Monday 26 October 1663
Waked about one o’clock in the morning … [to piss (having gone so soon over-night to bed) and then – L&M] my wife being waked rung her bell, and the mayds rose and went to washing, we to sleep again till 7 o’clock, and then up, and I abroad to look out Dr. Williams, but being gone out I went to Westminster, and there seeing my Lord Sandwich’s footman knew he was come to town, and so I went in and saw him, and received a kind salute from him, but hear that my father is very ill still. Thence to Westminster Hall with Creed, and spent the morning walking there, where, it being Terme time, I met several persons, and talked with them, among others Dr. Pierce, who tells me that the Queen is in a way to be pretty well again, but that her delirium in her head continues still; that she talks idle, not by fits, but always, which in some lasts a week after so high a fever, in some more, and in some for ever; that this morning she talked mightily that she was brought to bed, and that she wondered that she should be delivered without pain and without spueing or being sicke, and that she was troubled that her boy was but an ugly boy. But the King being by, said, “No, it is a very pretty boy.” — “Nay,” says she, “if it be like you it is a fine boy indeed, and I would be very well pleased with it.”
The other day she talked mightily of Sir H. Wood’s lady’s great belly, and said if she should miscarry he would never get another, and that she never saw such a man as this Sir H. Wood in her life, and seeing of Dr. Pridgeon, she said, “Nay, Doctor, you need not scratch your head, there is hair little enough already in the place.”
But methinks it was not handsome for the weaknesses of Princes to be talked of thus.
Thence Creed and I to the King’s Head ordinary, where much and very good company, among others one very talking man, but a scholler, that would needs put in his discourse and philosophy upon every occasion, and though he did well enough, yet his readiness to speak spoilt all. Here they say that the Turkes go on apace, and that my Lord Castlehaven is going to raise 10,000 men here for to go against him; that the King of France do offer to assist the Empire upon condition that he may be their Generalissimo, and the Dolphin chosen King of the Romans: and it is said that the King of France do occasion this difference among the Christian Princes of the Empire, which gives the Turke such advantages. They say also that the King of Spayne is making all imaginable force against Portugal again.
Thence Creed and I to one or two periwigg shops about the Temple, having been very much displeased with one that we saw, a head of greasy and old woman’s haire, at Jervas’s in the morning; and there I think I shall fit myself of one very handsomely made. Thence by coach, my mind being troubled for not meeting with Dr. Williams, to St. Catharine’s to look at a Dutch ship or two for some good handsome maps, but met none, and so back to Cornhill to Moxon’s, but it being dark we staid not to see any, then to coach again, and presently spying Sir W. Batten; I ’light and took him in and to the Globe in Fleete Streete, by appointment, where by and by he and I with our solicitor to Sir E Turner about Field’s business, and back to the Globe, and thither I sent for Dr. Williams, and he is willing to swear in my behalf against T. Trice, viz., that at T. Trice’s desire we have met to treat about our business.
Thence (I drinking no wine) after an hour’s stay Sir W. Batten and another, and he drinking, we home by coach, and so to my office and set down my Journall, and then home to supper and to bed, my washing being in a good condition over.
I did give Dr. Williams 20s. tonight, but it was after he had answered me well to what I had to ask him about this business, and it was only what I had long ago in my petty bag book allotted for him besides the bill of near 4l. which I paid him a good while since by my brother Tom for physique for my wife, without any consideration to this business that he is to do for me, as God shall save me.
Among the rest, talking of the Emperor at table to-day one young gentleman, a pretty man, and it seems a Parliament man, did say that he was a sot; for he minded nothing of the Government, but was led by the Jesuites. Several at table took him up, some for saying that he was a sot in being led by the Jesuites, [who] are the best counsel he can take. Another commander, a Scott[ish] Collonell, who I believe had several under him, that he was a man that had thus long kept out the Turke till now, and did many other great things, and lastly Mr. Progers, one of our courtiers, who told him that it was not a thing to be said of any Soveraigne Prince, be his weaknesses what they will, to be called a sot, which methinks was very prettily said.
41 Annotations
First Reading
Terry F • Link
"Waked about one a-clock in the morning to piss (having gone so soon over-night to bed) and then my wife, being waked, rung her bell...." transcribe L&M.
MissAnn • Link
"... and the Dolphin chosen King of the Romans ..."
- could the "dolphin" actually be "Dauphin", i.e. the eldest son of the King of France (1349-1830)?
Robert Gertz • Link
"...without any consideration to this business that he is to do for me, as God shall save me..." Hmmn...Sam anxious even in the Diary to appear spotless in the Trice business? Or to better effect rehearsing his testimony that Dr. W is an unbiased witness?
