Saturday 13 April 1667
Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and strange how the false fellow Commissioner Pett was eager to have had Carcasses business brought on to-day that he might give my Lord Bruncker (who hates him, I am sure, and hath spoke as much against him to the King in my hearing as any man) a cast of his office in pleading for his man Carcasse, but I did prevent its being brought on to-day, and so broke up, and I home to dinner, and after dinner with a little singing with some pleasure alone with my poor wife, and then to the office, where sat all the afternoon till late at night, and then home to supper and to bed, my eyes troubling me still after candle-light, which troubles me. Wrote to my father, who, I am glad to hear, is at some ease again, and I long to have him in town, that I may see what can be done for him here; for I would fain do all I can that I may have him live, and take pleasure in my doing well in the world. This afternoon come Mrs. Lowther to me to the office, and there je did toker ses mammailles and did baiser them and su bocca, which she took fort willingly … [and perhaps yo posse in time a hazer mas to her. – L&M]
15 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"….This afternoon came Mrs. Lowther to me to the office, and there yo did tocar su mamelles and did bezar them and su boca, which she took fort willingly, and perhaps yo posse in time a hazer mas to her."
http://www.pepys.info/bits5.html
Terry Foreman • Link
Yesterday Pepys -- 'vexed to the heart' that Sir W. Penn's footboy might report to the Penn family the corporal punishment of Luce, Elizabeth's neglectful cookmaid -- let Luce go and quickly sweet-talked the boy.
Why has the possibility that Pegg Penn Lowther might report a buss and grope (and possibly more) not been a behavior-modifier?
cape henry • Link
"...singing with some pleasure alone with my poor wife..."This is a refreshing change from a few months ago when his attitude was far different.Since I doubt that it has to do with mellowing on the part of Pepys, I have to conclude that it arises from the improvement of Elizabeth.She must be practicing diligently.There seems to be much to admire in this young woman.
Terry Foreman • Link
"...the possibility that Pegg Penn Lowther might report ..."
(See how I resisted the temptation to say "Pegg Penn Lowther might squeal.")
tg • Link
Yes Terry, it is the sex vs. violence debate and which is more shameful or exciting; obviously for Sam it is impulsive violence rather than the planned licentiousness that he is more fearful of. And here we have him grooming Mrs. Lowther for deeper encounters in the future if he is lucky. As Elvis Costello sang, "I used to be disgusted but now I'm just amused."
anne • Link
Pegg won't squeal, and Sam is not worried about that or about getting caught with her, because it's always "cherchez la femme" in cases like this.
Robert Gertz • Link
One of course might ask why Meg came to his office, assuming that she went into his own private "closet" there. Since she wouldn't need to "closet" herself away with Sam in order to find Admiral Sir Will, it sounds like Mrs. L likes our bug-eyed little philanderer.
Heaven...
"Yes, yes! At last someone has it right, Bess!"
"You worthless little...Meg Penn, married Meg Lowther? Hmmn? What you do mean, 'right'?"
"As all these modern people keep proclaiming about each other, obviously I am a victim, Bess. These women, admittedly oppressed by their male-dominated society, clearly used me."
"What a load of..."
"As the gentleman noted, Pegg came to me. And Knipp, throwing herself in my path, coming to me in wanton state of undress..."
Here...Sam flips back to earlier entry at Bess' stare.
Pointing out entry to Bess' frown.
"Mrs. Martin...Even my biographer Ms. Tomalin says she 'came out to meet me'. And even Diana Crisp was not so good as she should have been. As for Ms. Bagwell...A victim of her husband's ambition, certainly but again, in my case...I was the one acted..."
"Mrs. Who?"
"Ummn..."
"Well, my poor shorn lamb...My pitiable wretched Sam...I've just two words for you. Mrs. Tooker."
"Ah...Heh, hah...Uh..."
"Explain to me how she forced you into your hideous acts and I might buy this one. And of course, two more...Deb..."
"Bess...!" Sam waves hands frantically.
"Not till 1669, dear. Send me back to Purgatory if you must, but don't spoil it for my readers."
"Readers....I still say a collection of creepy voyeur types, reading and commenting on our private lives every day. And it's all your fault."
"Immortality has a price, love." Careful eyeing...
Think I actually managed to divert...
"And getting back to this crap about victimization...Don't think about leaving this room, Sam'l...Purgatory wouldn't be as bad."
