Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
A great deal of business all this day, and Burr being gone to shore without my leave did vex me much. At dinner news was brought us that my Lord was chosen at Dover. This afternoon came one Mr. Mansell on board as a Reformado, to whom my Lord did shew exceeding great respect, but upon what account I do not yet know. This day it has rained much, so that when I came to go to bed I found it wet through, so I was fain to wrap myself up in a dry sheet, and so lay all night.
Friday 20 April 1660Wednesday 18 April 1660
Sixty Pieces of Silver
During the epic escape to the continent in 1651, Charles II’s companions “fixed up a boat with a merchant named Francis Mansell, by the simple expedient of getting him drunk: the payment was to be sixty pieces of silver. Officially, his cargo was billed as a party of illegal duelists.” (Antonia Fraser, “Royal Charles”)
“fain” meaning happy,pleased, seems to fit, other meanigs too, had to look it up.
or fain as “obliged, compelled, forced”
or a combination (all “archaic”)
Bed wetting
So it didn’t occur to Sam to have someone fix the leak after last time…
It is odd, isn’t it, Joe
I wonder if the remodeling to put a better chimney in for Montagu’s chamber is to blame.
“fain” It depends how one does view ship board life in the English Channel in march. Bartle.com provides the the following
fain ADJECTIVE: Archaic. Disposed to accept or agree: