Wednesday 15 April 1663
Up betimes, and after talking with my father awhile, I to my office, and there hard at it till almost noon, and then went down the river with Maynes, the purveyor, to show a ship’s lading of Norway goods, and called at Sir W. Warren’s yard, and so home to dinner.
After dinner up with my wife and Ashwell a little to the Tryangle, and so I down to Deptford by land about looking out a couple of catches fitted to be speedily set forth in answer to a letter of Mr. Coventry’s to me. Which done, I walked back again, all the way reading of my book of Timber measure, comparing it with my new Sliding Rule brought home this morning with great pleasure.
Taking boat again I went to Shishe’s yard, but he being newly gone out towards Deptford I followed him thither again, and there seeing him I went with him and pitched upon a couple, and so by water home, it being late, past 8 at night, the wind cold, and I a little weary. So home to my office, then to supper and bed.
40 Annotations
First Reading
TerryF • Link
"my book of Timber measure"
L&M give the short-title [the first seven words] of "Description and use of the carpenters-rule together with The use of the line of numbers commonly called Gunters-line : applyed to the measuring of all superficies and solids, as board, glass, plaistering, wainscoat, tyling, paving, flooring, &c., timber, stone, square on round, gauging of vessels, &c. : also military orders, simple and compound interest, and tables of reduction, with the way of working by arithmatick in most of them : together with the use of the glasiers and Mr. White's sliding-rules, rendred plain and easie for ordinary capacities" / by John Brown / Printed for W. Fisher and R. Mount [available in digital form via EEBO]
http://www.lib.umich.edu/tcp/eebo…
"Mr. White's sliding-rules" suggests there were several of these, of which Sam'l now had one. Perhaps one or more or these exists in a museum or attic (like Robert Hooke's notebooks), and if the former, someone can find an online image of it/them (I have tried in vain).
TerryF • Link
"a ship’s l[o]ading of Norway goods"
So L&M, perhaps an error in scanning Wheatley's text.
TerryF • Link
"catches" are of course "ketches"
L&M clarify the urgent order from the Duke of York for boats for the Downs and Tangier.
Conrad • Link
TerrF, The old english word lade means load, hence our modern use of 'laden' meaning loaded. A 'Bill of Laden' is a document that depicts what is in the cargo loaded on board a vessel for transport.
A ladle is a loader of liquids
Leslie Katz • Link
bill of laden
At least where I come from (Canada, then Australia), it's called a bill of lading.
TerryF • Link
“a ship’s loading of Norway goods”
The meaning of the [scanned] Wheatley text is clear, but where they differ, some of us try to report L&M's preferred reading(s).
A. Hamilton • Link
and there seeing him I went with him and pitched upon a couple
The reference must have clear to Sam. Not to me.
Stolzi • Link
"pitched upon a couple"
I think it means that earlier he looked for a couple of ketches, didn't find them, but now, in company with Mr Shishe (whoever he is) he did find, or did select, ("pitched upon") a couple.
Unless "which done," earlier, means he had already selected the ones he wanted.
A look at the Free Dictionary gives
"pitch on" Informal /upon
To succeed in choosing or achieving
Stolzi • Link
Speaking of the dictionary,
it is quite amazing to see how many meanings of one little syllable "pitch" English-speakers can handle without any difficulty.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/…
What a language.
dirk • Link
"I walked back again, all the way reading of my book of Timber measure"
Considering the size and the weight of 17th c. books, this wouldn't have been a very practical thing to do -- pocket editions weren't available at the time, or were they?
in Aqua Scripto • Link
Book sizes appear to range from large about 15" high & upto 2" thick [they be stacked at the bottom of his Library case of books} then others appear to be 4"/6" inches in height, some appear to be smaller and in front of the their bgger brethren. He made his layout books on ease of use and size, no Douai methode [Dewey DS].
His Cabinet consisted of 8 layers of books in the case [with 9 panes of glass high ] be 10 foot or so?
Some books be 2 panes high, others half or less of a pane high.
