Sunday 15 November 1668

(Lord’s day). Up, and after long lying with pleasure talking with my wife, and then up to look up and down our house, which will when our upholster hath done be mighty fine, and so to my chamber, and there did do several things among my papers, and so to the office to write down my journal for 6 or 7 days, my mind having been so troubled as never to get the time to do it before, as may appear a little by the mistakes I have made in this book within these few days. At noon comes Mr. Shepley to dine with me and W. Howe, and there dined and pretty merry, and so after dinner W. Howe to tell me what hath happened between him and the Commissioners of late, who are hot again, more than ever, about my Lord Sandwich’s business of prizes, which I am troubled for, and the more because of the great security and neglect with which, I think, my Lord do look upon this matter, that may yet, for aught I know, undo him. They gone, and Balty being come from the Downs, not very well, is come this day to see us, I to talk with him, and with some pleasure, hoping that he will make a good man. I in the evening to my Office again, to make an end of my journall, and so home to my chamber with W. Hewer to settle some papers, and so to supper and to bed, with my mind pretty quiet, and less troubled about Deb. than I was, though yet I am troubled, I must confess, and would be glad to find her out, though I fear it would be my ruin. This evening there come to sit with us Mr. Pelling, who wondered to see my wife and I so dumpish, but yet it went off only as my wife’s not being well, and, poor wretch, she hath no cause to be well, God knows.

11 Annotations

First Reading

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Gee and it started out so well...What's got into Bess, anyway?

Jesse  •  Link

"though yet I am troubled"

Is it me, or did a simple fancy with Deb turn into an obsession after, perhaps as a result of, his being caught in the act?

Jenny  •  Link

Jesse, I agree with you. Sam has had other women with whom he's done a whole lot more, but the drama of all this seems to have turned the whole thing into a "grand passion". But then again, maybe, we don't know how strong his feelings have been because we can only go by what he has written.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

So does Sam not take Bess' revelations about Sandwich and sons' "efforts" seriously or it is so to be expected that he'd never let that interfere with proper concern for one's patron? "I owe my wife...er life to you, Patrone."

***
Hmmn...Well, Sam certainly would like to consumate the relationship but I doubt it would go much further...Deb is simply the toy snatched away. And nice concern by the guy who claimed to weep for the harm he'd done the girl...He may be convinced he can't get her pregnant but it's still likely to harm her rep severely and clearly Deb is of good family with decent prospects. Lucky The Turner to have her formidable mother to protect her from similar gentlemen.

Australian Susan  •  Link

"Dumpish". We still say we are "down in the dumps". Well, I do, anyway.

Second Reading

LKvM  •  Link

"Dumpish." Great word.

Stephane Chenard  •  Link

And so the past week's entries, nearly 3,000 words of detailed happenings in chronological order and full, rigorous, high-resolution self-examination of Sam's inner mood and feelings, were all written in one go and today, after the fact, and without skimping on the first days in the series. Mr Pepys should consider writing novels, he has it in himself. Also we trust he felt better after putting all this turmoil on paper; he should consider inventing psychotherapy.

We note also that a lot of this private writing was done in the Office. Mr Pepys spending hours hunched on his little private black book, writing things in cypher... How would it look like to a suspicious eye? He wasn't the only gentleman keeping a diary, but still. He must have put the "Do not disturb" sign on the door.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

When I've gone through a painful breakup, I've been left howling ... I wonder if there are any tear splodges on these pages.

And I bet we've expended more than 3,000 words saying "serves you right, Pepys."
It is sometimes so inconvenient that human beings have the ability to love more than one person at a time. Pepys is clearly devoted to Elizabeth, but is simultaneously infatuated with Deb. Not the same thing, but both are highly charged emotions.

When "till death us depart" was added to the marriage vows by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1549, most wives died in childbirth during the next 7 years so it wasn't quite such a big commitment for the men. (That changed in 1662 to what it says now. Pepys must have made the former vow in 1655.)
https://www.redbookmag.com/love-s…

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Balty being come from the Downs, not very well, is come this day to see us, I to talk with him, and with some pleasure, hoping that he will make a good man."

Since Pepys refused to have Mrs. Balty live with them when Balty was away for a year, perhaps Balty won't be so excited about having Pepys live with them, should Pepys be disgraced. But, being a "good man" I'm sure Pepys can charm a sick and weakened Balty into a commitment ... should the prize situation with Sandwich explode again.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

The volume of Domestic State Papers covering correspondence from Oct. 1668 to Dec. 1669 is at
https://play.google.com/books/rea…

@@@
Nov. 15 1668.
Trinity College, Cambridge
Dr. John Pearson to Williamson.

We have received a letter, sent through Lord Arlington from his Majesty, for
creating two Doctors of Divinity;
it expressly requires that they should be created without any previous or
subsequent performances, whereas a late letter from the King orders us to
require all performances, notwithstanding any command or dispensation
hereafter to be granted.

I send a copy of the letter as it came from Sir Wm. Morice's office.

The case standing thus, we have admitted both persons to their degrees upon half cautions, taking so much for satisfaction of the University upon his Majesty's grant, and remitting as much to those persons, out of respect to Lord Arlington.

We are most sensible of his lordship's kindness in inclining his Majesty to visit the University when he was at Audley End.

I desire you to take notice of the grant enclosed, when you have occasion to draw up any letter for degrees.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 249, No. 92.]

@@@
Nov. 15 1668.
Portsmouth
Hugh Salesbury to Williamson.

The Edgar is ordered into Portsmouth to be paid off and laid up;
but the weather being stormy, they would not venture until a good opportunity.

Twenty Dutch ships ride in St. Helen's Road, outward bound, besides several
others.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 249, No. 93.]

@@@
Nov. 15 1668.
Woolwich
Edw. Byland to Pepys.

Has found a man who will furnish broom, and will use all possible rhetoric to
make him flexible to their Honours' desires.

Intends to work oak instead of spruce deals on the Pearl, for want of a supply;
desires orders as to launching and tallowing.

Hopes Mr. Shish will furnish a mast from Deptford, the one she has being too
short; has sent him the length.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 249, No. 94.]

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