Wednesday 27 May 1663

So I waked by 3 o’clock, my mind being troubled, and so took occasion by making water to wake my wife, and after having lain till past 4 o’clock seemed going to rise, though I did it only to see what she would do, and so going out of the bed she took hold of me and would know what ailed me, and after many kind and some cross words I began to tax her discretion in yesterday’s business, but she quickly told me my own, knowing well enough that it was my old disease of jealousy, which I denied, but to no purpose. After an hour’s discourse, sometimes high and sometimes kind, I found very good reason to think that her freedom with him is very great and more than was convenient, but with no evil intent, and so after awhile I caressed her and parted seeming friends, but she crying in a great discontent. So I up and by water to the Temple, and thence with Commissioner Pett to St. James’s, where an hour with Mr. Coventry talking of Mr. Pett’s proceedings lately in the forest of Sherwood, and thence with Pett to my Lord Ashley, Chancellor of the Exchequer; where we met the auditors about settling the business of the accounts of persons to whom money is due before the King’s time in the Navy, and the clearing of their imprests for what little of their debts they have received. I find my Lord, as he is reported, a very ready, quick, and diligent person. Thence I to Westminster Hall, where Term and Parliament make the Hall full of people; no further news yet of the King of France, whether he be dead or not.

Here I met with my cozen Roger Pepys, and walked a good while with him, and among other discourse as a secret he hath committed to nobody but myself, and he tells me that his sister Claxton now resolving to give over the keeping of his house at Impington, he thinks it fit to marry again, and would have me, by the help of my uncle Wight or others, to look him out a widow between thirty and forty years old, without children, and with a fortune, which he will answer in any degree with a joynture fit for her fortune. A woman sober, and no high-flyer, as he calls it.

I demanded his estate. He tells me, which he says also he hath not done to any, that his estate is not full 800l. per annum, but it is 780l. per annum, of which 200l. is by the death of his last wife, which he will allot for a joynture for a wife, but the rest, which lies in Cambridgeshire, he is resolved to leave entire for his eldest son. I undertook to do what I can in it, and so I shall. He tells me that the King hath sent to them to hasten to make an end by midsummer, because of his going into the country; so they have set upon four bills to dispatch: the first of which is, he says, too devilish a severe act against conventicles; so beyond all moderation, that he is afeard it will ruin all: telling me that it is matter of the greatest grief to him in the world, that he should be put upon this trust of being a Parliament-man, because he says nothing is done, that he can see, out of any truth and sincerity, but mere envy and design.

Thence by water to Chelsey, all the way reading a little book I bought of “Improvement of Trade,” a pretty book and many things useful in it.

So walked to Little Chelsey, where I found my Lord Sandwich with Mr. Becke, the master of the house, and Mr. Creed at dinner, and I sat down with them, and very merry. After dinner (Mr. Gibbons being come in also before dinner done) to musique, they played a good Fancy, to which my Lord is fallen again, and says he cannot endure a merry tune, which is a strange turn of his humour, after he has for two or three years flung off the practice of Fancies and played only fidlers’ tunes. Then into the Great Garden up to the Banqueting House; and there by his glass we drew in the species very pretty.

Afterwards to ninepins, where I won a shilling, Creed and I playing against my Lord and Cooke. This day there was great thronging to Banstead Downs, upon a great horse-race and foot-race. I am sorry I could not go thither.

So home back as I came, to London Bridge, and so home, where I find my wife in a musty humour, and tells me before Ashwell that Pembleton had been there, and she would not have him come in unless I was there, which I was ashamed of; but however, I had rather it should be so than the other way.

So to my office, to put things in order there, and by and by comes Pembleton, and word is brought me from my wife thereof that I might come home. So I sent word that I would have her go dance, and I would come presently. So being at a great loss whether I should appear to Pembleton or no, and what would most proclaim my jealousy to him, I at last resolved to go home, and took Tom Hater with me, and staid a good while in my chamber, and there took occasion to tell him how I hear that Parliament is putting an act out against all sorts of conventicles, and did give him good counsel, not only in his own behalf, but my own, that if he did hear or know anything that could be said to my prejudice, that he would tell me, for in this wicked age (specially Sir W. Batten being so open to my reproaches, and Sir J. Minnes, for the neglect of their duty, and so will think themselves obliged to scandalize me all they can to right themselves if there shall be any inquiry into the matters of the Navy, as I doubt there will) a man ought to be prepared to answer for himself in all things that can be inquired concerning him.

