Margaret on 4 Feb 2008  •  Link

I'm glad that Sam paid Jane her wages.

The story about the messenger is interesting -- I'm glad Sam puts in these anecdotes that really have nothing at all to do with him. I'm wondering about the "physique" -- did that make the messenger vomit, or was it more gross than that? Probably more gross, considering the time involved in delivering the message.

Terry Foreman on 4 Feb 2008  •  Link

"He told us another odd passage: how the King having newly put out Prince Rupert of his generallshipp, upon some miscarriage at Bristoll, and Sir Richard Willis1 of his governorship of Newarke, at the entreaty of the gentry of the County, and put in my Lord Bellasses, the great officers of the King’s army mutinyed, and come in that manner with swords drawn, into the market-place of the towne where the King was; which the King hearing, says, “I must to horse.” And there himself personally, when every body expected they should have been opposed, the King come, and cried to the head of the mutineers, which was Prince Rupert, “Nephew, I command you to be gone.” So the Prince, in all his fury and discontent, withdrew, and his company scattered, which they say was the greatest piece of mutiny in the world."

Pepys doesn't know it, but this passage is odd in what it says of what the King did and said.

A better account: "Oct 16 - The King orders that Rupert must not enter Newark. Rupert ignores this and is met by the Governor Sir Richard Willis, Charles Gerrard and an escort of 100 men.
[Oct 21] Rupert demands a court martial in an attempt to clear his name. This court very quickly finds in favour of Rupert and Charles makes a statement absolving him from any act of disloyalty or treason at Bristol. The court martial was overseen by Lord Astley, Lord Belasyse, Lord Cork, Lord Lindsey, and Gerrard, Richard Willis and John Ashburnham.

But Charles is angry and removes Richard Willis from being Governor of Newark.

[Oct 26] Rupert, Willis, Maurice and Gerrard march to the King [where he is at dinner] and protested. Charles orders them out and they retreat to the Governor's house and demand a fair trial for Willis. The King refuses but says he will allow passes to anyone who wishes to leave his service and go oversees.

...Gerrard apologises to the King but Rupert defiantly leaves Newark with about 200 men and heads for Belvoir Castle. Rupert later heads back towards Oxford and stays at Woodstock." http://www.theteacher99.btinterne…

Terry Foreman on 4 Feb 2008  •  Link

the “Sealed Knot.”

The Sealed Knot was a secret Royalist association which plotted for the Restoration of the Monarchy during English Interregnum. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal…

Carl in Boston on 4 Feb 2008  •  Link

"Lay long in bed discoursing with my wife about her mayds"
Good, good, so far, so good, best news in quite a while.........
"a wife that brings me nothing almost (besides a comely person) but only trouble and discontent"
Sam will drool, and Liz will rule, she will win, he has to obey, she's beautiful
"They did give him some physique, and out it come"
Margaret asks, come out the front, or come out the back? He had to be on the road more than one hour, and his digestion had to bring the lead ball into his intestines. I vote for this scenario: they revved him up with physic, aimed him against the wall, and he blew that lead ball out his .... Just the same, the ball is up in the air, which way it came out, you decide. I know which way my money is on.
How about some more about the flowers of England, that last bit was beautiful.

cgs on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

lead poisoning? another entry for SP:

sluggbullet,

1. a. A piece of lead or other metal for firing from a gun; a roughly-formed bullet.
1622 MS. Sessions Roll, Durham, Unum tormentum anglice a gun oneratum cum quadam plumbea machina vocata a Slugg.

7. attrib. and Comb., as slug-bullet, -cartridge, -gun, -shot; slug-loaded adj.; slug-line Journalism, an identifying title, usu. occupying one slug, accompanying a news story in draft and galleys; slug-setting Printing, the method of setting an entire line of type on a single slug; so slug-set a.
1665 PEPYS Diary 4 Feb., This message he sent in a *slugg-bullett, being writ in cypher, and wrapped up in lead.

an aside:
1902 A. M. WORTHINGTON Dynamics of Rotation (ed.4) p. viii, I have ventured to give the name of a ‘slug’ to the British Engineer's Unit of Mass, i.e., to the mass in which an acceleration of one foot-per-sec.-per-sec. is produced by a force of one pound.

