Sunday 13 August 1665
(Lord’s day). Up betimes and to my chamber, it being a very wet day all day, and glad am I that we did not go by water to see “The Soveraigne” to-day, as I intended, clearing all matters in packing up my papers and books, and giving instructions in writing to my executors, thereby perfecting the whole business of my will, to my very great joy; so that I shall be in much better state of soul, I hope, if it should please the Lord to call me away this sickly time. At night to read, being weary with this day’s great work, and then after supper to bed, to rise betimes to-morrow, and to bed with a mind as free as to the business of the world as if I were not worth 100l. in the whole world, every thing being evened under my hand in my books and papers, and upon the whole I find myself worth, besides Brampton estate, the sum of 2164l., for which the Lord be praised!
17 Annotations
First Reading
Robert Gertz • Link
Gotta give the man credit, he is unselfishly content here about being able to leave Bess and Dad something substantial should he go down. He has had his pleasure but he seen his duty and done it and is at peace.
CGS • Link
the word be organized
Robert Gertz • Link
And of course after all the poking at his faults, it's only fair to ask...Did Bess ever beg to join him in London regardless of what might happen? She seems pleased to see him when he comes by but he records no disquiet or anxiety on her part from his leaving to return to what's becoming a very risky place. Again to be fair, he rarely records her fears and concerns but one would think he would note it if she were urging him not to return to London or pleading to come back with him.
CGS • Link
No wonder he wrote his will he must have heard the word on the street
Thom. V again
"...Some wicked men are stupid [and] senseless, and are given up to a judiciary { H }ardnesS; and die in a sleep of carnal security.out of which they {A}re not awakened, till they are awakened in the midst of flames ; others more sensible, and considering what hath been, and what is coming upon them, are filled with unexpressible terror, through the roarings and tearings of a guilty accusing conscience, and the fore-thoughts of that horrible unsupport-{a}ble torment they are so near..."
pg 3/4
GTVC Th V
Michael L • Link
You know, Sam seems pretty nonchalant about the prospect of a horrible death by plague. I find this a little surprising,
Mary • Link
"I shall be in much better state of soul..."
Apart from a bit of opportunistic adultery, of course.
Firenze • Link
I don't know that many of us would have 'very great joy' in getting our wills sorted. He's a real administrator's administrator - such satisfaction in getting everything beautifully organised, even if requires his own death to display its full perfection.
Michael Robinson • Link
"I find myself worth, besides Brampton estate, the sum of 2164l., for which the Lord be praised!"
Only eleven days ago:
"I did find myself really worth 1900l., for which the great God of Heaven and Earth be praised!"
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
My God how the money rolls in ...
Pedro • Link
On this day…
Sandwich is making for Flamborough Head and meets the Sapphire carrying messages from Teddiman and Clifford, written on the 12th and concerning the action at Bergen.
Bradford • Link
Pepys's "great joy" probably arises, Firenze, from ensuring that, in case he taken off, only those folks he wants to get his blessed wealth will do so, and exactly in the amount he allots. For a nature such as his, control is contentment. Or one of its forms.
Terry Foreman • Link
John Evelyn's Diary today
13 was so tempesteous that we could not go to church:
There perished this Weeke 5000:
Mary • Link
Apropos John Evelyn's diary.
[and off the Pepys point]
By coincidence, 13th August was a very windy day in southern England this year, too; gusts of 50-60mph, trees down, tiles off roofs etc. Unusual August weather, even for England.
A. Hamilton • Link
Bless Sam and his Protestant Ethic. He puts me to shame; I should be getting my own affairs in order instead of reading the diary and comments.
"'I shall be in much better state of soul…' Apart from a bit of opportunistic adultery, of course."
Wasn't the Protestant Ethic more concerned with accumulation (as a sign of God's grace) than with sexual mores?
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"we did not go by water to see “The Soveraigne” to-day, as I intended"
For a later visit see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
The Royal Sovereign (largest ship in the navy) had been fitted out again for service this summer: CSPD 1664-5, pp. 366 &c. (L&M note)
john • Link
Our Sam has several relatives in mind who are best spared monetary temptation (as do I).
San Diego Sarah • Link
"My God how the money rolls in ..."
Michael Robinson, I think today we would call this phenomenon 'residuals'.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"'I shall be in much better state of soul…' Apart from a bit of opportunistic adultery, of course." -- "Wasn't the Protestant Ethic more concerned with accumulation (as a sign of God's grace) than with sexual mores?"
Oscar Wilde says it best: "Gossip is charming! History is merely gossip. But scandal is gossip made tedious by morality."
Pepys and 17th century men considered playing around with the ladies a normal and healthy thing to do. For women it was verboten, but there are lots of examples of women who did also stray (and some were high society).
Instead of judging, please accept that we are prudish, emancipated Victorians at heart, and they were much more realistic about sex, life and death, and bodily functions than we are.