Of course one could still mention that having received 4 pounds and 20s from Sam over the course of time, the good Dr. might just possibly be inclined to take a friendly view of his side.
***
"Unless the Dolphin be present..."
"For the...Dauphin. I speak for him."
-Henry V
Could Sam be having a little Shakespearian fun at the Dauphin's expense? Surely he, like Will S., knows it's Dauphin. Though I suppose it's just rushed spelling...
But it would be neat to learn he was.
Bradford • Link
"Mr. Progers, one of our courtiers, who told him that it was not a thing to be said of any Soveraigne Prince, be his weaknesses what they will, to be called a sot". There are no such scruples about the truth nowadays. ---But I must take care not to be like the scholar who, "though he did well enough, yet his readiness to speak spoilt all."
Note that the periwig hunt, to be concluded next month, has begun; and anyone who hasn't read Jeannine on the Queen's Illness, repair this omission, the better to compare and contrast the version Pepys gives.
Robert Gertz • Link
"Several at table took him up, some for saying that he was a sot in being led by the Jesuites, [who] are the best counsel he can take. Another commander, a Scott[ish] Collonell, who I believe had several under him, that he was a man that had thus long kept out the Turke till now, and did many other great things, and lastly Mr. Progers, one of our courtiers, who told him that it was not a thing to be said of any Soveraigne Prince, be his weaknesses what they will, to be called a sot, which methinks was very prettily said."
Word of your English graciousness shall be sent on to the Vatican, Samuel.
***
Mr. Prodgers?
This will bear some thought...
Lea • Link
"Could Sam be having a little Shakespearian fun at the Dauphin's expense? Surely he, like Will S., knows it's Dauphin. Though I suppose it's just rushed spelling..."
"Dolphin" was a very common English spelling of "Dauphin" though, possibly even more common than the French spelling -- after all, it's a simple translation (the tendency in some productions of the histories to distinguish between the English and French pronunciations is a modern one, though apt enough). In 16th-/17th-c English pronunciation the two would probably have been pronounced alike anyway.
The title refers to the heraldic dolphin and derives from the coat of arms of the Comte de Vienne, who sold his title to the French king in 1349 on condition that the heir to the throne adopt those arms.
Paul Chapin • Link
Dolphin and Dauphin
Lea, what a wonderful annotation. Thank you!
Paul Chapin • Link
"...my washing being in a good condition over."
Wonder if the maids got their trip to Westminster?
Patricia • Link
"...one very talking man... that would needs put in his discourse and philosophy upon every occasion, and ... his readiness to speak spoilt all."
This is why I love the Diary: we've all met this guy, been bored by him, related it to somebody afterwards. Some things never change.
Patricia • Link
On the other hand, some things DO change, thank goodness: waking the maids up at 1 o'clock to start the day's washing!! What time do you suppose the poor girls got to bed the night before? And the washing is "in a good condition over" when Sam comes home for supper and to bed. And then they get the rest of the night off "to go see their friends at Westminster" as we learned yesterday.
Paul Chapin • Link
Today's entry
seems uncommonly rambling and disjointed. He wrote it at the end of a busy day, so maybe he was tired. He mentions failed effort(s) to see Dr. Williams, but no contact, until he tacks on at the end that he paid Williams 20s.
Terry F • Link
Blame the continent's disarray on the French
Au contraire, the French are too...well, too dominant because self-centered; etc.
L&M say what "they say" the King's Head ordinary about my Lord Castlehaven's latest scheme is a rnor of an idle boast; the French did NOT offer forces conditionally, etc.
MissAnn • Link
Thank you Lea for the dolphin/dauphin information - now I understand. I had thought the translation from the shorthand was to blame, I know my shorthand could be translated to read just about anything nowadays.
Like Patricia I was amazed that the maids were woken at 1:00 a.m. to start the washing - and I bet they were not paid overtime for that either. Considering the labour intensive work required to get the washing all done in a day they must have been exhausted, but maybe not exhausted enough to give up seeing Westminster.
Loved Robert's little dissertation on "Bess and The Girls at Westminster" yesterday. Hope they had a great girls day on the town.
Robert Gertz • Link
I dunno Terry, I think the Turk must be held responsible. Unless it's all a Vatican plot... (We Catholics must have our universal church...Comes from being one of the last two surviving institutions of the Roman Empire.)
"Your Holiness...I bring the latest news from our agents. The Turk advances...The Dutch are headed for conflict with their fellow heretics in England. As we hoped, all Europe is in ferment."