Australian Susan on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

"...But these are but foolish troubles and so not to be set to heart, yet it do disturb me mightily these things...."

Why does Elizabeth's quick temper with her domestics and mishandling of them, which Sam here admits to being "foolish", still disturb him so much? Do many men either of that time or later really bother much about the servants? As long as the household ran and they got food and clean bedding and the slops emptied, fires lit and so on, why would he bother about the how and the when? Or is this a hangover from the medieval concept of household and family being one? Sam certainly refers to family as meaning the servants as well. But, from my own experience, my husband (who works l-o-n-g hours) is not in the least bit interested in how our household runs as long as it does!

The section about the bullet reminded me (queasily) of the time my two year old son swallowed the head of a Lego man........

jeannine on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

“Pepys doesn’t know it, but this passage is at odds in what it says of what the King did and said.”, Yes Terry, in regards to Rupert, Sam is once again off in his information.

All information& quotes from “Prince Rupert :The Last Cavalier” by Charles Spencer

Rupert arrived in Newark and the King had lost control of the town. “Sir John Oglander, a Royalist knight, witnessed similar debauchery elsewhere: ”Truly all, of the greatest part, of the Kings’ commanders, were so debased by drinking, whoring and swearing that no man could expect God’s blessings on their actions.’ When Charles tried to establish order, he was ignored.

A large welcoming party greeted Rupert outside the town walls, while the king skulked inside. Rupert rode into Newark, dismounted, and to the consternation of Sir Edward Walker, an eyewitness, ‘comes straight into the [King’s] presence, and without any usual ceremony, tells his Majesty that he has come to render an account of the loss of Bristol,’ Charles refused to acknowledge his nephew’s presence and, appalled by his insolence, walked silently to his supper chair, Rupert eagerly trying to open a dialogue. The king started to eat and addressed only Maurine [Rupert’s younger brother].

Rupert’s persistence eventually won through, thought, and Charles agreed to his request for a court martial. Sitting in judgment were seven Royalist grandees, including the Earl of Linsey (son of the general slain at Edgehill), Lord Astley, Lord Gerard, Sir Richard Willis (governor of Newark), Lord Bellasis, and John Ashbeunham. Bellasis and Ashburnham were Digby’s men [note:Digby is Rupert’s political enemy and had become favored by Charles I at this time], but the court martial’s verdict was unanimous: the prince was declared innocent of cowardice and treachery. The panel accepted that Rupert would have defended Bristol’ to the last man: though the tender regard he had to the preservation of so many officers and soldiers, was the chief reason that induced him to capitulate for the whole; they having so long and faithfully served us.’ Charles’s counterclaim – that he would have saved the city if his nephew had held out for longer – was rejected.

On 21 October the king was obliged to sign the humiliating verdict. He then declared he would be leaving for Oxford. His parting shot was the dismissal of Willis as governor, and his replacement by Digby’s acolyte, Bellasis……”

Rupert, Gerard and about 20 followers set upon the King as Willis’s friendship to him had cost him his position. John Evelyn’s Diary then recorded that “Digby’s character, however, was supported by Bellasis, the governor, and several others, but the Princes, Rupert and Maurice, side with Gerard. At length swords were drawn, and the King rushed to part them… ‘

Private conversations between the King, Rupert and Maurice took place and the Princes finally determined that “Digby and his faction are too firmly in favour for the king to treat them favourably or honourably. With regret they decide to quit Newark.

The king watched from the castle window as the princes led away 400 of his supporters. Eyewitnesses recalled seeing tears in Charles’s eyes as the columns rode off.”

Jesse on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

"...the indiscretion of a wife that brings me nothing almost (besides a comely person) but only trouble and discontent"

My thinking is that Pepys is looking to his wife to manage the household w/o "indiscretion" and other issues and w/o him having to get *involved*. She's having trouble obviously and he's annoyed. Probably not his only frustration w/his "comely" Mrs. who perhaps may be excused by her youth.

