Sunday 30 September 1666
(Lord’s day). Up, and to church, where I have not been a good while: and there the church infinitely thronged with strangers since the fire come into our parish; but not one handsome face in all of them, as if, indeed, there was a curse, as Bishop Fuller heretofore said, upon our parish. Here I saw Mercer come into the church, which I had a mind to, but she avoided looking up, which vexed me. A pretty good sermon, and then home, and comes Balty and dined with us. A good dinner; and then to have my haire cut against winter close to my head, and then to church again. A sorry sermon, and away home. [Sir] W. Pen and I to walk to talk about several businesses, and then home; and my wife and I to read in Fuller’s Church History, and so to supper and to bed.
This month ends with my mind full of business and concernment how this office will speed with the Parliament, which begins to be mighty severe in the examining our accounts, and the expence of the Navy this war.
13 Annotations
First Reading
Todd Bernhardt • Link
A curse upon the St. Olave parish? It escaped the fire, yet "not one handsome face" ... choose your curses wisely, Sam...
Terry Foreman • Link
"Up, and to church, where I have not been a good while"
L&M note the last time [it was recorded] was 9 September, just after the fire was out and he writ "Up and was trimmed, and sent my brother to Woolwich to my wife, to dine with her. I to church, where our parson made a melancholy but good sermon; and many and most in the church cried, specially the women. The church mighty full; but few of fashion, and most strangers." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
CGS • Link
I dothe beleive he may have to pay a fine for being tardy in not putting his farthing on the plate?
Mary • Link
"to have my hair cut against winter close to my head".
This implies that during the warmer months Pepys wears his own hair, but that as the weather cools he makes preparations for wearing a nice, warm wig through the winter.
Robert Gertz • Link
"Here I saw Mercer come into the church, which I had a mind to, but she avoided looking up, which vexed me."
Sounds like Sam is walking a line into dangerous territory regards Mercer... A sincerely friendly relationship of mutual interests potentially degenerating into the usual Pepysian rut. A shame, given Mercer's good sense and Sam's degree of forbearance until now.. Denial appears to maketh the Pepys more foolish.
"Mr. P, will you please stop following me? I've no intention of returning to service with your wife."
"Oh, Mary...Darling Mary..." takes hand...
"Mr. P...Let go of my hand. Don't make me have to call Mama."
"Just a little stroll to a blind alehouse I know, Mary. I'll buy you a lobster. We can sing and perhaps..."
"Lord, Mr. P...Do you know how ridiculous you look?"
"That's love, Mary... It makes fools of us all."
"Sir, stop that... Mr. P, what would poor Mrs. P say?"
"She'll never hear a word of our passion from my lips, dear Mary. We need only be a bit cautious..."
"Look, sir. I'm gonna call Ma in a minute."
JWB • Link
from reading in JWB's fractured & partisan church history:
I believe parish fines for non-attendance orginated in what we think of as Elizabethan "Golden Age"- Acts of Supremacy & Uniformity. It was for refusal to conform to same that drove Roger Williams into New England winter wilderness to survive holding up in hollow trees. "What is not the laborer worthy of his hire?" "Yes", said Williams "from those who hire him".
jeannine • Link
"and there the church infinitely thronged with strangers since the fire come into our parish; but not one handsome face in all of them"
Poor people are probably displaced by the fire and who knows if all of their belonging were burnt to a crisp, but our Sam finds the ability to scour the sites and dump them into the 'bad to average' looks category! Heavens forbid that with no hot babe to dream about during the sermon that he may just be stuck actually listening to it. Life can be so difficult sometimes, surrounded by homely people, sitting through boring sermons.... but someone has to do it so it may as well be Sam~~ at least he's recording it all for us to enjoy!
Bradford • Link
No reckoning of accounts this month? How much are you worth in the world, Mr. Pepys?
Mary • Link
monthly accounts.
I had been wondering about the same thing. Sam got very upset the last time that he let his personal accounting slide - there was the matter of £50 that refused to agree with the reckoning and Sam swore that he would never let matters slip in such a way again.
Australian Susan • Link
Wigs
Apart from the heat of wearing a periwigg in summer, there was also the matter of lice - much more active in the summer. He gets his periwigg(s) deloused occasionally, but the winter chills no doubt helped.
Balty
It seems he is welcome to Sunday dinner, but neither his wife nor his parents.
Bryan M • Link
"It seems [Balty] is welcome to Sunday dinner, but neither his wife nor his parents."
Sister Balty has been a regular guest in recent months (see below for examples). There certainly seems to be a problem with Liz's parents but I don't think we can just assume that Sam's at fault.
10 August
"Home to dinner, where sister Balty dined with us"
21 August
"Dined at home, and sister Balty with us"
12 September
"and away by water home and to dinner, Balty and his wife there"
CGS • Link
In Laws , 'tis why there be all those non PC humors [1 of 4 ]
When some marry they get all the family, cozens and all, others get just the girl or boy.
Second Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Here I saw Mercer come into the church, which I had a mind to, but she avoided looking up, which vexed me. "
I think this means that that was why he went to Church. He was so set on engaging Mercer he forgot he was there 2 weeks ago.