A guess from photo of said case P178 Stephans Coote " Samuel Pepys a Life".
so anyone getting lost on the Cam can verify size by taking a peek between spell of lunch and hi tea at market place wandering down to do a bit maudlin.
Robert Gertz • Link
"...I walked back again, all the way reading of my book of Timber measure, comparing it with my new Sliding Rule brought home this morning with great pleasure."
Perhaps great pleasure was not had by all...
"Hewer, hold the book a little higher, please while I take this measure. C'mon lad, I've five more chapters to get through. 'Tis only a book after all."
Unnnh...Will groans stumbling along with the open massive book.
in Aqua Scripto • Link
Ship's laden of :layden= loaded adj. laden with Sorrow. as verb vt vi rare.
then there be over laden, flour laden
Lade not to be confused with lade back.
jolly old ME: to fill: to dip or draw; use the ladle to bail out , H2O, not the jailed one.
Bill of Laden a term used by shippers of wares by [goods, not goodies] land sea and air.
for interest :Lay day short for delay day: Commerce any of the days allowed for loadin' or unloadin' a ship without extra charge.
TerryF • Link
"Mr Shishe (whoever he is)" is Jonas Shish, Asst. Shipwright, Deptford.
Stolzi, his Diary name IS a bit deceiving , but he's clearly esteemed; more at the link (including a misspell or two).
in Aqua Scripto • Link
There be a small problem for written orders from the Admiralty,they had to be translated into words for Shishe , as it is said he could not read or write, he built by eye.
TerryF • Link
Jonas Shish
Methinks his surname is as Baltic in origin as are many a naval supply, perhaps a contraction of a surname, as are a host from elsewhere - in this case a Slavic one.
Australian Susan • Link
If Mr Shish is actually from the Baltic (and not just his name), maybe he could not read or write in English, being Estonian/Latvian/Lithuaian. Do they use cyrillic script?
Ed • Link
A slide rule you can actually use
http://www.syssrc.com/html/museum…
Conrad • Link
Leslie katz, We in Australia today certainly use the term Bill of Lading but please look up the etymology of the word 'lade' to get a fully appreciation of the original term Bill of Laden
TerryF • Link
Australian Susan, Estonians/Latvians/Lithuaians did and do not use Kyrillic until it was imposed on them in 1864 by the Russians, but Shish could be a derivation of Polish, and the Poles were included in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. http://www.scantours.com/lithuani…
matthew newton • Link
walking and reading
not an easy task
i have just tried it on modern pavements
so must admire Mr.P's effort
gerry • Link
Shish is surely a Turkish word as in kebab; it means skewer.
Barry Reich • Link
Norway goods...
It may have been mentioned before, but could someone supply the meaning of "Norway goods"?
JWB • Link
Shish
I suggest he carries the German word for dung, the English variant we all know; and being so named, would be a compelling reason to immigrate.
serafina • Link
On the water from Deptford to Londonon a cold damp windy night by the sound of it. Did these "taxi" boats offer any kind of shelter from the elements, or was one totally exposed?
in Aqua Scripto • Link
Readin',Ritin', Reconin' be limited for many, see Liza Picard p 197 of her great ref. Book "Restoration London"
merchants, 100% could sign their name, while carpenters, only 39% did not require the infamous x marks the spot. Schools for the less fortunate and females [78% illiterate ] be very Limited, even Papa Shakespeare was said to use the famous X, and he was the Mayor of that Avon Town. 'Tis why many would like to pin all those sonnets on Oxford [Lord].
in Aqua Scripto • Link
"...was one totally exposed..." Only the well healed would have a canopy to save them from the Tems spray and biting winds. The Wherry's be open and the females better bundle up, but many be very hardy souls, note that Samuell doth complain of effects of the water on his constitution.
in Aqua Scripto • Link
"...to show a ship’s lading of Norway goods,..." Barry Reich; It be my thought that it be a ship loaded with merchandise from Norway, that be available to purchase for use by one of the Yards, therefore it be my humble guess it be wooden in nature, ie. Planks,spars, or other items to spruce up a ship, or it could be fishy too, Red herring or two. Reason mentioned, it be here on speculation with no previous contacts since all those problems with disagreemnts between those countries that reside around the Baltic. i.e. new trade.
