Saturday 15 July 1665
Up, and after all business done, though late, I to Deptford, but before I went out of the office saw there young Bagwell’s wife returned, but could not stay to speak to her, though I had a great mind to it, and also another great lady, as to fine clothes, did attend there to have a ticket signed; which I did do, taking her through the garden to my office, where I signed it and had a salute —[kiss]— of her, and so I away by boat to Redriffe, and thence walked, and after dinner, at Sir G. Carteret’s, where they stayed till almost three o’clock for me, and anon took boat, Mr. Carteret and I to the ferry-place at Greenwich, and there staid an hour crossing the water to and again to get our coach and horses over; and by and by set out, and so toward Dagenhams. But, Lord! what silly discourse we had by the way as to love-matters, he being the most awkerd man I ever met with in my life as to that business. Thither we come, by that time it begun to be dark, and were kindly received by Lady Wright and my Lord Crew. And to discourse they went, my Lord discoursing with him, asking of him questions of travell, which he answered well enough in a few words; but nothing to the lady from him at all. To supper, and after supper to talk again, he yet taking no notice of the lady. My Lord would have had me have consented to leaving the young people together to-night, to begin their amours, his staying being but to be little. But I advised against it, lest the lady might be too much surprised. So they led him up to his chamber, where I staid a little, to know how he liked the lady, which he told me he did mightily; but, Lord! in the dullest insipid manner that ever lover did. So I bid him good night, and down to prayers with my Lord Crew’s family, and after prayers, my Lord, and Lady Wright, and I, to consult what to do; and it was agreed at last to have them go to church together, as the family used to do, though his lameness was a great objection against it. But at last my Lady Jem. sent me word by my Lady Wright that it would be better to do just as they used to do before his coming; and therefore she desired to go to church, which was yielded then to.
11 Annotations
First Reading
Australian Susan • Link
"...But, Lord! what silly discourse we had by the way as to love-matters, he being the most awkerd man I ever met with in my life as to that business...."
Oh! Sam! Sam! This made me laugh! What a conceited little fellow we are sometimes! But this makes this diary so readable of course. That he should presume to give judgment over matters of the heart! I have this vision of Sam doing the Eric Idle Nudge, nudge, wink, wink persona. And Carteret not knowing where to look or what to say.
And then we have the business of signing of tickets for seamen. Haven't the ladies worked this one out! Dress in your best, dearies, flash some flesh and randy little Sam will sign anything, but he will need a [shudder] kiss.
Terry Foreman • Link
"before I went out of the office saw there young Bagwell’s wife returned,...."
There she be!
Robert Gertz • Link
Thank God young Philip has Sam to take him in hand...Why Sam'll have him forcing helplessly dependent women to have illicit sex and tochaing les jupes of random females with his mano in a matter of days. Perhaps now we know why Carteret called our 'master of love' in...Casanova, you can only wish to have sat at his feet.
All-in-all Philip seems a good match for little Jem...Brave and able enough in battle, modest and gentle (if please God he doesn't take the 'master of love's lessons to heart) in private life, probably as a result of his lameness. And if he wasn't simply being polite he seems to like Jem...mightily.
Terry Foreman • Link
L&M suggest the two are bashful perhaps due to his lameness, her deformation of the neck -- what L&M call the "poor health" of each. (They must be using the World Health Assembly definition of health: "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heal… )
Methinks what's at least at work is that the manifest physical imperfection of each is a great relief to the other! SP, seducer, not all have your grownup, slickster gift of gab! They are young -- he 24, and she 17 -- shy, hopeful and scrupulous.
Robert Gertz • Link
"Oh, Mr. Pepys..."
"Oooh, Mrs. Bagwell..."
"Oh, Samuel..."
Hmmn?...
"Mrs. Bagwell? When did we suddenly find ourselves on a first name basis? I realize you're not of a class to fully appreciate the proprieties but I think you can appreciate there is no need for informality to develop between ourselves."
"Sorry, Mr. Pepys. I was a bit carried off."
"Naturally. But please, I think I can safely say I have never allowed our relationship to exceed its proper bounds. Let us remember our places, madam."
"Yes, Mr. Pepys. Shall I carry on?"
"By all means, Mrs. Bagwell."
Carl in Boston • Link
The groom lame and the bride with a deformity of the neck, and both bashful upon first meeting. I had no idea about these points from the diary, and it's helpful to read these annotations. I suppose the bride and groom got along fine in years to come.
A. De Araujo • Link
"but Lord !in the dullest insipid manner that ever lover did...........though his lameness.
For a second I thought Sam was using contemporary jargon.
language hat • Link
"My Lord would have had me have consented..."
That had a lot of "have"'s!
Andrew Hamilton • Link
"My Lord would ... had me ... consented"
The have not version.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"I to the ferry-place at Greenwich, and there staid an hour crossing the water to and again to get our coach and horses over"
L&M: A ferry from Greenwich [on the south bank of the Thames] to the Isle of Dogs [on the north bank], capable of taking horses or vehicles had existed at least since 1592. Another, from Deptford to the Isle of Dogs, is mentioned by Pepys at 20, 24 and 31 July.
Tonyel • Link
So that answers the question, young Philip and Jemima had not met before being betrothed.
I suspect that many of us would be slightly awkwerd at first: "This is your new partner for life." "Oh, really?"