After much discourse of this nature to him I sent him away, and then went up, and there we danced country dances, and single, my wife and I; and my wife paid him off for this month also, and so he is cleared.

After dancing we took him down to supper, and were very merry, and I made myself so, and kind to him as much as I could, to prevent his discourse, though I perceive to my trouble that he knows all, and may do me the disgrace to publish it as much as he can. Which I take very ill, and if too much provoked shall witness it to her. After supper and he gone we to bed.


46 Annotations

First Reading

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Damnit, Samuel...Kiss that sweet girl and thank God she tolerates you.

Lawrence  •  Link

" and there by his glass we drew (Magnified) in the Species very pretty, I'll bet they weren't all our feathered friends!

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"...though I perceive to my trouble that he knows all, and may do me the disgrace to publish it as much as he can."

So, was it Sam's guilt talking? Or did he perceive some attempt by Mr. P to avoid any hints of contact with Bess? Or did Pembleton actually refer to it, perhaps making a well-intended but badly-timed light joke?

***
Oh, the shame...

"Why, here's our dear Thee, come to..."

"Cousin Samuel, Mama sends her regards and asked me to leave this basket of wine." Curtsy. "Cousin Bess, might I have a word in private?" Theophilia giving a stare with all the cool dignity a brattily precocious preteen can muster.

"Cousin Samuel." Curtsy. Thee leaves fifteen minutes later with all the grace of a queen...

A blinking, sputtering Bess staring after her as she emerges from her chamber...

"What did Thee want with you...?"

"That...That...She told me...She'd heard...From 'acquaintances'...That you...That I and Mr. Pembleton...My French wiles...That little..."

"I knew it. Everyone knows. Disgraced. A laughinstock. Look what your indiscretion has brought me down to, Bess."

"YOU and your stupid jealous fits!! 'Everyone' saw you running around to the house every half-hour...The maids have been telling 'everyone' how you were even checking the beds and looking in the wash for my drawers, you idiot!!"

Hmmn...

"And by the way, Monsieur. It's high time you told that little brat of a cousin you are not merely bidding time until she's a bit more grown."

TerryF  •  Link

"I...took occasion to tell him how I hear that Parliament is putting an act out against all sorts of conventicles,"

Samuel has knowledge of what occurred in Commons four days ago and resulted in the footnoted Act:

Sectaries, &c.

A Bill to retain his Majesty's Subjects in their Obedience, and to provide Remedies against the unlawful Meeting of Sectaries, Non-conformists, and Dissenters from the Church, was this Day read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the said Bill be committed to [57 named M's of P] : And all the Members of this House, to whom it was formerly referred, to prepare and bring in the Bill, are appointed to be of the Committee: And all Members that shall come, are to have Voices thereat: And they are to meet on Monday at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Court of Wards: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

From: 'House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 23 May 1663', Journal of the House of Commons: volume 8: 1660-1667 (1802), p. 491. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…. Date accessed: 27May 2006.

A. De Araujo  •  Link

"27 May 1663"
The days are getting longer but Sam's entries are getting ridiculously long.

Bradford  •  Link

"Then into the Great Garden up to the Banqueting House; and there by his glass we drew in the species very pretty."

I am dim. Species of what? Butterflies? Birds? The fairer (or should I say stronger) sex?

The chance to make music with the son of Orlando Gibbons and teacher of John Blow was a rare opportunity (see Alan Bedford's informative note on him). A "fancy" is one of many English terms for a fantasia, "an instrumental composition whose form and invention spring 'solely from the fantasy and skill of the author who created it.'" The English predilection was for "diversity of material"---in other words, the player would improvise at will, with runs, variations, informal fugues, "bindings with discordes, quicke motions, slow motions, proportions, and what you list" (Thomas Morley). (Cf. The New Grove, 1980) Though Pepys contrasts the piece to the country fiddler's tunes formerly enjoyed by My Lord, the fancy would not necessarily have been solemn.

dirk  •  Link

"no further news yet of the King of France, whether he be dead or not"

It strikes me that at the time being ill must have been such a serious business that the idea of death was always present in people's minds.

