Wednesday 10 August 1664
Up, and, being ready, abroad to do several small businesses, among others to find out one to engrave my tables upon my new sliding rule with silver plates, it being so small that Browne that made it cannot get one to do it. So I find out Cocker, the famous writing-master, and get him to do it, and I set an hour by him to see him design it all; and strange it is to see him with his natural eyes to cut so small at his first designing it, and read it all over, without any missing, when for my life I could not, with my best skill, read one word or letter of it; but it is use. But he says that the best light for his life to do a very small thing by (contrary to Chaucer’s words to the Sun, “that he should lend his light to them that small seals grave”), it should be by an artificial light of a candle, set to advantage, as he could do it. I find the fellow, by his discourse, very ingenuous; and among other things, a great admirer and well read in all our English poets, and undertakes to judge of them all, and that not impertinently. Well pleased with his company and better with his judgement upon my Rule, I left him and home, whither Mr. Deane by agreement came to me and dined with me, and by chance Gunner Batters’s wife.
After dinner Deane and I [had] great discourse again about my Lord Chancellor’s timber, out of which I wish I may get well. Thence I to Cocker’s again, and sat by him with good discourse again for an hour or two, and then left him, and by agreement with Captain Silas Taylor (my old acquaintance at the Exchequer) to the Post Officer to hear some instrument musique of Mr. Berchenshaw’s before my Lord Brunkard and Sir Robert Murray. I must confess, whether it be that I hear it but seldom, or that really voice is better, but so it is that I found no pleasure at all in it, and methought two voyces were worth twenty of it.
So home to my office a while, and then to supper and to bed.
21 Annotations
First Reading
Terry F • Link
"contrary to Chaucer's words to the Sun, 'that he should lend his light to them that small seals grave'"
"What proferestow thy light here for to selle?
Go selle it hem that smale seles graven,
We wol thee nought, us nedeth no day haven."
Geoffrey Chaucer, *Troilus and Criseyde*: Book III, lines 1461-3
http://omacl.org/Troilus/troilus3…
Australian Susan • Link
"..strange it is to see him with his natural eyes to cut so small.."
Mr Cocker, I think, must have been very short-sighted which gives you the advantage of being able to do small, close work and still focus - but he probably would have been little good at long distance work. This gives us an insight into Sam's eyes - he seems to have been long-sighted. It is puzzling that Sam goes on to say "..I could not, with my best skill, read one word or letter of it.." If he couldn't see it to read it, why did he have it done? Or am I missing something here?
Lurker • Link
His "candle, set to advantage" was probably a "Shoe-makers window" or a candle set in the middle of four glass balls of water or other lense-like concoctions.
Mary • Link
candle set to advantage.
Indeed, it could have been a shoe-maker's window. On the other hand, if such were the case I should have expected Sam to comment on the use of such a handy device. Maybe the candle was a short-ish object simply set to one side of the work so that the surface was illuminated obliquely. Illumination of this sort can be a help with very fine, monochrome needlework, so perhaps also with engraving.
Michael Robinson • Link
"... to hear some instrument musique of Mr. Berchenshaw's ..."
Todays concert/meeting is described and discussed at length in the article Jenny Doughty posted in background:-
Benjamin Wardhaugh 'Mr Birchensha's Ear'
https://web.archive.org/web/20051…
[Link changed to archive.org version 26 Sep 2015, P.G.]
Robert Gertz • Link
Susan, Sam mentions "design"...Perhaps the initial design Cocker made to work from was smaller and the final engraving legible for Sam's eyes? Or perhaps Sam simply didn't mention that he would use a magnifying glass of some sort with the rule? Interesting...
***
Even more interesting...
"After dinner Deane and I [had] great discourse again about my Lord Chancellor's timber, out of which I wish I may get well."
Now what are the boys up to? Could be but somehow doesn't sound exactly like Sam breathing a sigh of relief to escape Clarendon's wrath. Could it be Clarendon has been politely forced to accede to the King's Navy's needs? Or has a deal been struck?...One the Earl wanted from the start, but did not wish to directly ask for? Meaning that all his earlier howling was simply anger that Deane might grab the timber without the expected generous compensation? In other words that foolish underlings Deane and Pepys lacked the finesse to understand and Carteret, knowing better, had failed to arrange with them, that the Earl was to be paid off without having the embarassment of having to ask for such payment?
If so, very like our modern system...
"So we can't take the timber even in the King's name?" Deane stares.
"Oh, Lord, no..." sigh
"So how much do we offer him?"
"Oh...Gentlemen...You don't ask the Earl what payment he wants. You beg him to accept the King's present for his noble service and keep handing gold to his steward until the Earl gives you leave to thank the King for allowing him to serve him." Carteret explains.
"Oh..." Deane and Pepys nod.
***
Bradford • Link
However Cocker managed the lighting, I am with Aus. Susan at a loss to envision what good it will do Pepys. I've seen metal rules so worn you had to tilt them just right to glimpse the faint marks still left on them; but such is hardly practical for ready use, unless Sam has a pocket magnifier.
Yes, those of us who can read infinitely fine type (like the printers' union seal that appears on some documents Stateside) must have driving glasses before we're let out on the roads.
Xjy • Link
"great discourse again about my LC's timber"
Obviously a very big issue and one that needs some walking around and reflection.