Robert Gertz on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

"Why does Elizabeth’s quick temper with her domestics and mishandling of them, which Sam here admits to being “foolish”, still disturb him so much? Do many men either of that time or later really bother much about the servants?"

I think there are several issues, private and public. Privately the disturbance in the household for a man like Sam who enjoys people and seems to like to have a cheery atmosphere must grate. The servants don't vanish when he comes in and their natural human discontent however suppressed makes for an unpleasant home. Bess is likely on edge and anxious to have Sam favor her part, while tormented by this evidence that she is unable to run her home well and meet her husband's exacting standards. (No doubt Sam does his best to rub in his long hours, constant diligence, etc,etc) She'll be even less likely to handle relations with future servants well after this. And that can't make for happiness in their personal relationship, all adding up to a home he once found a haven becoming a place he would rather avoid. On the practical side, he's lost another maid he valued and it will be harder to get good servants as the word of mouth about Bess spreads. Publicly, Jane is talking about the situation so neighbors and strangers are learning details about his home problems while visitors (proper entertaining of important clients and 'friends' becoming more and more crucial to Sam's advancement) may find themselves poorly served.

I've always felt Sam's remark in this entry that Bess brings him nothing to be about the lowest point in their relationship-even future infidelities don't quite matter so much as this angry grouse on his part regarding his poor choice. She must sense his feelings from his attitude if not by his direct statement and that can only deepen her anxiety...She's failed as a child-bearer, and now as a household manager and the husband and lover who threw all common sense aside to win her (something she must treasure), lately increasingly neglectful, now seems to be regretting his choice. It's sad that Sam can't see much of the problems at home stem from his own selfishness and withdrawl-she senses his pulling away from her and it's turning a high-spirited, good-hearted, loving young woman into a lonely, anxious, angry, and bitter one.

Spoiler-Thank heaven a rescuer is on the way...And her name ironically is also Jane.

Margaret on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

Thank-you, Terry & Jeannine, for explaining what was going on with Charles I & Prince Rupert; I really couldn't understand Sam's explanation.

I live in that part of the world once known as "Rupert's Land" (named after him though he never came near the place) and feel a special interest in the prince. He led a very interesting life--too bad he never kept a diary. Was he really a pirate at one time, before the restoration?

CGS on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

Prince Rupert: Was he really a pirate? nae just a NGO. of the day. Pirate was an 'ero to some, Pain to some others and was useful foil for errors done by the Powers to be.
The Inter Regnum was a period when Charles II was a king to some , Renegade to others , and an embarrassment to others, so his supporters had to fend for themselves by any means. If Charles had lost his bid to get his crown, like his first borne then History would be different.

Pedro on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

Sealed Knot, Bringing the Past to Life…

http://www.thesealedknot.org.uk/

Mary on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

a word for Elizabeth.

Let's not forget that we're only hearing Sam's side of the argument, and we all know how many hours a day Sam spends wrapped in the bosom of his extended 'family'. Precious few.

Is Jane such a paragon? We don't know because Sam has no idea how she has been behaving whilst he is out practically all day, every day. He's not too happy with her behaviour now that she's been dismissed. Perhaps he is too ready to accept her account of Elizabeth's behaviour, notably with regard to Tom. Tom is Sam's boy, not Elizabeth's, and it should be up to Sam to see that the lad is properly employed.

Speaking from many years' experience of living in developing countries with live-in servants in the house, I can attest to the fact that it is not always easy to build working relationships that are equally satisfactory to both partners in the employers' marriage.

George R on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

"a word for Elizabeth.

Let’s not forget that we’re only hearing Sam’s side of the argument, and we all know how many hours a day Sam spends wrapped in the bosom of his extended ‘family’. Precious few."

As there is only one Bess and she is now well outnumbered by the dissmissed servants, it looks like Sam is, perhaps reluctantly, beginning to think the servants are in the right. After all as the husband he has a hold on her but feels an obligation to go along,reluctantly again, with her whims.