Australian Susan  •  Link

"in his glass"

Is this a microscope and are they drawing what they see under the lens?

Or a magnifying glass?

or a camera obscura?

Australian Susan  •  Link

Sam takes the first opportunity he can to warn Tom Hater of what is in the wind and the dangers he may face if not discreet - Sam is being a careful friend here.

Australian Susan  •  Link

Banstead Downs

later known as Epsom Downs. This is an early mention of what has become one of the most famous racecourses in the world. See http://www.southhatch.co.uk/histo…

TerryF  •  Link

Messrs. Pepys and Hater are protecting one another.

"I...did give him good counsel, not only in his own behalf, but my own, that if he did hear or know anything that could be said to my prejudice, that he would tell me, in this wicked age...a man ought to be prepared to answer for himself in all things that can be inquired concerning him."

Samuel's word to Mr. Hater recalls this sequence of events:

9 May 1663: "Mr. Hater...the poor man began telling me that by Providence being the last Lord’s day at a meeting of some Friends upon doing of their duties, they were surprised, and he carried to the Counter, but afterwards released; however, hearing that Sir W. Batten do hear of [it,] he thought it good to give me an account of it, lest it might tend to any prejudice to me. I was extraordinary surprised with it, and troubled for him, knowing that now it is out it is impossible for me to conceal it, or keep him in employment under me without danger to myself....I could not without tears in my eyes discourse with him further, but at last did pitch upon telling the truth of the whole to Mr. Coventry as soon as I could, and to that end did use means to prevent Sir W. Batten...from going to that end to-day, lest he might doe it to Sir G. Carteret or Mr. Coventry before me; which I did prevail and kept him at the office all the morning." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

10 May 1663 "I telling [Mr. Coventry] what had happened to Tom Hater, at which he seems very sorry, but tells me that if it is not made very publique, it will not be necessary to put him away at present, but give him good caution for the time to come. However, he will speak to the Duke about it and know his pleasure." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

15 May 1663: "Mr. Coventry...told me that for Mr. Hater the Duke’s word was...that he found he had a good servant, an Anabaptist, and unless he did carry himself more to the scandal of the office, he would bear with his opinion till he heard further, which do please me very much." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

But not even the Duke can protect one like Hater from Parliament, the glove of the fist of his Royal Brother, Charles Rex. And Pepys?

Michael Robinson  •  Link

"all the way reading a little book I bought of “Improvement of Trade,”

From a review of titles published 1600 to 1663 the most plausible candidate (the other potential works are all 4to.) appears to be:-

FORTREY, Samuel: England's Interest and Improvement, consisting in the increase of the store, and trade of this kingdom..
Cambridge, 1663.. 8vo.

For the text of the editon of 1673 see:-

http://socserv2.socsci.mcmaster.c…

JWB  •  Link

"...and there by his glass we drew in the species very pretty."
From Webster's 1913 Dictionary: \Spe"cies\, n. sing. & pl. [L., a sight, outward appearance, shape, form, a particular sort, kind, or quality,
a species. See {Spice}, n., and cf. {Specie}, {Special}.]
1. Visible or sensible presentation; appearance; a sensible
percept received by the imagination; an image. [R.] ``The
species of the letters illuminated with indigo and
violet.'' --Sir I. Newton
In that they went "up to the Banqueting House;" and "drew in" the species or image, I imagine Sam's writing about looking though a telescope.

language hat  •  Link

species:

The word has become so narrowed in sense it's hard to read older texts without importing the modern meaning. But in Sam's day it still had the whole range of meanings of the Latin word (which is derived from specio 'to see, observe'): 'something presented to view, spectacle, sight; outward appearance, look, aspect; subdivision of any class or kind, sort; (in Platonic philosophy = Gk. idea) an eternally existing archetype of any class of thing.' Here are some relevant OED definitions (with a few quotes from Sam's period):

1. Appearance; outward form.
1660 BARROW Euclid I. xxxii, All right-lined figures of the same species.

3. a. The outward appearance or aspect, the visible form or image, of something, as constituting the immediate object of vision. (Common in 17th cent.)
1699 LD. TARBUT Let. in Pepys' Diary (1870) 688 That which is generally seen by them is the species of living creatures, and inanimate things, which are in motion.

