Friday 15 January 1663/64
Up and to my office, where all the morning, and among other things Mr. Turner with me, and I did tell him my mind about the Controller his master and all the office, and my mind touching himself too, as he did carry himself either well or ill to me and my clerks, which I doubt not but it will operate well.
Thence to the ’Change, and there met my uncle Wight, who was very kind to me, and would have had me home with him, and so kind that I begin to wonder and think something of it of good to me.
Thence home to dinner, and after dinner with Mr. Hater by water, and walked thither and back again from Deptford, where I did do something checking the iron business, but my chief business was my discourse with Mr. Hater about what had passed last night and to-day about the office business, and my resolution to do him all the good I can therein.
So home, and my wife tells me that my uncle Wight hath been with her, and played at cards with her, and is mighty inquisitive to know whether she is with child or no, which makes me wonder what his meaning is, and after all my thoughts, I cannot think, unless it be in order to the making his will, that he might know how to do by me, and I would to God my wife had told him that she was.
13 Annotations
First Reading
Todd Bernhardt • Link
"and I would to God my wife had told him that she was"
Sam, Sam, Sam. You crack me up SO MUCH sometimes...
Laura • Link
"and I would to God my wife had told him that she was"
...or is this just wishful thinking on Sam's part that she actually was with child?
Bullus Hutton • Link
For gosh sake Sam, they were playing cards!
You came home all pumped to find Uncle Wight was at your house after you met him at the 'Change and you had whizzed off to Deptford and come back and you said What did he say What did he say? and poor Liz said I'm so sorry Sam I think he said 15 two, a pair's 4 and one for his Nob is 5, all I was actually thinking is maybe we would have blueberry pancakes for breakfast.
Robert Gertz • Link
Sam...
Now,if Pembleton had met you at the 'Change and then you went home and found he'd dashed to your house on confirming you'd be away for a few hours...Tell me, what would you be writing here?
Robert Gertz • Link
"...I cannot think, unless it be in order to the making his will, that he might know how to do by me, and I would to God my wife had told him that she was."
After all, we can always say we lost it later...
"All right, people. My Uncle and Aunt Wight will be here to express his condolences any minute. Lets see some grief, staff. Will, you look the sentimental type...Your beloved mistress has lost the babe she and your beloved master have been trying for for years. That's it...No, no, lets not overdo it. Bess, you still look too healthy...A few more runs up and down stairs. Jane, do we have the warm salt water for Mrs. Pepys' sweat? Oh, Jane...The woman's just been through an agonizingly painful episode, we need sweat galore. And save some for me, the frantic husband and would-have-been father.
Now, girls...Lets get move on those tears. Susan, picture yourself out on the street, 'cause you will be if we blow this. Jane, the onions are not working....Here, try pricking yourself with this needle, we need some blood anyway.
Tom, do you remember your lines? Tom..." a sigh... "You're the grieving would-have-been uncle, for God's sake. Put some emotion into it."
A.De Araujo • Link
"and I would to God my wife had told him she was"
Evolutionary Darwinism in action: the uncle wants to be sure at least some of his genes will pass on.
Bradford • Link
Say Elizabeth had seized the initiative and lied about being pregnant. Great rejoicing! Uncle Wight makes his will, allotting great things---not directly to the Pepyses, but to the unborn child (probably on the proviso that it prove male), with them as trustees. And then no baby appears---as Robert indicates, one could always plead miscarriage. . . . Gee, this would have made a swell plot for an early Zola novel!
Pedro • Link
"and I would to God my wife had told him that she was."
"Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive."
Lawrence • Link
"where I did do something checking the Iron business"
Is this to do with making Iron knees in Ships?
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"where I did do something checking the Iron business"
Is this to do with making Iron knees in Ships?
In a few years yet: the first serious indication we have of iron being used as a substitute for timber components was circa 1670 when the naval shipwright Sir Anthony Deane, a protege of Samuel Pepys, built the 1st rate Royal James at Portsmouth. However Pepys, then Clerk of the Acts, rebuked Deane for using materials not authorized by the Navy Board. After visiting the dockyard, he wrote to Deane stating; "that you have of your own head, without precedent, as well as without the advice, or so much as the privity, of this Board or the Commissioner upon the place, presumed to lay aside the old secure practice of fastening your beams in your new ships with standards and knees, and in the room thereof taken upon you to do it iron ". Deane, defending the case that his 'iron dogs' were a stronger method of securing beams replied, "between you and myself, the King must build no more ships, if nothing can be invented but knees..., we having not one knee in the yard". The King, later seeing Deane's letter, supported his actions. Deane's allegations supported the fact that there was already a serious problem regarding a shortage of timber. In all probability this was incurred by resources being directed towards rebuilding London after the Great Fire of 1666. https://www.maritime.org/conf/con…
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... I did tell him my mind about the Controller his master and all the office, and my mind touching himself too, as he did carry himself either well or ill to me and my clerks, which I doubt not but it will operate well."
64-year-old Sir John Mennes, Controller of the Navy, has become the object of fun and concern with his shaking. Yesterday he refused to delegate his duties at a full meeting of the Navy Board. So now it falls on Clerk of the Acts, Samuel Pepys to activate Plan B as the pressure of work builds to prepare for war.
Thomas Turner -- who is both Purveyor of Petty Provisions 1660-1668 as well as clerk to the Comptroller 1661-1668 -- is key to implement the newly-adopted streamlined accounting, which he was probably familiar with from Cromwellian times. So Pepys praises his work and talents, knowing Turner's reaction will be relaid to the other clerks, for better or worse. Pepys is confident Turner will carry through with the changes well. Stroke, stroke, stroke.
After lunch Pepys goes for a boat ride with William Hater. "... my chief business was my discourse with Mr. Hater about what had passed last night and today about the office business, and my resolution to do him all the good I can therein."
I.E. Be a good fellow and let Turner boss you around. He's old and you are an up-and-coming young fellow who I will promote later. War is coming and ego matches will only make trouble for everyone. Take this one for the team. Stroke, stroke, stroke.
That's how I read today's office politics. Meanwhile, back at the Ranch ...
San Diego Sarah • Link
"After lunch Pepys goes for a boat ride with William Hater." -- No no, that should be THOMAS HAYTER. Sorry!
Herbert • Link
Hi Sarah - what was the "newly-adopted streamlined accounting"?