Tuesday 21 March 1664/65

Up, and my taylor coming to me, did consult all my wardrobe how to order my clothes against next summer. Then to the office, where busy all the morning. At noon to the ’Change, and brought home Mr. Andrews, and there with Mr. Sheply dined and very merry, and a good dinner. Thence to Mr. Povy’s to discourse about settling our business of Treasurer, and I think all things will go very fayre between us and to my content, but the more I see the more silly the man seems to me. Thence by coach to the Mewes, but Creed was not there. In our way the coach drove through a lane by Drury Lane, where abundance of loose women stood at the doors, which, God forgive me, did put evil thoughts in me, but proceeded no further, blessed be God. So home, and late at my office, then home and there found a couple of state cups, very large, coming, I suppose, each to about 6l. a piece, from Burrows the slopseller.

14 Annotations

First Reading

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Kudos to Bess and staff for her elastic dinners...I wonder if Sam even warned her in advance of Sheply's coming let alone Andrews.

See Sam...Repress evil thoughts that could do real physical harm to you and Bess and receive instant rewards. Nothing mysterious at all in the workings of Sam Pepys' God.

Perhaps if you deny your impulses regarding Mrs. Bagwell...

"Sir, Mr. Gauden just sent this bag. And wished you well of its contents..."

Two hundred pounds? Sam stares... "Oh, Almighty God, I get the message."

JWB  •  Link

Sam begins with "my taylor" and ends with "Slopseller". Do you all really think life happens this way? I never have these artful coincincences.

JWB  •  Link

...or coincidences either.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"Thence by coach to the Mewes, but Creed was not there."

SP, you were born too soon! -- A simple phone call would have (1) got Creed's mobile, and (2) precluded the "evil thoughts" that arose in passing by Drury Lane. (Are we to take it that "the muffin man" that lives on Drury Lane is a pimp?)

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Well, Terry, everyone seems to know him...

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"slopseller"

From "slop(p)s" = "seamen's ready-made clothes" (L&M Select Glossary)

Australian Susan  •  Link

"...my taylor coming to me, did consult all my wardrobe how to order my clothes against next summer. ..."

Trinny and Susannah in the 17th century?

"Not the scarlet pantaloons, I think Mr P, not in 1665, too 1662."

Australian Susan  •  Link

The Muffin Man

Wikipedia indicates that the Muffin Man nursery rhyme might refer to brothels on Drury Lane, but gives no provenance for this view. This ditty is of 19th century origin according to Wikipedia. I cannot cut and paste the weblink as my control key has just died...

Australian Susan  •  Link

Although I have also read on another site (a dubious one)that it is "really" about warning children about child molesters. I think that is a late 20th cent post hoc rationalisation.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

To shamelessly steal from "Shrek"... (All your fault, Susan)

Tonight on "Knights":

"The King's finest bring down Drury Lane's worst...The alledged "Muffin Man" rapist."

"Quiet there, scumbag. Read 'im 'is rights, Sir Will."

"You have no rights in Restoration England, so shut up!"

"No, see here, you have the wrong man! I am Samuel Pepys, Clerk of the Acts of the King's Navy!"

"I know 'im, officers! 'e's the un I saw assaulting that woman in the aleshop! Threw a rock at 'im I did. Sir, why was you kissin' that gentlewoman so?"

"Gentlemen, this is a ridiculous misunderstanding. I was merely strolling...Attempting to ascertain for the King what steps should be taken to protect our young sailor lads from..."

"Leerin' at me, he was...That's the man who was lurkin' round a few months ago. Take off that wig and put a chef's hat on him and he's the Muffin Man, all right."

"Mr. Pepys? I've been waiting... Oh, hello."

"Mrs. Bagwell? Quick, girl. Tell these idiots I'm an upstanding citizen and..."

"You know this man, madam?"

"Oh, yes. He'd asked me to meet him to discuss my husband's chances for promotion. He's my husband's superior and so I always meet him when he demands."

Asks...Sam mouths...Asks.

"Madam? Are you wearing anything under that coat?"

Ummn... "Well, Mr. Pepys said it would be better for my husband's chances if..."

"That's it. All right, scumbag. We're taking you down."

"I've done nothing...Where's your superior?"

"Hello...Pepys."

"Batten?"

"Congrats on the short-lived Tangier promotion...Take him away, boys."

"Help! Anyone who owes me favor!!"

"Don't worry, Pepys. Thomas Povey, part-time public defender is here to help. And I'm nearly as good at the legal game as I am at accounting."

***
Shot of Sam being dragged off...Drury Lane prostitutes hooting.

"It seems this Clerk was performing Acts outside the law. But the book is what he'll get."

"Oh, not again..." Bess sighs, watching at the house via newly delivered magic mirrorvision.

Second Reading

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Nell Gwyn lived and worked in the Covent Garden/Drury lane Area.

Tonyel  •  Link

"An abundance of loose women" - quite an attractive collective noun.
And surely Mississippi John Hurt's Candy Man must be a descendant of the Muffin Man.

Sorry, get back on topic.

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