b. Similarly without of.
1613 W. BROWNE in Sir T. Overbury's Wks. (1856) 12 Yet through thy wounded fame, as thorow these Glasses which multiply the species, We see thy vertues more.
1654 GAYTON Pleas. Notes I. viii. 27 For he saw at a convenient distance forty windmills to be the very same, that the species represented them.

c. The image of something as cast upon, or reflected from, a surface; a reflection. Obs.
1638 WILKINS New World v. (1707) 41 The Light which appears in the Moon at the Eclipses, is nothing else but the second Species of the Sun's Rays. 1669 Phil. Trans. IV. 1104 The way of casting the Species of the Sun through a good Telescope of a competent length, on an extended paper.

4. A thing seen; a spectacle; esp. an unreal or imaginary object of sight; a phantom or illusion.
1652 J. WRIGHT tr. Camus' Nat. Paradox VI. 134 Shee had no sooner opened her Eyes, but the first species that formed it self to her sight, was an horrible Serpent of an immense growth.

Mary  •  Link

"a musty humour"

What a descriptive phrase!

TerryF  •  Link

"high-flyer"

Without access to an OED at the moment, an internet search suggests this is an early occurrence of this term connoting
1. An ambitious person, likely to achieve their goals.
2. Someone naturally skilled and competent in their career.

Etymology: 17c.

http://www.allwords.com/query.php…

in Aqua Scripto  •  Link

specious derived from species?

Stolzi  •  Link

"Specious derived from species"

Yes, from the Latin word's sense of "outward appearance," O waterily written one.

I rather imagine that "by his glass we drew in the species very pretty" means that with a spyglass, or telescope, they were able to observe either birds or plant species in the Great Garden as if from close up.

Stolzi  •  Link

A very interesting night
and early morning chez Pepys.

Once again, the censor is off duty, as Pepys "makes water." And does other things in the effort to make his spouse ask "What's the matter?"

How this resonates across three centuries, as we today still do things to make our spouses ask "What's the matter?" I know I've done it myself.

"She crying in a great discontent." As well might be, if she were innocent; and if she were guilty, she'd be sure to put on a big show in that kind.

Some cross words, and some kind, all mixed together with tears and kisses. Oh, bless their dear hearts.

in Aqua Scripto  •  Link

Terry ye must tuned in to SP's wave length, another Pepys word hits the O[dd] E. Dictiionary
high-flyer, -flier
2. One who soars high in his aims, ambitions, notions, etc.
1663 PEPYS Diary 27 May, He..would have me..to look him out a widow..A woman sober, and no high-flyer, as he calls it.

1. a. lit. One who or that which flies high, as a person, a bird, a balloon, or the like; also, a swing set in a frame. 1589 R. HARVEY Pl. Perc. (1590) 15 Men haue great desire to be compted high fliers and deepe swimmers. 1698 W. CHILCOT Evil Thoughts vi. (1851) 61 These highflyers, when they are in their altitudes, suddenly their waxen wings melt, and down they fall headlong.

Bradford  •  Link

"Then into the Great Garden up to the Banqueting House; and there by his glass we drew in the species very pretty."

Based on Language Hat's multiple definitions, I would now interpret the sentence as meaning that, through a telescope, they now could see the prospect before them in great detail.

Australian Susan  •  Link

Presumably high-flier derives from the legend of Icarus, so Sam saying this implies the headlong fall is to be expected as well.

dirk  •  Link

"a little book I bought of 'Improvement of Trade'"

From the link provided by Michael Robinson above:

"...forein commodities are grown into so great esteem amongst us, as we wholly undervalue and neglect the use of our own, whereby that great expence of treasure, that is yearly wasted in clothing, furnitures, and the like; redounds chiefly to the profit of strangers, and to the ruine of his Majesties Subjects."

The old Mercantilistic argument again --- see also:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Roger  •  Link

Banstead Downs
There still is a Banstead Downs, not far from Epsom Downs, where there is some evidence that horse-racing took place before the first Epsom Derby in 1780(117 years after Pepys's 'great horse race' which may well have been in Banstead, not Epsom) Indeed, I dont think the current racecourse is in exactly the same place as in 1780. There will be a 'great thronging', no doubt, to Epsom next Saturday for the latest renewal of this great part of the English social scene(for all 'classes'). I shall probably throng over myself.

