Saturday 2 July 1664
Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon to the ’Change, and there, which is strange, I could meet with nobody that I could invite home to my venison pasty, but only Mr. Alsopp and Mr. Lanyon, whom I invited last night, and a friend they brought along with them. So home and with our venison pasty we had other good meat and good discourse. After dinner sat close to discourse about our business of the victualling of the garrison of Tangier, taking their prices of all provisions, and I do hope to order it so that they and I also may get something by it, which do much please me, for I hope I may get nobly and honestly with profit to the King. They being gone came Sir W. Warren, and he and I discoursed long about the business of masts, and then in the evening to my office, where late writing letters, and then home to look over some Brampton papers, which I am under an oathe to dispatch before I spend one half houre in any pleasure or go to bed before 12 o’clock, to which, by the grace of God, I will be true. Then to bed.
When I came home I found that to-morrow being Sunday I should gain nothing by doing it to-night, and to-morrow I can do it very well and better than to-night. I went to bed before my time, but with a resolution of doing the thing to better purpose to-morrow.
9 Annotations
First Reading
Robert Gertz • Link
"...I could meet with nobody that I could invite home to my venison pasty..."
"Remember, mates. Tomorrow is Pepys' pasty day. If you don't want to spend the next two days in digestive agony in exchange for the bliss of thirty minutes eyein' the good Missus Pepys...Find somethin' to do at noon."
Robert Gertz • Link
"After dinner sat close to discourse about our business of the victualling of the garrison of Tangier, taking their prices of all provisions, and I do hope to order it so that they and I also may get something by it, which do much please me, for I hope I may get nobly and honestly with profit to the King. They being gone came Sir W. Warren, and he and I discoursed long about the business of masts..."
Whatever happened to the strict young man who criticized Batten for having merchants come to his house to discuss the office's business?
Robert Gertz • Link
"...to look over some Brampton papers, which I am under an oathe to dispatch before I spend one half houre in any pleasure or go to bed before 12 o'clock, to which, by the grace of God, I will be true. Then to bed. (Doubtless there should be an "ahem" here)
When I came home I found that to-morrow being Sunday I should gain nothing by doing it to-night, and to-morrow I can do it very well and better than to-night. I went to bed before my time, but with a resolution of doing the thing to better purpose to-morrow."
Rome...The Vatican...
St. Peter's is shaken to its very foundations. Screams and cries from the grotto believed to lead the tomb itself.
"Holiness, the other day the sky turning dark, a deaf-mute speaking in the Sistine Chapel, demanding God's 'ten pounds' be restored, now this! What does this portend?!" a frantic Cardinal begs the Vicar of Christ, kneeling to pray for guidance in his chapel.
"It can only mean one thing, Cardinal. The very Grace of God has been spurned in the most sacred of oaths! Summon the Collegia!! Bring me the Holy Inquisition's representative!! The violator...No doubt a English heretic of the direst magnitude must be found! And dealt with!!!"
"English, Holiness?"
"The boy spoke of pounds, Cardinale. God gives us a sign to accomplish His Sacred Duty."
"Ah...Of course, Holiness." And to think I hesitated to vote for him till the third round, the Cardinal shakes his admiring head.
cape henry • Link
"...but with a resolution of doing the thing to better purpose to-morrow."This is still the universal weekend promise of millions broken millions of times every weekend.
Terry F • Link
There are surely oaths and codicils to oaths not recorded in the Diary.
Robert Gertz • Link
My resolve is firm, my purpose sure...My oath to begin this review of Brampton documents before I take a moment's pleasure or go to bed before midnight...Unbreakable...
"Samm...uel..."
Ummn?
"Sammm...uel."
Hark, methinks I hear the alluring call of a siren. Thank God for my fortitude of character.
"Sammmmm...uel... I'm feeling lots better tonight."
You know... It is Saturday night and there's no particular need for a fine churchgoer like me to attend service tomorrow.
No, Samuel. A Puritan Sam in angel wings appears on right shoulder. Fight this lure of the devil and be about your business like a true and Christian man.
Go to her, Samuel. A happy-go-lucky pleasure-seeking Sam with rather cute red horns on left.
T'would be wrong to neglect her. I do overmind my business at times.
Hmmn...The Puritan angel frowns.
"Sam'l? Come on. I have something from one of my new novels I want to show you."
A most sacred vow, Samuel, the stern angel insists.
Ooolala...The pleasure-seeking devil beams.
After all, it's only my own family affairs...Not the King's (Profitable, the devil notes) business.
And tis wrong to place so much upon the laying up of the goods of this world.
Absolutely, the little devil nods, grinning at the fuming...Hey, that's my argument...angel. Though, nothing wrong with getting rich...Quick.
"Samuellll!...Please?! It's lonely up here."
Listen to that. And you did hear Dr. Burnett? Sam eyes the Puritan to the right. God knows what suffering tomorrow will bring.
The Fires of Hell, Samuel!! the Puritan tries his last shot.
Well, if God is so cruel over a silly vow, I'll have charming company, I think. Including the most beautiful girl I know whom I believe would follow me there. Say, which one of you two really is the Evil one anyway? he eyes both figures.
"Coming right up, darling!"
L'chai-im! As those Jewish fellows were saying that night at the synagogue.
***
Dave • Link
"and to-morrow I can do it very well and better than to-night."
Sam, Sam, never put off until tomorrow that which can be done today. We will see if you are proved correct.
Australian Susan • Link
"...and tomorrow I can do it very well and better than tonight..."
So, if I allow myself to play one game of Freecell, I *promise* I will work on the accounts for the rest of the day.......
OR
So, if I allow myself to read one day's entry (and annotations), I *promise* I will work on the accounts for the rest of the day.......
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
With "Mr. Alsopp and Mr. Lanyon...to discourse about our business of the victualling of the garrison of Tangier, taking their prices of all provisions, and I do hope to order it so that they and I also may get something by it, which do much please me, for I hope I may get nobly and honestly with profit to the King."
See http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… (Per L&M footnote)