Tuesday 13 October 1663
And so rose in the morning in perfect good ease … [but only strain I put myself to to shit, more than I needed. But – L&M] continued all the morning well, and in the afternoon had a natural easily and dry stoole, the first I have had these five days or six, for which God be praised, and so am likely to continue well, observing for the time to come when any of this pain comes again
- To begin to keep myself as warm as I can.
- Strain as little as ever I can backwards, remembering that my pain will come by and by, though in the very straining I do not feel it.
- Either by physic forward or by clyster backward or both ways to get an easy and plentiful going to stool and breaking of wind.
- To begin to suspect my health immediately when I begin to become costive and bound, and by all means to keep my body loose, and that to obtain presently after I find myself going the contrary.
This morning at the office, and at noon with Creed to the Exchange, where much business, but, Lord! how my heart, though I know not reason for it, began to doubt myself, after I saw Stint, Field’s one-eyed solicitor, though I know not any thing that they are doing, or that they endeavour any thing further against us in the business till the terme.
Home, and Creed with me to dinner, and after dinner John Cole, my old friend, came to see and speak with me about a friend. I find him ingenious, but more and more discern his city pedantry; but however, I will endeavour to have his company now and then, for that he knows much of the temper of the City, and is able to acquaint therein as much as most young men, being of large acquaintance, and himself, I think, somewhat unsatisfied with the present state of things at Court and in the Church.
Then to the office, and there busy till late, and so home to my wife, with some ease and pleasure that I hope to be able to follow my business again, which by God’s leave I am resolved to return to with more and more eagerness. I find at Court, that either the King is doubtfull of some disturbance, or else would seem so (and I have reason to hope it is no worse), by his commanding all commanders of castles, &c., to repair to their charges; and mustering the Guards the other day himself, where he found reason to dislike their condition to my Lord Gerard, finding so many absent men, or dead pays.1
My Lady Castlemaine, I hear, is in as great favour as ever, and the King supped with her the very first night he came from Bath.
And last night and the night before supped with her; when there being a chine of beef to roast, and the tide rising into their kitchen that it could not be roasted there, and the cook telling her of it, she answered, “Zounds! she must set the house on fire but it should be roasted!” So it was carried to Mrs. Sarah’s husband’s, and there it was roasted.
So home to supper and to bed, being mightily pleased with all my house and my red chamber, where my wife and I intend constantly to lie, and the having of our dressing room and mayds close by us without any interfering or trouble.
26 Annotations
First Reading
Patricia • Link
"Lord! how my heart...began to doubt myself, after I saw Stint, Field’s one-eyed solicitor..." What a marvellous picture this conjures up! The sinister Stint, squinting across at Pepys, throwing him into dismay—I had forgotten all about that Field business until this reminded me. Probably Sam was trying to forget it, too.
Robert Gertz • Link
I loved it too...Dickensian bordering on Melvillian.
Robert Gertz • Link
"after dinner John Cole, my old friend..."
There was a time, not long ago, when you called him Jack, Sam.
Robert Gertz • Link
"...she answered, “Zounds! she must set the house on fire but it should be roasted!”..."
Cause of the Great Fire. Castlemaine demanding a late night snack. Case closed.
Robert Gertz • Link
Good ole Creed and Howe kindly decide to 'assist' their friend Sam once again...
"Ah, Mr. Stint, I presume?"
Stint eye each gentleman in turn...
"Creed, sir. John Creed. And my associate Mr. Howe."
"Sir." Howe politely nods.
"Gentlemen? Do we..."
"Know each other?" Creed smilingly finishes. "Only by our mutual acquaintance, Mr. Pepys."
"Oh...Mr. Pepys. Yes. Well, that of course was the matter of Mr. Fields, my client."
"Yes, of course." Creed nods. He and Howe keeping abreast of an increasingly nervous and faster-moving Stint.
"But now that you mention it...The said matter was of some little...Distress...To our and my Lord Sandwich's good friend, Mr. Pepys."
"Quite a little distress..." Howe nods.
"Yes. Ummmn you gentlemen can surely understand I was merely carrying out the orders of my employer, Mr. Fields." Stint rolls the one eye to each man.
"But of course, my good fellow. It was only your duty as a solicitor. An employee must carry out his duty. Eh, Mr. Howe?"
"Even as must a good friend, Mr. Creed." Howe nods.
Moving hurriedly now, Stint slips a bit, Creed deftly catching him.
"You must take care on these dark streets, Mr. Stint. Accidents can happen for almost no cause if one is unwary. Right, Mr. Howe?"
"Indeed, Mr. Creed."
"Yes. I will take care. Goodnight, gentlemen."
"My dear Stint. We can't allow you to proceed home alone so late on such dank and dark streets. Can we, Mr. Howe?"
"T'would be ungentlemanly, Mr. Creed."
"Really, gentlemen. No need."
"We wouldn't hear of it, Mr. Stint. Come, I believe there's a rather faster way to your lodgings via the Thames down here."
"You...Know...My lodgings?"
"Hardly, Mr. Stint. But the way via the Thames is nearly always faster. Eh, Mr. Howe?"
"For all men, Mr. Creed."
Robert Gertz • Link
"This evening my wife did complain of being rather costive herself in turn and I did at once to Mr. Hollier to obtain more of his..."
"Bess?! What are you doing? Give me that back! Put that candle down!"
"Write one more word about my internals, Sam'l and it's all aflame!" Bess waves candle at Diary manuscript in her hands.