Pedro  •  Link

Banstead Downs

King Henry VIII used to hold races on the 4-mile stretch of land then called the Banstead. It was later known as Epsom for mineral springs in the area, and also “the Hill” for a large hill on which spectators would view the action.
In the old days, a horseshoe-shaped course was marked out with white sticks on the open, rolling meadow.
Horse racing was suppressed in England after the English Civil War, but when it was revived after the Restoration in 1660, Epsom is where the first race was held

in Aqua Scripto  •  Link

Could be, Susan AUS 'Presumably high-flier derives from the legend of Icarus, so Sam saying this implies the headlong fall is to be expected as well'
But Sam has been reading Aesops fables, there are 600 or so, therefore it could have been taken from the book.The closest I could find,on line be

'Pride goes before destruction'
The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle
http://www.pacificnet.net/~johnr/…
I remember a piece about a Lapwing flying high and singing away, did not see the hawk then there was silence,
and then a feather or two twitching to the terrain.

Australian Susan  •  Link

Pedro and Roger - see my link posted above for history of race course.

Nix  •  Link

Conventicle --

OED:

b. spec. in Eng. Hist. A meeting of (Protestant) Nonconformists or Dissenters from the Church of England for religious worship, during the period when such meetings were prohibited by the law.
This specific application gradually became distinct after 1593, and may be said to have been recognized by the ‘Conventicle Act’ of 1664; for although the word there occurs in constant conjunction with assembly and meeting, and always with qualification, it was entitled ‘An Act to prevent and suppress seditious conventicles’, by which title it is cited in the Act of Toleration of 1689. The application to Nonconformist worship after its legalization or ‘establishment’ in 1689, and esp. after the repeal of the Conventicle Act in 1812, comes, according to circumstances, from a historical survival of the idea of illegality or from a living idea of schism or heresy.
1593 Act 35 Eliz. c. I. To..be present at any unlawful Assemblies, Conventicles or Meetings, under Colour or Pretence of any Exercise of Religion. 1631 High Commission Cases (Camden) 200 Mr. Viccars preacheth at Stamford and blesseth some and curseth others that doe not frequent his conventicles. 1663 PEPYS Diary 27 May, The first [bill]..is, he [Roger Pepys] says, too devilish a severe act against conventicles. 1664 Act 16 Chas. II, c. 4 (Conventicle Act) Any Assembly Conventicle or Meeting under colour or pretence of any Exercise of Religion in other manner than is allowed by the Liturgy or practise of the Church of England. 1664 PEPYS Diary 7 Aug., Came by several poor creatures carried by constables, for being at a conventicle. 1678 BUTLER Hud. III. ii. 1388 Take all religions in, and stickle From Conclave down to Conventicle. 1682 DRYDEN Medal 284 A Conventicle of gloomy sullen Saints. 1711 Act 10 Anne c. 6 (Occasional Conformity Act) Present at any Conventicle Assembly or Meeting..for the Exercise of Religion in other Manner than according to the Liturgy and Practice of the Church of England..at which Conventicle Assembly or Meeting there shall be Ten Persons or more assembled together over and besides those of the same Houshold. 1711 ADDISON Spect. No. 127 {page}7, I wish it may not drive many ordinary Women into Meetings and Conventicles. 1827 HALLAM Const. Hist. (1876) I. iv. 185 When..even those who voluntarily renounced the temporal advantages of the establishment were hunted from their private conventicles. 1878 LECKY Eng. in 18th C. II. v. 39 It was made a capital offence to preach in any conventicle.

in Aqua Scripto  •  Link

“high-flyer” The L&M equates the saying to the high and mighty Bishops [in the Sense of Church and State] 'tis better than Hog-high [pig headed]

Patricia  •  Link

In Georgette Heyer's novels set in the period of George III & IV, "high flyer" is a euphemism for a woman of loose morals. If it had this idiomatic meaning in Pepys' time, I can certainly see why his cousin doesn't want such a wife.