Pedro on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

Prince Rupert; was he really a pirate?

An interesting question and as cgs suggests there is a fine line between piracy and privateering. I think that Rupert and Holmes have been harshly labelled by many historians as pirates, whereas other Royalists such as Allin and Carteret as privateers. Taking the Wikipedia definition, a pirate commits robbery mainly at sea, but without commission. The privateer does the same thing but is commissioned with letters of marque issued from a sovereign state.

Rupert led the Royalist fleet on its epic voyage from 1649 to 1652, along with Holmes, that went to the Mediterranean, West Africa an over to the West Indies. Perhaps it is the connection with the West Indies that has caused the label.

Allin was a Lowestoft (Royalist) shipbuilder whose ship was seized by the Parliamentarians and converted to a warship. He and other Royalist went over to the continent and fitted out vessels to distress the Yarmouth (Parliamentarian) trade. It is said that 21 out of the 23 Iceland fishery ships were captured by these Royalist Privateers.

From the Encyclopedia Carteret declared for the King and held out on Jersey for three years while taking part in lucrative privateering.

To add to the confusion, while Rupert was being chased by Blake after giving him the slip at Lisbon, he sent a ship to chase a French prize. The French ship was driven towards Blake’s fleet and was taken by them as a prize. Neither Rupert of Blake had a right to take the Frenchman.

Carl in Boston on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

So I sent for my wife to my office, and told her that rather than be talked on I would give her all her wages for this Quarter coming on, though two months is behind, which vexed my wife
Elizabeth is clearly wrong and flying in the face of modern law. One cannot stiff a worker for back pay and dismiss them without paying, which she was doing. In this, Sam is right. A workman is worthy of his hire, as it says in The Good Book.

Paul Dyson on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

Slugg

This word is often used for bullets in "Westerns", whether films, books or comics, for example in the old epitaph from Boot Hill, Tombstone and elsewhere:

Here lies Lester Moore,
Six slugs from a 44,
No Les,
No More.

An example of a word persisting in American English after they had disappeared in the old country.

Mary on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

"this quarter coming on"

I wonder which quarter we are talking about. The current quarter runs from December 25th to Lady Day (March 25th). "Coming on" could be taken to mean 'next quarter' i.e. Lady Day to Midsummer Day. However,it seems more likely that we are concerned with the current quarter, which still has the better part of 2 months (actually 7 weeks) to run (coming on).

Jane was first given her notice on January 5th, just 10 days into the current quarter, and immediately took time off to go and look for another position. One month later she leaves and Sam insists on paying her in full to the end of the quarter in seven weeks' time even though she has only worked a part of it. Elizabeth is especially vexed because this leaves the Pepyses two months out of pocket (behind).

Strictly speaking, Jane and others like her should have been employed on an annual contract which could not be broken in mid-term unless by mutual consent or because of serious misdeeds by the employee or after reasonable cause had been shown to a magistrate. In practice, the letter of the law was by no means always adhered to and many servants were turned out with no notice and little, if any, payment. By contemporary standards Jane has not done badly at all; she's had a month in which to look for another job and I see no suggestion that she was to be cast adrift with no pay at all. The argument between Sam and Elizabeth is about how much she should be paid, not whether she should be given any pay. Jane wants to be paid for the whole quarter, not just for a part of it,and that is what she achieves. Does she calculate that Sam will pay up in order to avoid gossip?

As for the reasons for Jane's dismissal, they are not entirely clear, but on January 5th Sam agrees that "she hath faults and is cunning" (i.e. crafty, devious, sly). On January 6th he reports "they say a little apt to scold - but I hear her not." (But he isn't at home as much as the rest of the household).

There is clearly friction within the household. Whether Jane or Elizabeth is the prime cause of this we cannot tell for sure, but one of them has to go and it's not going to be Mrs. Pepys. That really would get the neighbourhood, the Navy Office and Sam's professional colleagues' tongues wagging.

language hat on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

Just to clear up CGS's OED definition, it's for "slug," not "slugbullet," a compound that apparently occurs only here.

jeannine on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

"Was he really a pirate at one time, before the restoration?"

