Tuesday 22 January 1666/67
Up, and there come to me Darnell the fiddler, one of the Duke’s house, and brought me a set of lessons, all three parts, I heard them play to the Duke of York after Christmas at his lodgings, and bid him get me them. I did give him a crowne for them, and did enquire after the musique of the “Siege of Rhodes,” which, he tells me, he can get me, which I am mighty glad of. So to the office, where among other things I read the Councill’s order about my Lord Bruncker and Sir W. Pen to be assistants to the Comptroller, which quietly went down with Sir J. Minnes, poor man, seeming a little as if he would be thought to have desired it, but yet apparently to his discontent; and, I fear, as the order runs, it will hardly do much good. At noon to dinner, and there comes a letter from Mrs. Pierce, telling me she will come and dine with us on Thursday next, with some of the players, Knipp, &c., which I was glad of, but my wife vexed, which vexed me; but I seemed merry, but know not how to order the matter, whether they shall come or no. After dinner to the office, and there late doing much business, and so home to supper, and to bed.
19 Annotations
First Reading
Michael Robinson • Link
" ... and did enquire after the musique of the “Siege of Rhodes,” which, he tells me, he can get me, ..."
Alas now lost, it was the first English 'Opera' and SP clearly was enthused: .
" ... went to Sir William Davenant’s Opera; this being the fourth day that it hath begun, and the first that I have seen it. To-day was acted the second part of “The Siege of Rhodes.” We staid a very great while for the King and the Queen of Bohemia. And by the breaking of a board over our heads, we had a great deal of dust fell into the ladies’ necks and the men’s hair, which made good sport. The King being come, the scene opened; which indeed is very fine and magnificent, and well acted, all but the Eunuch, who was so much out that he was hissed off the stage." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Even after several re-readings he retained a high opinion of the play text:
" .. which is certainly (the more I read it the more I think so) the best poem that ever was wrote." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Michael Robinson • Link
" ... and brought me a set of lessons, all three parts, ..."
Probably a manuscript which does not survive; I can locate no record of any printed musical text which perhaps could match this description.
Terry Foreman • Link
Brodrick to Ormond
Written from: Westminster
Date: 22 January 1667
Writes "amidst a numerous Committee, for we sit late, in regard of our speedy recess & the absolute necessity of Gentlemen being in their respective Counties on the 1st of February, in order to the Poll Bill" ...
States in detail the positions, respectively of a great number of Bills, then pending; & chiefly of such as relate to Irish affairs.
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/s…
cape henry • Link
"...I seemed merry, but know not how to order the matter, whether they shall come or no." Pepys knows his friends well; a lot can happen with "La Belle Pierce" and Mrs. Knipp twixt now and Thursday next. Past is prologue?
Terry Foreman • Link
Ormond to Sir William Temple
Written from: Dublin
Date: 22 January 1667
No French are yet landed in Ireland where their arrival was announced ... It is to be feared that they will employ such force as they may have prepared on some other design, or at some more favourable season ... In the meantime, Costello & his score of freebooters (a name too honourable for them) are endeavouring to get leave to transport themselves beyond seas. But the writer holds it to be better to suffer what temporary hurt they can do to thatched houses, than to capitulate with an inconsiderable pack of rogues ...
Lord Carlingford is laid up with gout, the only fruit (the writer doubts [ = suspects] ) of his German negotiation ...
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/s…
Aabbooooootttt! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
Robert Gertz • Link
Busted, eh? So at last Bess is getting seriously edgy about Knipp at least. Makes sense...Knipp is a real threat...Unhappily married, clearly interested in Sam, and while perhaps her actress status isn't quite right for our hero's new-found lofty social position, it is a cut above the barmaids, Bagwells, and Betty Martins and a source of fascination for Sam. As for Pierce, although we know la belle Pierce can handle our boy, Bess can't be sure.
Odd, in a sense she might have been comforted by reading the Diary with regards to both ladies...Pierce no threat at all, Knipp so far not a serious one...So long as she didn't get to read the Bagwell, Martin, Doll Lane, Diana Crisp, Sarah Udall, etc, etc sections.