One Xmas I was working on the Guardian special xword with a mate or two, and when we'd finally cracked it, B noted that "X doesn't so much solve crosswords, as worry 'em to death". I think this might be Sam´s uptight anal way of doing things, too. If it's a big bone, attack it from different angles and just gnaw it down over time...
Trägen vinner :-)
Terry F • Link
"to the post-office"
So read L&M, explaining this is presumably a reference to the "'faire banquetting house covered with lead' in the garden behind the Post Office which then stood opposite the Stocks and at the junction of Threadneedle St and Cornhill. After the Fire Princes St was made across the area" as in the 1746 map http://www.motco.com/Map/81002/Se…
JWB • Link
"...to find out one to engrave my tables..."
One year ago to the day:
"After dinner I took leave and went to Greatorex's, whom I found in his garden, and set him to work upon my ruler, to engrave an almanac and other things upon the brasses of it, which a little before night he did, but the latter part he slubbered over, that I must get him to do it over better, or else I shall not fancy my rule, which is such a folly that I am come to now, that whereas before my delight was in multitude of books, and spending money in that and buying alway of other things, now that I am become a better husband, and have left off buying, now my delight is in the neatness of everything, and so cannot be pleased with anything unless it be very neat, which is a strange folly"
Nix • Link
"methought two voyces were worth twenty of it" --
All vocalists and choristers in the group nod their heads in agreement.
Kevin Peter • Link
I see that this rule is more of a novelty, something for Sam to show off, than it is for practical use. It's hard to use a rule if you can't read the markings on it!
pepf • Link
"... strange it is to see him with his natural eyes to cut so small ..."
Cutting glances from gimlet eyes to gimble the new sliding rule with silver plates.
Certainly not Bette Davis - beware the Jabbercock, my son! (...with eyes of flame)
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
Rev Ralph Josselin, Earls Colne, Essex
10: heard the Turks were routed: 12. confirmed to be done. July. 31. if they are the persons god designs to ruin Austria. if they were dead and wounded men they should all rise up in their places to do it. as said of the Caldeans. .Jer. 37.1.10.
[ 1 Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.
10 But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.] https://www.biblegateway.com/pass…
http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earl…
San Diego Sarah • Link
Rev. Ralph Josselin is too obscure for me. I know they often believed in 'magical thinking', so is he quoting this to prove it was a prophesy?
"10 But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation" I understand, but does he seriously think the rest applies to the Turks?
Bottom line, I am questioning how personally they applied the Old Testament to their affairs, considering that 1666 is coming up in 2 years and many were expecting the Apocalypse.
Terry Foreman • Link
San Diego Sarah posts: "I am questioning how personally they applied the Old Testament to their affairs, considering that 1666 is coming up in 2 years and many were expecting the Apocalypse."
Rev. Ralph Josselin was an avid reader of both the news of the day and continental apocalyptic literature that did use a reading of the OT to discover the significance of current events and the coming end-times. I do not know whether this passage in his diary is his own speculation or one he read. But first and last Ralph was a pastor, i.e., a moderate.
Others, esp, the Fifth Monarchy Men "applied the Old Testament to their affairs, considering that 1666 is coming up in 2 years and many were expecting the Apocalypse" very personally: they considered themselves the saints who would reign with King Jesus for the coming millennium. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fif…
Another account of The Fifth Monarchists: http://bcw-project.org/church-and…
San Diego Sarah • Link
Thanks, Terry.
Colin Skyrme • Link
10: heard the Turks were routed: 12. confirmed to be done. July. 31.
I cannot be alone in my surprise and just how quickly apparently accurate details reached our Sam? Can anyone tell me how news could travel so quickly then?
San Diego Sarah • Link
Colin ... Pepys gets his information from Court and the Exchange. This quote is actually about Rev. Josselin in the wilds of Essex, which is more amazing than Pepys hearing things. As to its accuracy -- sometimes not so much.
I think the answer may be that there were pretty regular news-sheets being printed up. One editor had a table in Westminster Hall, and he listened to "the buzz" all day long and in the evening he went home and printed up a digest which he sold next morning. If I was an out of town aristocrat, or the mayor of a town, I would probably pay someone to mail them to me -- the mail went nearly everywhere three times a week.
Terry Foreman • Link
Earl's Colne is near (11.5 mi. NW of) Colchester, a market town and at that time well-connected. His diary provides evidence that Rev. Josselin receives mail and books from abroad.and merchants just ashore in England on their way to London. He tells us of day-trips to London that prompt him to record the latest news.https://en.wikipedia.org/wik…
Mike Zim • Link
"... abroad to ... find out one to engrave my tables upon my new sliding rule ... . So I find out Cocker, the famous writing-master, and get him to do it, "
Cocker's 1678 Arithmetick book inspired the idiom "according to Cocker", which fell out of use in the early 20th century. It predated "according to Hoyle", first used in 1906.
https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa…
"Curiously, Edward Cocker wasn’t known in his lifetime for his skill in arithmetic. He was an expert engraver and what was then called a pen-man, a calligrapher. Samuel Pepys praises him several times in his Diary, in particular because Cocker was the only man Pepys found with the skill to engrave his new slide rule."
https://wordsmith.org/words/hoyle…