Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
All the morning at home among my workmen. At noon Mr. Creed and I went to the ordinary behind the Exchange, where we lately were, but I do not like it so well as I did. So home with him and to the office, where we sat late, and he did deliver his accounts to us. The office being done I went home and took pleasure to see my work draw to an end.
Temperature: 11°C / 52°F (May 1661 avg.)
Sam and Mr. Creed are almost inseparable these days. I find it interesting that Sam tends to spend time with his friend/colleagues in bunches. A while back, he was regularly accompanying Sir William Batten, and before that, Luellin.
I’m sure there are plenty of others I’m unable to remember.
“no musical interlude today ?”
“…where we lately were, but I do not like it so well as I did…”
indeed, vicente!
Sam always values music in all its forms where ever he goes. no wonder today seems a bit drab to him.
“I do not like it so well as I did”
Maybe also he is finding the food at the ordinary just too plain ordinary!
As a reminder, he and Creed went there last Tuesday (the 7th)
The workmen came March 25 to put in “a pair of stairs up out of my parler.” Pepys estimated the job would take 2 months; today is the 50th day. Its too bad we don’t have a picture of the stairs, which judging by the amount of labor (at least two men & I estimate at least 42 working days) must have been fairly elaborate.
Education general, interesting, The Dons came to pick their students, Orals etc.: This day Evelyn did write
“..I heard, & saw such Exercises at the Election of Scholars at Westminster Schoole, to be sent to the Universitie, both in Lat: GR: & Heb: Arabic &c in the Theames & extemporary Verses as wonderfully astonish’d me, in such young stripling, with that readinesse, & witt, some of them not above 12 or 13 years of age: & pitty it is, that what they attaine here so ripely, they either not retaine, or improve more condiserably, when they come to be men: though many of them do: & and no lesse is to be blamed their odd pronouncing of Latine, so that out of England no nation were able to understand or endure it: The Examinants or Posers were Dr Duport Greek Professor at Cambridge: Dr Fell[? of who “do tell”?]:Dean of Christchu[[rc]]h Oxen : Dr Pierson, Dr. Alestree, Deane of Westminster & any that would:..”
“The office being done I went home and took pleasure to see my work draw to an end.” - what a feeling…:)