"Much as I do appreciate your desire to include me in your work, sweetheart." she notes, a quick beam.
Terry F • Link
Robert, don't...........stop!
Bergie • Link
A list--indeed, a numbered list--of things to do should Sam become "costive" again. Are we all agreed, he's more than a bit obsessive-compulsive?
Dan Jenkins • Link
Rather than obsessive-compulsive, would not this behavior be called: anal-retentive?
Jesse • Link
a numbered list
I can't recall seeing one earlier. The more I follow the diary the more convinced I am that it's used mostly for personal reference, including health. Given the state of medical knowledge in those days it's probably not a bad idea to keep record. Especially for what works.
Xjy • Link
"chine"
In addition to the good stuff in the background info, check out the etymology!
Among its relatives we find science, ski, shiver, squire, nice, and shit.
http://www.bartleby.com/61/roots/…
Mary • Link
L&M supplies....
...in perfect good ease, but only strain I put myself to to shit, more than I needed. But continued....
Pedro • Link
“I find at Court, that either the King is doubtfull of some disturbance, or else would seem so (and I have reason to hope it is no worse), by his commanding all commanders of castles”
Could be connected with the Kaber-Rigg Plot see yesterday’s annotation.
Pedro • Link
“where he found reason to dislike their condition to my Lord Gerard, finding so many absent men, or dead pays.1”
False Musters.
The theory of false musters was disarmingly simple...the difference between the real strength of the company and its appearance on parade represented a straight gain for the officers. Methods of achieving this goal varied. Some captains hired extra men from other formations to fill the ranks for the day, others had their men imitate absentees by answering to two names, whilst the most common trick was to hire civilians off the street, dress them in uniform, and present them at the muster.
...a successful false muster required the active connivance of the commissary.
These frauds occurred even in the elite Life Guard. Charles's inspection in 1663 revealed a considerable number of dead pays... The dead pay was a sophisticated form of false muster. When a soldier died, a not infrequent occurrence, his name was retained on the muster roll indefinitely, and many captains drew pay men who had died years before.
(The Army of Charles II…J.Childs)
For something that may be a spoiler concerning the dashing Holmes and false musters see…
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
alanB • Link
note on fridge to Rex from Barbara, the Royal Whore.
"your dinner's in the inter-tidal range."
Australian Susan • Link
False Musters
This reminded me of Lieut. Kije.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"the tide rising into their kitchen"
Parts of Westminster were subject to floods: See http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… and the annotations on flooding there.
Terry Foreman • Link
"being mightily pleased with all my house and my red chamber, where my wife and I intend constantly to lie, and the having of our dressing room and mayds close by us without any interfering or trouble."
The reference here is to Will Hewer: cf. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… (Per L&M footnote)
Marquess • Link
'Zounds', what a wonderful expression, haven't heard it used since Squire Western in Hallum Tennyson's 1981 BBC Radio 4 adaptation of "Tom Jones'. The part of the Squire was played by Peter Jeffrey. Zounds!
Bill • Link
“I begin to become costive and bound”
COSTIVE, Bound in the Belly.
---An universal etymological English dictionary. N. Bailey, 1724.
Bill • Link
"she answered, “Zounds!"
And this puts me in mind of taking notice here of other contracted Forms of Swearing that are us'd among us, as if there was no manner of Hurt or Evil in them. And such are these, 'Od or Ad, that is in short, By God; 'Od's Bud or 's Bud, that is short, By God's Blood; 'Od's Wounds or 'Swounds, that is, By God's Wounds;
---A letter to a friend, concerning the great sin of taking God's name in vain. E. Wells, 1714.
Bill • Link
"So it was carried to Mrs. Sarah’s husband’s”
Lord Sandwich's housekeeper appears to have been married to a cook, but we do not know his name, as his wife is always described as "Mrs. Sarah."
---Wheatley, 1893.
Sasha Clarkson • Link
False musters:
Yes, as Susan says, reminiscent of Lt Kije, or Gogol's 'Dead Souls': deceased serfs who were still taxable to the landlord, but whom Gogol's anti-hero Chichikov wanted to use as collateral for a loan!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dea…
StanB • Link
'Zounds'
Great word it springs to mind Adam West and Burt Ward
"Zounds"!!! Batman the Joker did what !!!!............
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . finding so many absent men, or dead pays.’
‘dead pay, n. < Compare French morte-paye.
. . 2. Pay continued in the name of a soldier or sailor actually dead or discharged, and appropriated by the officer; a person in whose name such pay is drawn.
. . 1663 S. Pepys Diary 13 Oct. (1971) IV. 334 The King..mustering the guards the other day himself; where he found reason to dislike their condition..finding so many absent men or dead pays . . ’
…….
Re: ‘ . . she answered, “Zounds! she must set the house on fire but it should be roasted!” . . ’
‘zounds, int. A euphemistic abbreviation of by God's wounds used in oaths and asseverations.
. . a1616 Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 467 Zounds, I was neuer so bethumpt with words.
. . 1699 G. Farquhar Love & Bottle ii. ii. 16 Zoons is only us'd by the disbanded Officers and Bullies: but Zauns is the Beaux pronuncation [sic] . . ‘
(OED)
Terry Foreman • Link
" find at Court, that either the King is doubtfull of some disturbance, or else would seem so (and I have reason to hope it is no worse), by his commanding all commanders of castles, &c., to repair to their charges"
L&M: The alarm was caused by reports of an imminent rising in the North: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
CSPD 1663-4, pp. 291+.