Norway be Known for its Forests of Pines and other ever greens, along with Herring,Cod,Halibut and Mackeral.
in Aqua Scripto • Link
Dinner not be noon to-day "...and so home to dinner..."
Robert Gertz • Link
"...called at Sir W. Warren’s yard..."
Nothing like cultivating those high level contacts in the business world. Strictly in the King's interest, of course...
in Aqua Scripto • Link
"... when Timber is grown so scarce and dear, by reason of the great Waste thereof ..." HP yesterday. 'Tis why Sam needs to know his calculations as there be those that be pushing up the price of building a Ship thereby requires a sliding scale to see the value of his yards stock of wood, and the Norwegians may have heard of this [ a leak ?] and are trying to get in on the deal.
TerryF • Link
“…to show a ship’s lading of Norway goods,…” Barry Reich, methinks the insightful in Aqua Scripto has it very correct, keeping in mind that one meaning of "to show" is "prove, demonstrate, establish, show, shew (establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment)" http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl… - one of Sam'l Pepys's specialities and his and the Purveyor's responsibilities.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
A better link to
The description and use of the carpenters-rule together with The use of the line of numbers commonly called Gunters-line : applyed to the measuring of all superficies and solids, as board, glass, plaistering, wainscoat, tyling, paving, flooring, &c., timber, stone, square on round, gauging of vessels, &c. : also military orders, simple and compound interest, and tables of reduction, with the way of working by arithmatick in most of them : together with the use of the glasiers and Mr. White's sliding-rules, rendred plain and easie for ordinary capacities / by John Brown.
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/…
Bill • Link
"The description and use of the carpenters-rule"
or you can read the original on Google Books.
https://books.google.com/books?id…
Linda • Link
Isn't it good,
Norwegian wood.
JayW • Link
That book looks amazing. Thanks Terry. Some of the problems are the same as those I had to work out at primary school (up to age 11). If it takes 1 man a certain time to do a job how long will 3 men take to do the same etc. I guess Sam's Oxford education was based on classical philosophy, language etc. No wonder he loves to learn about numbers now. It's a fascinating subject for an orderly mind such as his.
JayW • Link
And thanks to Bill for his link, too!
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘Norway, n.< Norway, the name of a country in Scandinavia....
1. attrib. Designating plants, animals, etc., native to or originating from Norway, and things made in or associated with Norway.
. . 1711 E. Ward Life Don Quixote I. 39 As tough As Norway Seal-skin, and as rough.
1759 Newport (Rhode Island) Mercury 26 June 4/3 To be sold by Jacob Richardson... Brass kettles and skillets... Rub and Norway Rag Stones.
. . 1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Norway Ragstone, the coarsest variety of the hone-slates, or whetstones . .
†5. slang. Norway neckcloth n. a pillory. Obs.
1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue Norway neckloth[sic], the pillory, usually made of Norway fir.’
‘pitch, v.2 < Of uncertain origin.
. . 22. intr. With on or upon. To settle or decide on; to select, choose . .
1628 W. Prynne Briefe Suruay Mr. Cozens 62, I shall onely pitch vpon these ensuing passages.
1674 W. Allen Danger of Enthusiasm 86 The way and method which God pitcht upon . . ‘
Bill • Link
“and there seeing him I went with him and pitched upon a couple”
To PITCH, to light upon; also to set a Burden upon.
---An universal etymological English dictionary. N. Bailey, 1724.
Bill • Link
BILL, [of Lading] is a Deed signed by the Master of a Ship, by which he acknowledges the Receipt of the Merchants Goods, and obliges himself to deliver the same, at the Place to which they are consigned.
---An universal etymological English dictionary. N. Bailey, 1724.