Margaret, as Pedro mentions Rupert was not a 'pirate' but perhaps more of a 'privateer'. This link explains the difference pretty well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priv…

Under Charles I most of Rupert's activity was on land, where he built up an amazing reputation as an army leader. In 1647 his career as an army officer came to an end and he became an Admiral, or a "general-at-sea' as the role was often called then.

Kitson, in his book “Prince Rupert Admiral and General-at-Sea” explains that “When Rupert first took charge of the Royalist fleet at the end of 1648, the Commonwealth government was firmly established in England. For the next four and a half years he kept the Royalist flag flying in the approaches to the Channel, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Caribbean, with no base, harried by Parliamentary commanders like Blake, Ayscue and Penn and subjected to the violence of the elements as well as the enemy. It was a tremendous achievement and illustration of endurance and courage of epic proportions, even though it did little to advance the Royalist cause at the time.”

While at sea, and in the course of confrontations or battles, it was common for ships to get taken over and for any goods on board taken in the process. In the case of people like Carteret and Rupert, a percentage of that was given to the King (or in the case of Charles, when he was Prince of Wales, in his exile). For Rupert it was part of his naval activity where for Carteret, who had a Letter of Marque, it was almost a business. While Charles was in exile, he really needed any money that he could get and authorizing this ‘pirating’ under the name of being a ‘privateer’ or under military action on his behalf was a welcome cash flow when it worked out in his favor.

And as an aside, Rupert had such a fearful reputation that many of the stories about him got blown out of proportion. His stature (about 6’ 5’’) and dark hair gave him a physically striking presence. He also had a very strong temper (which somewhat mellowed with age) and many people even within the Royalist cause were very jealous of him. His army troops and seamen, however, tended to be very loyal to him. Most of what Sam records about him does not align with the actual history. In the case of Sam, for some unknown reason, Rupert starts out in his Diary on a bad footing and never regains it, but rather continues to be the subject of slander from Sam. We also need to understand that Sam often gets his gossip from very biased parties and tends to record it in a way that sounds so factual that one may just believe it to be true.

JWB on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

Elisabeth

Yesterday Sam visited Lady Sandwich. No-one could withstand the comparison.

Nix on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

So today's references to "the King" are to Charles I, not Charles II? (Took a while for that to dawn on me.)

jeannine on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

Yes Nix, Bellases is talking about Charles I.

Glyn on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

It sounds as if Sam is regretting not marrying a richer or more politically connected woman (like his rival Creed will do). Yet he will never remarry after Elizabeth's death and it's hard to know why since that would have been the sensible thing to do, and he would have been a good catch for any young woman or young widow.

By the way, I've just noticed in passing that according to the lists there are now more than 1,400 people who have been mentioned in the Diary in the last four years - that's a fantastically high number.

Carl in Boston on 5 Feb 2008  •  Link

Maybe Sam overpaid Jane by two months. I couldn't figure it, there seemed to be a financial screw loose. The usual view is: "It's nothing to do with you, it's all about the money". In this case it's nothing to do with Elizabeth, and nothing to do about the money (chickenfeed), it's all about his reputation. Jane, clever girl, is giving his reputation a good shaking because Elizabeth has shorted her on the wages, and if he doesn't get this over with, his name will be Mudd all over town among the servants. Jane knows this isn't all about money, it's about protection.

Todd Bernhardt on 6 Feb 2008  •  Link

Plus, it's protection at a bargain -- remember, in terms of salary, Jane (or any of the servants, for that matter) wasn't paid very much at all. A good portion of their recompense was in room and board, and she's losing that by being put out of the house.

CGS on 6 Feb 2008  •  Link

Jane's wage be top money at 3d [Truppence ] a day and loaf of bread be 1d and l lb of first class mousetrap be another 4 farthings so by saving her pennies she may be able to find lodgings and have some left over to buy a pair stockings if hers laddered, another 60 denarius.
So how much be available for lodging. Fortunately the middle class was booming and they required good apple pie makers and home made bubble and squeek too.
So our lass better have friends that can put her up on a cot, otherwise she will end like so many others, that be tossed out on their ear, selling oranges and looking for a prince.
Her wages per quarter be 25 bob.

