Wednesday 8 November 1665
Up, and to the office, where busy among other things to looke my warrants for the settling of the Victualling business, the warrants being come to me for the Surveyors of the ports and that for me also to be Surveyor-Generall. I did discourse largely with Tom Willson about it and doubt not to make it a good service to the King as well, as the King gives us very good salarys. It being a fast day, all people were at church and the office quiett; so I did much business, and at noon adventured to my old lodging, and there eat, but am not yet well satisfied, not seeing of Christopher, though they say he is abroad. Thence after dinner to the office again, and thence am sent for to the King’s Head by my Lord Rutherford, who, since I can hope for no more convenience from him, his business is troublesome to me, and therefore I did leave him as soon as I could and by water to Deptford, and there did order my matters so, walking up and down the fields till it was dark night, that ‘je allais a la maison of my valentine, —[Bagwell’s wife]— and there ‘je faisais whatever je voudrais avec’ her, and, about eight at night, did take water, being glad I was out of the towne; for the plague, it seems, rages there more than ever, and so to my lodgings, where my Lord had got a supper and the mistresse of the house, and her daughters, and here staid Mrs. Pierce to speake with me about her husband’s business, and I made her sup with us, and then at night my Lord and I walked with her home, and so back again. My Lord and I ended all we had to say as to his business overnight, and so I took leave, and went again to Mr. Glanville’s and so to bed, it being very late.
6 Annotations
First Reading
A. De Araujo • Link
I went to my valentine's home and there I did whatever I wanted with her.
Tony Eldridge • Link
Anyone know why it was a fast day with all the people at church? A special day against the plague perhaps?
And puritan Sam no longer seems to need to justify to himself that he eats, misses church and visits his 'valentine'. In the old days he would at least have slipped in a 'Lord forgive me'.
Mary • Link
the fast day.
This was one of the monthly days of fasting that had been decreed (6th July) in the face of the plague. Normally these days were to be observed on the first Wednesday of the month. However, last Wednesday (1st November) was, as we have already noted, All Saints' Day. Therefore the fast day for November has been delayed by one week to Wednesday 8th November. December should see the fast reverting to the first Wednesday.
Robert Gertz • Link
"...my Lord had got a supper and the mistresse of the house, and her daughters, and here staid Mrs. Pierce to speake with me about her husband’s business, and I made her sup with us, and then at night my Lord and I walked with her home, and so back again."
Quite the bohemian lifestyle these days in 60's Greenwich...
Hmmn...
"If Lord Bruncker's so free in his thinking, why can't I come over to your music parties, Samuel?"
Stare...
"Mr. Pepys." Bagwell corrects. "Seems like you're ashamed to be seen with me even with your free-thinking Court friends."
"My dear girl...It would be a tad awkward. Besides these things are no place for a good woman like yourself. Tobacco is used freely there...Though I abstain myself, of course. Not to mention wine. Radical ideas expressed...Far too unsettling for a truly good woman to attend. That's why I never bring Bess."
Wouldn't mind a glass right now after another romp with you, Bagwell thinks.
"You're ashamed of being with me, I know."
"My dear...little valentine."
"And just when is William going to get his promotion? He still hasn't heard a thing. You know, I've been reading in a new book that your sort of behavior is degrading to women, Mr. P."
"Mrs. Bagwell. How can you suggest such a sordid connection in our relationship? You couldn't want me to promote William to a position he wouldn't be qualified for? Though naturally when the proper position becomes available I would do everything possible, as a friend of...What? What book?"
Hands book over...
"Hmmn...'The Mystique of the Feminine'?...'By Elisabeth St. Michel'?!!"
"Oh, she's wonderful, Mr. Pepys. I really get the feeling she understands what it is to be married to an unfeeling, selfish jackass."
Terry Foreman • Link
"am sent for...by my Lord [Sir Thomas] Rutherford, who, since I can hope for no more convenience from him, his business is troublesome to me [he wanting funds for victuals for Tangier], and therefore I did leave him as soon as I could"
See 11 September 1665: "So to Greenwich, where when come I find my Lord [Sir Thomas] Rutherford and Creed come from Court, and among other things have brought me several orders for money to pay for [victuals for] Tangier; and, among the rest 7000l. and more, to this Lord, which is an excellent thing to consider, that, though they can do nothing else, they can give away the King’s money upon their progresse." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Second Reading
Mary K • Link
"not seeing of Christopher"
This is presumably the "little boy" whose reported illness caused Pepys qualms about the possibility of a case of plague in Mrs. Clerke's house a few days ago. Evidently the subsequent report of the lad's being well again didn't entirely convince Pepys that it had been a false alarm..