Robert Gertz • Link
“Mrs. Lowther, a pleasure…”
“Mr. Hewer.”
“I’m afraid the Admiral is not…”
“Oh…Well, Mr. Pepys, please, then. If he‘s not too busy. I actually came to see him.”
Oh, Lord…Hewer sighs inwardly. Hayter looking away from them at his desk, same inward sigh.
May as well take the next hour off…Lord, this will be no place for a married Christian man, let alone a proto-Quaker.
But at least it’s not that poor child again.
“Mr. P…Visitor.” Hewer knocks.
“Hewer? Ah…Dear Margaret. To what do we owe the pleasure of your company this afternoon?”
“Mr. Pepys.” Meg smiles. “If I might have a private word…”
Dear God…Hewer rolls eyes. Just go in and get it over with so we can do our work without having to listen.
"Come in, come in..." Sam beckons, closing door after her. Hewer frowning at her simper...
"What?" Minnes at main office door, pausing to look at pained faces of clerical team.
Ohhhh...He eyes Sam's closed door.
"Mrs. Lowther's with Mr. Pepys." Hewer, grimly.
Oh? Well...
"I say, Admiral Sir Will! Welcome back, we didn't expect you until tomorrow!!" Minnes, heartily.
Crash from within...
"Well, my work here is done." Sir John, majestically. "Gentlemen." Bowing to grinning clerks as Sam cautiously opens door, peering out. Meg busily smoothing dress behind him.
"Mrs. Lowther, Pepys." cheery call, outgoing bow.
anne • Link
I guess in Pegg's case, "Cherchez la femme" may be valid, and in the case of that other loiterer around Sam's office door, Mrs. Bagwell, as well.
Australian Susan • Link
"...with my poore wife..." Presumably this means Bess is in bed or at least lying down somewhere because of her monthly problems, which probably means Sam is randier than usual. But it does seem to me as if the visit of Mrs L was by appontment. he doesn't express any surprise about this and there is no mention of any other matter which might have occasioned the visit. What is she up to? Or is it infatuation? Shudder.
BTW, we had Balty leaving yesterday, but no mention of what happened to his wife. Shut away at Leigh-on-Sea?
Second Reading
Marquess • Link
Samuel Pepys the Benny Hill of Restoration England, how did he ever manage to get away with it?
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Why has the possibility that Pegg Penn Lowther might report a buss and grope (and possibly more) not been a behavior-modifier?"
There seems to be considerable confusion about how old Pegg Penn was when she married -- some say 15, some that she was an "old maid". Let's go with her being 15.
She knows, likes and trusts her father's colleague; she seen him for years, wearing nice clothes, she hears him singing in the garden, and probably had a good laugh about his day escaping from the bailiffs by going from house to house by ladder, and other adventures. His wife wears pearls and nice clothes, serves good food, has parties, and goes to the theater.
What a contrast to her dreary life and plain clothes. Now she's been initiated into married life, she's wondering -- as 15 year old girls do -- is that all there is? Who's she going to ask? She can't read Cosmo and show her husband an article and say "let's try that!" Pepys has flirted just enough to let her know that he likes her, and that she can approach him without fear of rejection.
It was titilation and grooming again -- nothing overt or frightening. Now she's married, she's ready to find out what exactly he meant by it. If he doesn't rush her, whispers the right sweet nothings in her ear, maybe give her some gloves, he'll have her.
I laugh when I see how outraged the guys are on the blog. Come on now ... 'fess up. Things haven't changed THAT much between 1660 and now.
Tonyel • Link
Speaking as an old man with a long memory Sarah, I would say that things have changed a lot more between 1960 and now...
Timo • Link
“ maybe give her some gloves” 🤣🤣
San Diego Sarah • Link
"I would say that things have changed a lot more between 1960 and now..."
If you had said things have improved since 2010 and now, I would agree -- for men and women.
But as Dr. Phil said on TV today, "Every one of us did something stupid as a teenager which we cannot fathom now."
Assuming Pegg Penn Lowther was 15 when she married, she has been groomed by her friendly neighborhood pervert exactly the way teenage girls are groomed today for sex trafficking. They believe they love their pimps until it is too late, and they are in "the life". Pepys isn't a pimp, nor is he going to abduct her, but my bet is that she is going to try to seduce him, not the other way round. When the Penns drag her away, she will be heartbroken, and Pepys will say "How unfortunate." Mr. Lowther better take her home to that nice house in Yorkshire soon.