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"Mr. Pett’s proceedings lately in the forest of Sherwood"

For Commissioner Pett's report (26 May) on the costs of felling and transporting timber from Sherwood Forest. CSPD 1663-4 p. 151 (L&M footnote)

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"settling the business of the accounts of persons to whom money is due before the King’s time in the Navy, and the clearing of their imprests for what little of their debts they have received"

These debts were to be stated before Lady-day [25 March, fiscal New Year's ]. (Per L&M footnote)

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Roger Pepy's resolve to marry a widow of a certain sort

Already thrice widowed, Roger Pepys was not married again until February 1669. But he was then still of the same mind, and married a widow (Esther Dickenson) of about 40. (L&M footnote)

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"He tells me that the King hath sent to them to hasten to make an end by midsummer, because of his going into the country; so they have set upon four bills to dispatch: "

Yesterday the House of Commons passed this Dispatch of Business.

Ordered, That the Matter of the King's Majesty's Revenue, the Bill for the Militia, the Bill against Conventicles, and the Bill against the Growth of Popery, shall have Preference of Dispatch before any other Business. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

Parliament was nor prorogued until 27 July. The bills against conventicles and Popery (which the Upper House had shown no great hurry to deal with) thereupon lapsed, the measure against conventicles being passed in May 1664 (16 Car. II c. 4). (Per L&M footnote)

Terry Foreman  •  Link

The Pepys-Hayter league's other side

Today Pepys begs Tom Hayter "that if he did hear or know anything that could be said to my prejudice, that he would tell me, for in this wicked age (specially Sir W. Batten being so open to my reproaches, and Sir J. Minnes, for the neglect of their duty, and so will think themselves obliged to scandalize me all they can to right themselves if there shall be any inquiry into the matters of the Navy, as I doubt there will be"

Sc. "if there shall be any inquiry into the matters of the Navy, as I fear there will be"!

Bill  •  Link

“ by his glass we drew in the species very pretty”

This word is here used as an optical term, and signifies the image painted on the retina of the eye, and the rays of light reflected from the several points of the surface of objects.
---Diary and correspondence of Samuel Pepys, the diary deciphered by J. Smith. 1854.

VISIBLE SPECIES, (in Philosophy) are those wonderfully fine superficial Images of Bodies, which the Light produces and delineates in their Proportion and Colours in the Bottom of our Eyes.
---An Universal English Dictionary. N. Bailey, 1724.

Bill  •  Link

" to musique, they played a good Fancy, to which my Lord is fallen again, and says he cannot endure a merry tune, which is a strange turn of his humour, after he has for two or three years flung off the practice of Fancies and played only fidlers’ tunes"

These "fancies " appear to have been light airs, but their character has not been accurately defined. Falstaff, when speaking of Justice Shallow, says: "'a came ever in the rearward of the fashion, and sung those tunes to the overscutched huswives that he heard the carmen whistle, and sware they were his fancies or his good-nights" (2 Henry IV., act iii., sc. 2). There is an interesting anecdote connected with these fancies in North's "Memories of Musick" (ed. Rimbault, 1846, p. 103): "King Charles the Second was a professed lover of musick, but of this kind onely [light French style], and had an utter detestation of Fancys, and the less for a successless entertainment of that kind given him by Secretary Williamson, after which the Secretary had no peace, for the King (as his way was) could not forbear whetting his wits upon the subject of the fancy musick, and its patron the Secretary." Dr. Hueffer, in his "Mr. Pepys the Musician," refers to Fancies, and is inclined to connect them with the Fantasia (" Italian and other Studies, 1883, p. 256).
---Wheatley, 1893.

Bill  •  Link

"to musique, they played a good Fancy, to which my Lord is fallen again, and says he cannot endure a merry tune, which is a strange turn of his humour, after he has for two or three years flung off the practice of Fancies and played only fidlers’ tunes"

We must now speak a little more of Musick made for Instruments, in which, Points, Fuges, and all other Figures of Descant are in no less (if not in more) use than in Vocal Musick.
Of this kind, the chief and most excellent, for Art and Contrivance, are Fancies, of 6,5,4,and 3 parts, intended commonly for Viols. In this sort of Musick the Composer (being not limitted to words) doth imploy all his Art and Invention solely about the bringing in and carrying on of these Fuges, according to the Order and Method formerly shewed.
When he has tryed all the several wayes which he thinks fit to be used therein; he takes some other point, and does the like with it : or else, for variety, introduces some Chromatik Notes, with Bindings and Intermixtures of discords; or, falls into some lighter Humour like a Madrigal, or what else his own fancy shall lead him to : but still concluding with something which hath Art and excellency in it.
---A Compendium of Practical Music in Five Parts. C. Simpson, 1667.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Thence I to Westminster Hall, where Term and Parliament make the Hall full of people ..." so the MPs and the Lords are mingling, doing business in Westminster Hall.

