Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
About nine of the clock, I went on shore, there (calling by the way only to look upon my Lord Bruncker) to give Mrs. Williams an account of her matters, and so hired an ill-favoured horse, and away to Greenwich to my lodgings, where I hear how rude the souldiers have been in my absence, swearing what they would do with me, which troubled me, but, however, after eating a bit I to the office and there very late writing letters, and so home and to bed.
Temperature: 6°C / 43°F (Nov 1665 avg.)
“to give Mrs. Williams an account of her matters”
I assume this refers to her having told Pepys on Thursday 16 November about “one stone that [W. Howe] bought. This she desired, and I resolved I would give my Lord Sandwich notice of.” http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1665/11/16/
Hmmn…I could see where the seamen might want to wrap Sam up and toss him into the sea but what are the soldiers up in arms about? Assigned to the fleet and unpaid, I suppose. It seems Sam’s desire to be recognized as the man “in charge” of the Navy has come back to haunt him.
“You there, Minnes! Batten!! Where be our moneys?!!”
“Lads, you know well it’s Mr. Pepys who has all things in hand. Why, as he oft has told you, I’m practically senile and in my grave.” Sir John, sighing…
“Yes, boys.” Batten solemnly agrees. “Everyone of you is well aware from Mr. Pepys himself that Sir John and I are mere ‘doatards and fools’ while it is Mr. Pepys who rules all in the Navy.”
“Pepys!! Where is he?!!! Kill the bloody dog!!!!”
“He’ll be back tomorrow. I would take it up with him then.” Minnes, helpfully. Beatific smile to Batten who responds in kind.
“I hear how rude the souldiers have been in my absence, swearing what they would do with me, which troubled me, but, however, after eating a bit I to the office and there very late writing letters, and so home and to bed.”
L&M have corrected this to read..”I hear how rude the annotators have been in my absence, swearing what they would do with me, which troubled me, but, however, after eating a bit I to the office and there very late writing letters, and so home and to bed….”
(Sorry couldn’t resist!)
ill-favoured horse.
Maybe like this?
http://members.modesto.net/mferg/renohead.JPG
“ill-favoured horse”
Maybe a Trabant kind of horse?
re: “ill-favoured horse”
I was also wondering about this — does Sam mean that the horse is ill-tempered, or ill-proportioned?
ill-favoured.
The common interpretation would be that the horse looked unattractive; possibly poorly groomed, maybe sway-backed, too cobby? Has a staring coat and unlikely to be fit? Impossible to tell.
> ill favoured horse
I read this as that the horse was an old nag, well below the quality of animal Sam thinks his position merits. Like not being able to rent a car at a usual agency, and having to rent a 5-year old clunker from Rent-a-Wreck. Not good for the image if you are seen in it.
ill-favoured horse
Probably looked like this when he was talking to Sam.
If he was the famous talking horse from the very old TV show “Mr. Ed” he probably would have told Sam he wasn’t that good looking either so he can either shut up and ride or keep talking and walk!”
“…so hired an ill-favoured horse,…”
ready to be recycled
ready for the nackers yard and glue factory
ILL-FAVOURED.
Having a bad or unpleasing appearance, aspect, or features; ill-looking, uncomely. (Chiefly of persons.)
1530
b. transf. Offensive (to some other sense than sight, or to the mind); objectionable.
1552
rare
= ILL-FAVOURED.
1579 G. HARVEY Letter-bk. 83 The ilfavoritid sprites and divells that nowe so truble and infecte the world.
1708 SWIFT Abol. Christianity Wks. 1755 II. I. 89 An ill-favoured nose.
In an ill-favoured manner; in a bad or unpleasing way or style.
1545
ill-favouredness
The quality of being ill-favoured; ugliness, uncomeliness, objectionableness.
1565-73
Australian Susan:
Like the punch line to a shaggy dog story, I don’t find your Roman-nosed cold-blood so ill-favored, if you overlook the sores and disappearing throatlatch-nothing an atibiotic salve and couple weeks turning over the back forty won’t cure.
