Tuesday 2 August 1664
At the office all the morning. At noon dined, and then to, the ’Change, and there walked two hours or more with Sir W. Warren, who after much discourse in general of Sir W. Batten’s dealings, he fell to talk how every body must live by their places, and that he was willing, if I desired it, that I should go shares with him in anything that he deals in. He told me again and again, too, that he confesses himself my debtor too for my service and friendship to him in his present great contract of masts, and that between this and Christmas he shall be in stocke and will pay it me. This I like well, but do not desire to become a merchant, and, therefore, put it off, but desired time to think of it.
Thence to the King’s play-house, and there saw “Bartholomew Fayre,” which do still please me; and is, as it is acted, the best comedy in the world, I believe. I chanced to sit by Tom Killigrew, who tells me that he is setting up a Nursery; that is, is going to build a house in Moorefields, wherein he will have common plays acted. But four operas it shall have in the year, to act six weeks at a time; where we shall have the best scenes and machines, the best musique, and every thing as magnificent as is in Christendome; and to that end hath sent for voices and painters and other persons from Italy.
Thence homeward called upon my Lord Marlborough, and so home and to my office, and then to Sir W. Pen, and with him and our fellow officers and servants of the house and none else to Church to lay his brother in the ground, wherein nothing handsome at all, but that he lays him under the Communion table in the chancel, about nine at night? So home and to bed.
23 Annotations
First Reading
Michael Robinson • Link
"... he confesses himself my debtor too for my service ..."
L&M read "... he confesses himself my debtor 100L, for my service ..."
Terry F • Link
nurs·er·y
-noun, plural -er·ies.
1. a room or place set apart for young children.
2. a nursery school or day nursery.
3. a place where young trees or other plants are raised for transplanting, for sale, or for experimental study.
4. any place in which something is bred, nourished, or fostered: The art institute has been the nursery of much great painting.
5. any situation, condition, circumstance, practice, etc., serving to breed or foster something: Slums are nurseries for young criminals.
------------------------------------------------------[Origin: 1350-1400; ME norcery. See nurse, -ery]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
http://dictionary.reference.com/b…
Tom Killigrew, the impresario, has a project for an opera breeding-facility.
Robert Gertz • Link
Sir W. Warren offering to let Sam in on the ground floor...Very tempting, I imagine. And Tom Killigrew no doubt looking for backers for his new opera company...Equally interesting if perhaps less lucreative. Sam, whether he chooses to stand pat or gamble boldly, surely relishing the feeling of being one of the 'club', approached by the solid, successful and the bright, ambitious...
"Bess! Guess what! As of yesterday we're merchant princes and grand patrons of tha arts!!"
Well, at least now he has a polite and mutually beneficial way to dispose of Signor Pedro.
"Tom, I have just the man for your new company!"
Martin • Link
"about nine at night?"
The question mark is a scanning error.
Wheatley has a footnote at this point, which reads:
The Rev. Alfred Povah, D. D., rector of St. Olave's, Hart Street, has been so kind as to give the editor the following extract from the register of burials of that parish, in illustration of the above entry: "1664, August 3. [sic] Mr. George Penn was Buryed in ye Chancell."
Australian Susan • Link
Burying in the Chancel was a sign of wealth or influence or importance or piety.(Shakespeare - who by the time of his death was an important personage in Stratford - is buried in the chancel of his church). Sam says the burial took place under the altar - usually reserved for priests.
Ruben • Link
A burial at night whitout the benefit of modern illumination is today very dramatic. Of course, Pepys was used to the illumination of his time.
Why should a Christian be buried at night?
jeannine • Link
"Journal of the Earl of Sandwich" edited by R.C. Anderson
August 2nd. Tuesday. A court martial for trying a man that his gun went off by accident and killed the Master's wife of the Revenge. Found not guilty of murder, but chance medly, and ordered to be whipped and discharged the fleet.
A packet received and dispatched this night. In the morning the Duke's yacht went by for the river with Madame de Comines the Ambassador's Lady and received on board at Calais.
Bradford • Link
Surely any funds that could have been spent on doing the obsequies up "handsome" had to be funneled into the deal for the final resting place?