A. De Araujo • Link
"whether they shall come or no"
Obviously NO
A. De Araujo • Link
Unless the dance master is invited also.
Mr. Gunning • Link
Can anyone explain why, if Sam had such a good education, he has such a limited vocabulary? Every time he is happy, he is 'merry' and many other such examples.
L. K. van Marjenhoff • Link
I don't think Elizabeth is "vexed" out of jealousy. As wife and hostess of the house, she has a right to be annoyed if, as it seems, Mrs. Pierce and company have simply invited themselves.
Nate • Link
Well, his writing is not targeted to a Don for approval or to an audience. There is no particular reason for him to avoid repetition or look for synonyms. The repeated words are typically widely separated in time as well.
Terry Foreman • Link
Might "merry" indicate that an alcoholic beverage was involved?
Mary • Link
Well, it might - but typically it doesn't.
Robert Gertz • Link
"Leo: We can't kill the actors! They're human beings!
Max: Did you ever eat with one?"
-The Producers
Next Thursday...
Sam blankly surveys the wasteland that had once been his beloved home.
"I tole you, Sam'l..." He vaguely hears.
"I said, 'You want to let a horde of actors into our home?'...But no, you said..."
"A horse...Urp!...A horse...My kingdom for a...Oh, Lord! Ohhhhh...." from upstairs.
"Jane?!"
"Right, mum." Jane grabs a pail, pausing. "There's three more in the kitchen still and four sleepin' it off in the cellar."
"Good, we'll bury them." Bess nods. Jane rushing to deal with the crisis above.
"Is that one of my flagons over there?" Sam eyes badly dented flagon on table. Cover twisted back...
"Don't, love." Bess pats him. "You don't want to see..."
CGS • Link
Busted nay, Samuell may have not handed over some spending money for the latest Blanca Regia Forma [BRF].
Terry Foreman • Link
Ormond to Orrery
Written from: Dublin
Date: 22 January 1667
Is now persuaded that if the French have any present design in hand, it is not upon any of the King’s dominions hereabout …
Lord Orrery will receive herewith an account of the proportions of corn & meal to be supplied, by each county of Ireland - according to Proclamation - “in part payment of those subsidies designed more especially for the support of the war, and defence of the Kingdom” …
Asks pardon for misconceiving what Lord Orrery formerly wrote as to designs in Parliament against Lord Clarendon [in MS.: “my Lord Chancellor”] … The Duke confesses he thought they might just as well fall upon him, or anybody, as upon the Chancellor, of whom he thinks he knows as much as any one can discover …
… Some of the Romish Clergy, as learned and as zealous as any, declare marriage by a Priest of the Church of England to be, in Lord Clancarty’s case, not only lawful but expedient …
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/s…
Second Reading
Matt Newton • Link
Sounds like rent a party are about to call.
Poor Liz. She'll be hard pressed to shine in that company.
Louise Hudson • Link
. K. van Marjenhoff wrote: “I don't think Elizabeth is "vexed" out of jealousy. As wife and hostess of the house, she has a right to be annoyed if, as it seems, Mrs. Pierce and company have simply invited themselves.”
I think you’re right. Elizabeth may have been upset because surprise guests were coming for dinner. I doubt Mrs. Pierce invited herself out of the blue, but Sam had invited her along with “the players”—the musicians he heard at the Duke’s house. He apparently he didn’t bother informing his wife that anyone was coming. Even in the 1600s I don’t think anyone would would say, “I will come and dine with you on Thursday next”, with no invitation.” He probably invited the group at the Duke’s and said “Who will come?” Poor Elizabeth. She’s the one who would have had to arrange everything. No wonder she’s “vexed.”
Mary K • Link
Equally vexing for the reluctant hostess is the vagueness about numbers. "Some of the players" could be two, three or a whole handful. Should she start baking pies now or can she leave that till next week?