Robert Gertz on 6 Feb 2008  •  Link

Hmmn...How much did Bob Crachit make, 15 bob a week?

"...looking for a prince." And getting a Pepys...for the weekly grope or worse and occasional cabaret dinner...Or perhaps a poor fiddler for life. Poor Jane W...Hope he's a nice guy at least.

A. De Araujo on 6 Feb 2008  •  Link

"Newarke"
Newark, New Jersey, used to have a lot of lead poisoning in the old industrial days.

Terry Foreman on 6 Jan 2018  •  Link

"the King’s sending him his message about holding out the town of Newarke, of which he was then governor for the King....This was a month before the King’s flying to the Scotts; and therein he told him that at such a day, being the 3d or 6th of May, he should hear of his being come to the Scotts, being assured by the King of France that in coming to them he should be used with all the liberty, honour, and safety, that could be desired. "

The letter (from Oxford; undated, early April 1646) is printed in HMC, Ormonde, n.s., ii. 392-3; and A.C. Wood, Nottinghamshire in Civil War, p.115. I begins : 'If you discover the Secret I now import to you by this Extraordinary way of Conveyance...'. The King informed Belasyse that he would join the Scots besieging Newark on 4 or 5 May, 'till which time I conjure you to keep the place and hold out'. Montreuil, the French agent who had mediated in the negotiations, had been waiting in the Scots' camp at Southwell. Belasyse, when examined by parliamentary forces in June 1646, gave an account of this letter and mode of its delivery, some time between 8 and 10 April. The messenger 'swallowed it in a billet and voided it twice': HMC, Portland, i. 377-8. The King arrived at Southwell on 5 May. (L&M note)

Terry Foreman on 6 Jan 2018  •  Link

"He told us another odd passage: how the King having newly put out Prince Rupert of his generallshipp, upon some miscarriage at Bristoll, and Sir Richard Willis1 of his governorship of Newarke, at the entreaty of the gentry of the County, and put in my Lord Bellasses, the great officers of the King’s army mutinyed, and come in that manner with swords drawn, into the market-place of the towne where the King was"

This incident belongs to October 1645; and Pepys's report differs in certain details from the contemporary or near-contemporary accounts summarized in S.R. Gardiner, Hist. Great Civil War, ii. 373+. Rupert had been out of favour since his surrender of Bristol in the previous month. Although relieved of his command and ordered abroad, he had come with a band of followers to Belvoir, and, again contrary yo the King's express command, had joined Charles at Newark. There on 21 October he had been absolved by a Council of War. Willys was on 20 October transferred to another post, largely because of his inability to get of with the county commissioners. According to Gardiner's authorities, the 'mutiny' took place not in the market square, but in the room where the King was having dinner on 26 October. Rupert, Maurice, Willys and other officers insisted on seeing the King, and insisted that a council of war be held to hear the charges against Willys, who, in their allegation, was being dismissed only because he was a friend of Rupert. Charles refused, and the next day they were all -- to the number of about 200 -- given passes to go abroad, and rode away to Belvoir, Cf. Clarendon, Hist., iv. 122-6; A.C. Wood, op. cit., pp. 99+. (L&M note)

San Diego Sarah on 9 Jan 2018  •  Link

"... being assured by the King of France that in coming to them he should be used with all the liberty, honor, and safety, that could be desired. And at the just day he did come to the Scotts."

Louis XIII died at the age of 41 on May 14, 1643, the monarchy passed to his eldest child, Louis XIV, who was four years and eight months old. With the new king too young to rule over his 19,000,000 subjects, his mother, Anne of Austria, served as regent and appointed Louis XIV’s godfather, Italian-born Cardinal Jules Mazarin, as chief minister.

This story comes from October 1645, so when it says "the King of France" understand it was Anne of Austria and Mazarin's policy.