This is a good place to re-read the section on "Theatre" in the Companion, and to note top 436 what seems to be the result of Killigrew's planning.
cape henry • Link
"...but do not desire to become a merchant..." This, of course, is the famous bias of the English gentry class which has its roots going back to antiquity. Pepys clearly believes that he has reached escape velocity and has no desire to ever return to his working class/merchant origins - no matter how much money he might be able to make.
Nix • Link
Given the latititude, the time of year, the Julian calendar, and somewhat imprecise timekeeping, would it necessarily have been dark "around nine at night"?
JWB • Link
"... he lays him under the Communion table.."
I smell a Catholic plot.
There would have been no denying transsubstantiation by cummunicants for the next couple of months.
Pedro • Link
"to Church to lay his brother in the ground, wherein nothing handsome at all, but that he lays him under the Communion table in the chancel"
A reminder of Sam's brother...
"and thence to Madam Turner's, in both places preparing things against to-morrow; and this night I have altered my resolution of burying him in the church yarde among my young brothers and sisters, and bury him in the church, in the middle isle, as near as I can to my mother's pew. This costs me 20s. more."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Pedro • Link
Why should a Christian be buried at night?
An interesting question, as it only seems to be during the plague.
Am I right in assuming that Jesus was buried during the night? If this was so, then maybe it would be reasonable to wish for burial during the night, but this does not seem to be the case.
Pedro • Link
"I chanced to sit by Tom Killigrew, who tells me that he is setting up a Nursery"
(Spoiler) RELICS OF LONDON SURVIVING THE FIRE
As there are some quaint and interesting buildings in the suburbs of this side of London, we may bestow a brief notice upon them, more particularly as they help us to comprehend its past state. There are still some Elizabethan houses leading toward Barbican; a few years ago, there were very many in this district. In Golden Lane, opposite, is the front of the old theatre, by some London topographers considered to be 'The Fortune,' by which Edward Alleyn, the founder of Dulwich College, made his estate; others say it is Killigrew's play-house, called 'The Nursery,' intended to be used as a school for young actors. Pepys records a visit there, in his quaint style, when `he found the musique better than we looked for, and the acting not much worse, because I expected as bad as could be.' There is a very old stucco representation of the Royal Arms and supporters over the door.
http://www.thebookofdays.com/mont…
Jesse • Link
"setting up a Nursery"
I think 'intended to be used as a school for young actors' makes more sense than an 'opera breeding-facility' - though interestingly it's hard to conclude that from reading today's entry on its own.
Terry F • Link
Jesse, what I inferred Killigrew projected *today* -- to breed "operas" from the planned importation of Italian singers -- might have failed for lack of funds in favor of a school to train actors. Today is the vision; the reality is future.
Pedro • Link
Also with no Dirk, 2 August 1664 from the Carte Papers
Thomas Townsend to Sandwich
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 75, fol(s). 197
Has received the Lord Treasurer's Warrant to strike tallies for £20,000 for the service of the Wardrobe. When the formalities are completed, the writer will ask his Lordship's instructions as to the disposal of this sum; the claimants upon which he proceeds to enumerate.
Michael Robinson • Link
"... he confesses himself my debtor 1oo L ..."
I wonder if Warren had heard, or been told of, Gauden's gift of the flagons ("a 110 L or thereabouts") on June 21st? Pepys could have mentioned it to indicate what other substantial merchants considered the going rate for his 'assistance' with a major contract -- double the unanticipated gift of 50L from Deering in early January.
John Lightbody • Link
The term 'nursery' is in use to this day to mean a school for young actors.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
Night burial
L&M note it was a sign of high social standing to be buried in the chancel [that's been posted] and at night.
James Morgan • Link
I think Pepy's unwillingness to be a merchant may be more a good assessment of his own skills and deficiencies than any sort of class prejudice. As the son of a tailor I would expect him willing to try anything that he thinks he can do.
Louise Hudson • Link
By clicking on the word "Nursery" in the diary for today, you will see this
New Nursery
A theatre for training young actors, this one was based at the theatre on Vere Street which had been the headquarters of the King's Company from 1660-1663.
Posters questioned the word in 2007, but it's available as a link now.
Tonyel • Link
L&M read "... he confesses himself my debtor 100L, for my service ..."
That's more like it - a business-like approach. No more vague promises as per Creed which sent Sam off to value a gift to see how much had been paid.