"Good, good. Soon the continent will see that the Universal Church is the only force that can bring peace...And Order...To the Christian world. See that our payments to the Sultan are made with our personal thanks."
jeannine • Link
Thanks for the great info Lea, but I think he said "Dolphin" instead of "Dauphin" on porpoise!
Ruben • Link
Waking the maids up at 1 o'clock to start the day's washing
First, you need a good fire, so you can warm the water. This make take hours. In the meantime you may go back to sleep.
alanB • Link
Jeannine, meanwhile, text message to Sam from the girls on the razz downtown,
'hving whale ofa time'
Terry F • Link
This entry's full of rumor
"Blame the continent's disarray on the French" - I writ sarcastically. Yes, Robert, the Turk is a real threat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto…
The tales of the Queen's delusion are SO poignant, whether true or not!
Robert Gertz • Link
I know you were Terry, but knowing my own I was quite serious about the Vatican plotting...
Robert Gertz • Link
And I love Sam's inability to refrain from recording a juicy inside story even while denouncing such things. Interesting that there's no mention of her babbling in her own language.
JWB • Link
Mary & Henry Woods
The Queen was correct. The Woods had one child, Mary,in 1664, who grows up to marry Chas. Fitzroy, ChasII's bastard w/ Barbara Villiers.
b.timbrell • Link
What has happened to Pepys
Mary • Link
Pepys's whereabouts.
Phil has explained (About this site/Discussion Group) that he has had a very busy week this week, but will get the entries up-to-date again over the weekend. As always, the regulars thank him profoundly for all the work that he puts in on our behalf.
Ruben • Link
Those wanting to know without delay what was the next adventure of our inefable Pepys should try the Gutemberg library.
I promised myself never ro read but what appears in this site, day by day, in spite of knowing more or less what will happen. I enjoy not only Pepys but also the annotators that open my eyes to a lot of difficult pasages. Usually I read aloud this promise of mine every time I open Gutemberg or walk in the garden.
Whenever I develop withdrawal signs I look for consolation at the background information.
Another way to pass the difficult hours between entries is reading histories of Pepys times, making a pie or playing the piano at 6 am.
I also tried a warm beer for breakfast but I found cafe au lait was better.
wisteria53 • Link
Mr Progers - maybe he is from Wales?
My Welsh husband says that most names starting with "Pr" started out as "ap R...", meaning "son of" (ap Richard becoming Pritchard, ap Rhys to Price, also ap Barry to Parry). An "s" at the end can also mean "son of", so perhaps Mr Progers is descended from someone who was the son of son of Rogers.
wisteria53 • Link
....son of son of Roger....
So much for trying to proofread on a Blackberry before my morning cup of tea.
cum grano salis • Link
as long as he was not the lodger, seriously, name begotting is fascinating
celtcahill • Link
"Unless the Dolphin be present..."
"For the...Dauphin. I speak for him."
" -Henry V
Could Sam be having a little Shakespearian fun at the Dauphin's expense? Surely he, like Will S., knows it's Dauphin. Though I suppose it's just rushed spelling...
But it would be neat to learn he was."
I thought and think that In Henry V and here, it takes an insulting tone, especially as delivered by Brian Blessed; and that intentionally even when discussing him in a positive light, albeit gentler from Sam.
Mr Gertz: I remember reading 'Lead us into Temptation' by Sean O'Faolin who writes from the point of view of the last occupiers of the Roman Empire and who takes a few pages to make the reader aware the characters are two priests in an Irish pub.
Robert Gertz • Link
"I thought and think that In Henry V and here, it takes an insulting tone, especially as delivered by Brian Blessed; and that intentionally even when discussing him in a positive light, albeit gentler from Sam."
I'd like to think so...
And wasn't Blessed terrific in that scene? As was the young Finnes as the put-upon Dauphin.
Can't help wondering (if it's really intentional) if Sam might be venting a little resentment...Bess perhaps a little too overfond of praising France's heir's wonderful qualities?