Michael Powell on 26 Jan 2018  •  Link

(New to this site, but what a great resource!)

"the indiscretion of a wife that brings me nothing almost (besides a comely person) but only trouble and discontent."

I can sympathise with Samuel on this one, it really struck a chord. We have a live-in nanny for our two boys (aged 4 and 5). Well actually we have had a string of live-in nannies, I think we are now on number 8 or 9, but I have lost count. Every one follows the same pattern, a honeymoon period where she and my wife get on amazingly, always in sync. Then a 'normal' period where things settle down. Next a disgruntled period where the nanny does not do the right things, breaks something, makes mistakes or shows disrespect to her in some way. The end phase is neither the nanny or my wife speaking, with me acting as intermediary until the nanny is fired or quits. Like Sam, the regular disruption and bad atmosphere annoys me but not a lot I can do about it. And I even usually have to pay the back wages that my wife refused to pay them! BTW my wife is from Singapore where there is a big divide between the family and the staff, and she can't get used to the more equal status we (now) have in this country.

San Diego Sarah on 27 Jan 2018  •  Link

Welcome Michael ... you bring up an interesting point: Maybe Elizabeth's insecurity with staff was because English was her second language and culture?

Background Lurker on 29 Jan 2018  •  Link

"English was her second language and culture"
As has been discussed earlier, this is incorrect. Mrs Pepys was born in England (Bideford) and her mother was either English or Irish. Mrs P attended a convent school in France.

Michael Powell on 29 Jan 2018  •  Link

My feeling is that Elizabeth is partly using this episode to show that at least she can wield *some* power within the household, even given the limitations of the time. Sam bows to this even though he is not necessarily in agreement. No doubt he will assert his authority in more important matters. Very interesting though, this kind of background, and shows that even though 17thC society was very patriarchal, women did work around this in some ways. A pity she didn't leave a diary for us!

David G on 5 Feb 2018  •  Link

Going back to the posts ten years ago, I assume that Jane was paid quarterly, that she was either one or two months into the current quarter (one would think that the quarter began on the first of January, so we’re a month in, though the text suggests that we’re two months in), and that Sam is paying her for the full quarter, to Bess’s great annoyance (in part because Sam was expressing dissatisfaction with her decision to discharge Jane and possibly in part because the money came out of the housekeeping budget).

Terry Foreman on 6 Feb 2018  •  Link

"one would think that the quarter began on the first of January..."

Look up at 4 February 1664/65

The English quarter days (also observed in Wales and the Channel Islands) are

Lady Day (25 March)
Midsummer Day (24 June)
Michaelmas (29 September)
Christmas (25 December)
Lady Day was also the first day of the year in British dominions (excluding Scotland) until 1752 (when it was harmonised with the Scottish practice of 1 January being New Year's Day). The British tax year still starts on "Old" Lady Day (6 April under the Gregorian calendar corresponded to 25 March under the Julian calendar: 11 days new-style calendar advance in 18th century plus 1 day due to the twelfth skipped Julian leap day in 1800; however it was not changed to 7 April when a thirteenth Julian leap day was skipped in 1900). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qua…

Chris Squire UK on 1 Mar 2018  •  Link

‘He. . . made for the Mediterranean in September 1650. Without a base, . . a regular source of income, or even much accreditation in the form of letters of marque from a recognized power, Rupert's sea adventures thereafter were construed by most nations and their merchants as 'mere piracy’ . .

Even governments hostile to the new republic feared reprisals . . if they harboured a pirate presence, for the Rump was strengthening the navy . . Faced with such difficulties one of Rupert's captains lamented:

'We plough the sea for a subsistence, and, being destitute of a port, we take the confines of the Mediterranean Sea for our harbour; poverty and despair being companions, and revenge our guide'.

‘Robert le diable’ was a suitable leader of such an expedition (but) . . Only two ships returned to France in March 1653. Since first setting out from the Netherlands in 1649 Rupert had sailed 15,000 miles in 1500 days, and taken thirty-one prizes. He came back ill and exhausted . . ‘

(DNB)