comforter" (KJV) amongst other things, including the lovely phrase, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
tel • Link
It intrigues me that Sam, with all his Puritan self-reproaches, evidently feels no shame about sleeping through two sermons. Obviously the blame for this lies squarely on the preachers!
Glyn • Link
A while ago, didn't they get a special two-tone uniform for Wayne to wear (I forget what the colours were), and presumably Batten's boy has his own coloured uniform. Perhaps they are arguing about which one is the more smartly dressed.
in aqua scripo • Link
"pretty' be of cloth, rather than of visage, physiognomy or manners, or even health.
"...whom I say is much prettier than ours and she the contrary...." such a lackadaisical word used by Sam many times, as do most modern speakers.
TerryF • Link
Comparing boys is an old sport in the Navy Office compound:
4 May 1662
"walked with my wife to my brother Tom’s; our boy waiting on us with his sword, which this day he begins to wear, to outdo Sir W. Pen’s boy, who this day, and Sir W. Batten’s too, begin to wear new livery; but I do take mine to be the neatest of them all."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
TerryF • Link
"if [SP] had attended a Eucharist service today...."
30 March 1662
"To church in the morning, and so home, leaving the two Sir Williams to take the Sacrament, which I blame myself that I have hitherto neglected all my life, but once or twice at Cambridge1...."
"1 This does not accord with the certificate which Dr. Mines wrote in 1681, where he says that Pepys was a constant communicant. See Life of Pepys in vol. i." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Observance is a sometime thing, depending today on a sleep deficit, as Bradford has observed.
jeannine • Link
The German Princess
I just added some background on the German Princess. Has anyone read the book referenced in her background page called "Counterfeit Lady Unveiled" by Kirkman and/or "The Case of Madam Mary Carleton" by Mary Carelton herself? It would be great to get a recap. She sounds like an outrageous character.
Robert Gertz • Link
The German Princess...
Sam seems to have a side that really enjoys rogues and charlatans as will be evidenced particularly in post-Diary years in the affair of Scott.
A. De Araujo • Link
"The German Princess"
Fascinating character and only 21 years old at the time-thanks Jeannine-
I wonder why no movies or musicals were made based on her story! after all she is more interesting than Moll Flanders!It could be changed to have a happy ending. :)
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"my Lady Batten inveighed mightily against the German Princess, and I as high in the defence of her wit and spirit, and glad that she is cleared at the sessions. "
The Trial of Mary Moders alias Stedman, styled the German Princess, at the Old Bailey, for Bigamy: 15 Charles II. A. D. 1663. -- 4 June http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
She had conducted her own case, and had made great play with a fan. (Per L&M footnote)
Terry Foreman • Link
" Sir W. Pen....tells me that now Mr. Castle and Mrs. Martha Batten do own themselves to be married, and have been this fortnight. "
A mistake: they were married on 5 July. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
William Castle, a widower of 34, was a shipwright; Martha Batten was a spinster of 26.
(Per L&M footnote)
Terry Foreman • Link
" Mrs. Turner...do tell me to-day that for certain the Queen hath much changed her humour, and is become very pleasant and sociable as any; and they say is with child, or believed to be so."
The rumour that she was pregnant was untrue. Mrs Turner (wife of Thomas Turner of the Navy Office does not appear to have had any post at court, but she had a talent for gossip.
(Per L&M footnote)
JayW • Link
Terry Foreman: "Sir W. Pen....tells me that now Mr. Castle and Mrs. Martha Batten do own themselves to be married, and have been this fortnight. ". A mistake: they were married on 5 July.
Maybe "to be married" means 'are going to be married' and the banns are being read in preparation for the wedding?
john • Link
@Lurker -- if you are still around -- when matters are tense, the most banal triviality will set off a row.
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘pretty < Germanic
. . 2. a. Of a person, esp. a woman or child: attractive and pleasing in appearance; good-looking, esp. in a delicate or diminutive way . .
1440 Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 411 Praty, elegans, formosus, elegantulus, formulosus.
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1905) II. 440 A fayr yong man..and he was so pratie & so defte at yong wommen wex evyn fond on hym.
. . 1616 S. Hieron Dignitie of Preaching (new ed.) in Wks. (1620) I. 588 As the saying is, euery thing is pretie when it is young . . ‘
Wayneman was growing up, no longer a child, which made him more attractive to Bess and less to Sam, who might have wished he could trade him in for a younger more biddable boy.