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
The Dolphin / Dauphin
is almost 2 years old (b. 1 November 1661), so not quite ready to be "chosen King of the Romans." He was baptised on 24 March 1662. At the ceremony, Cardinal de Vendôme and the Princess of Conti acted as proxies for the godparents, Pope Clement IX and Queen Henrietta Maria of England. The latter was Louis's grand-aunt. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loui…
Terry Foreman • Link
At the "King’s Head ordinary...they say that the Turkes go on apace, and that my Lord Castlehaven is going to raise 10,000 men here for to go against him"
Castlehaven (an impoverished Irish soldier) was full of such schemes but there appears to be no trace of this one. In 1662 he had twice volunteered to help Venice against the Turks, and in May 1665, he had offered himself as commander of the English troops in the Spanish-Portuguese war. (E.g. search "Castel Haven" http://www.british-history.ac.uk/… Cf. also http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… (Per L&M footnote)
Terry Foreman • Link
"it is said that the King of France do occasion this difference among the Christian Princes of the Empire, which gives the Turke such advantages. "
The Diet (assembled in January) had, ever since the Turks' attack in May, been discussing the ways and means of resistance. Only the Confederation of the Rhine (a league of west German princes under French patronage) had acted. The other princes hung back, reluctant to present the Emperor with an army which might be used to reinforce imperial authority and which would certainly be used mainly for the defense of the Habsburg hereditary lands. Leopold went to Ratisbon [Regensburg] on 15/25 October to make a personal appeal to the Diet, but there was no agreement on a plan to raise money and troops until February 1664. (Per L&M footnote)
Terry Foreman • Link
"They say also that the King of Spayne is making all imaginable force against Portugall again."
Spain, in preparation for the next year's campaign (in the war of 1640-68), was recruiting troops in the Netherlands: CSPD 1663-4, p. 234. (L&M footnote)
Terry Foreman • Link
"talking of the Emperor at table to- day one young gentleman...did say that...he minded nothing of the Government, but was led by the Jesuites."
This exaggerates Leopold I's neglect of business, though not his dependence on the Jesuits. (L&M footnote)
Bill • Link
“did say that he was a sot”
SOT, one who is void of Wit or Sense, a blockish dull Fellow; also a Drunkard.
---An universal etymological English dictionary. N. Bailey, 1724.
Bill • Link
“he was a man that had thus long kept out the Turke till now”
Leopold I., the Holy Roman Emperor, was born June 9th, 1640. He became King of Hungary in 1655, and King of Bohemia in 1658, in which year he received the imperial crown. The Princes of the German Empire watched for some time the progress of his struggle with the Turks with indifference, but in 1663 they were induced to grant aid to Leopold after he had made a personal appeal to them in the diet at Ratisbon.
---Wheatley, 1893.
Terry Foreman • Link
"the Dolphin"
Louis of France (1 November 1661 – 14 April 1711) was the eldest son and heir of Louis XIV, King of France, and his spouse, Maria Theresa of Spain. As the heir apparent to the French throne, he was styled Dauphin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou…
Louise Hudson • Link
Miss Ann wrote: "Like Patricia I was amazed that the maids were woken at 1:00 a.m. to start the washing - and I bet they were not paid overtime for that either."
I doubt "overtime" pay was even heard of in Pepys' time. I believe that started with the industrial revolution. In any case, from what I have learned of London maids of the 17th Century, they were pretty much "on call" 24 hours a day. There was little rest for the weary.
Joe P • Link
Oct 25th is St. Crispin's
"The Dolphin "
JayW • Link
Anyone else think that Sam was keeping out of the way while the maids were finishing the washing? It was already dark before he went to the solicitor, where he stayed about an hour before going to his office and writing this long entry. It must have been very late indeed by the time he ventured back home. And surprise, surprise, it was all over.
Chris Squire UK • Link
‘dolphin, n. < Latin delphīnus...
. . †8. = dauphin n. 1, q.v. (Obs.).’
……
‘sot, n.1 and adj. < Old French . .
†1. A foolish or stupid person; a fool, blockhead, dolt. Obs.
. . 1641 Milton Animadversions 55 The one is ever..a sot, an ideot for any use that mankind can make of him.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 492. ⁋1 The Men are such unthinking Sots, that they do not prefer her who restrains all her Passions and Affections [etc.] . . (Pepys' sense here)
2. One who dulls or stupefies himself with drinking; one who commonly or habitually drinks to excess; a soaker.
. . 1699 Ld. Shaftesbury Inq. conc. Virtue ii. ii. 137 One that uses himself in this way, is often call'd a Sot, but never a Debauchee . . ‘ (the modern sense)
……
‘overtime, n. and adv.
1. Time worked over and above a person's regular or set working hours. Also: payment for work performed in such extra time.
[a1536 Building Acct. in E. Law Hist. Hampton Court (1885) App. C. 360 Carpenters workyng their owre tymes and drynkyng tymes uppon the ffonte in the chappell.]
1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse iii. i. 75 The masons were to have 20d. and the tinners 18d. per day; and to be paid for over time, when required to work . . ‘
……
(OED)