But what does Term mean? Was Westminster School there too ... and the boys are there because they haven't been sent home for the summer break yet?

Bill  •  Link

“A woman sober, and no high-flyer”

HIGH FLIER. One that carries his opinions to extravagance.
HIGH FLOWN.
1. Elevated; proud.
2. Turgid; extravagant.
HIGH FLYING. Extravagant in claims or opinions.
---A Dictionary Of The English Language. Samuel Johnson, 1756.

Bill  •  Link

Seemingly unrelated, but "high falutin" has a similar definition to "high flying" above.

Chris Squire UK  •  Link

OED has:

‘fancy, < A contraction of fantasy . .
. . 5.b. esp. in Music, a composition in an impromptu style. Obs. Cf. fantasia n., fantasy n. 4e.
. . 1663 S. Pepys Diary 27 May (1971) IV. 160 Mr. Gibbons being come in..to Musique; they played a good Fancy . . ‘
……
‘high-flyer’ . . II. fig. and extended uses.
. . 3. b. slang. An immodest or promiscuous woman; a high-class, fashionable prostitute or courtesan. Now hist. and rare.
Sometimes overlapping with sense 3a.’
. .1663 S. Pepys Diary 27 May (1971) IV. 159 He..would have me..to look him out a widow..A woman sober and no high flyer as he calls it . . ‘
……
‘musty, adj.2 < French.
. . 3. Peevish, sullen, bad-tempered. Now Eng. regional (north-west.).
1620 T. Shelton tr. Cervantes Don Quixote ii. xlviii. 313 The ill-wounded Don Quixote was exceeding musty and melancholy, with his Face bound vp and scarred.
. . 1672 T. Shadwell Miser i, What a Devil makes thee in so musty a humour? . . ‘
…….
‘term < French . .
. . 5. a. spec. Each of the periods (usually three or four in the year) appointed for the sitting of certain courts of law, or for instruction and study in a university or school. Opposed to vacation. Commonly used without article, as in term = during the term.
. . 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 431 At certaine set times (wee call them Tearmes) yearely causes are heard and tried.
. . 1678 E. Phillips New World of Words (ed. 4) (at cited word), The first is called Hilary Term... The second is called Easter Term... The third..Trinity Term... The fourth and last..Michaelmas Term . . ‘
…….

‘high-falutin’ is indeed unrelated, as it is U.S. early 19th C slang.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Starting at the end of May, 1663, Louis XIV nearly died of the measles. The progress of his disease was noted daily by his physician, Monsieur Antoine Vallot, in the Journal de la santé du Roi.
The story and translated bits come from
https://partylike1660.com/louis-x…

By Wednesday, June 6, Louis XIV had regained most of his strength, was meeting his ministers on matters of State, and no longer felt any discomfort.

@@@
The next entry I know about is when Louis XIV and Queen Marie-Thérèse left Versailles to return to the Louvre on Saturday, June 9.

Monsieur Vallot records that Louis was completely recovered from the measles, and was welcomed by people of quality and importance, who all congratulated him on his recovery.

@@@
To review what a bout of the measles could have done to Louis and his Court, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

A couple pf reasons Louis XIV may not have infected everyone at the French Court were that the good Dr. Vallot seems to have isolated him (as best he could), and -- from another part of the same blog:

"Louis XIV liked his windows open. He did not care much if the weather was good or bad, as soon as he entered a room, Louis opened all windows. His mistresses did not like this habit much. Madame de Maintenon complained of it regularly, saying the King does not care whether she felt cold due to the windows being open. It was rumoured Louis developed this habit because of his odour."

Of course, Madame de Maintenon wasn't a factor in 1663, and Louis' dislike of bathing is well documented, so who knows if this was true of his behavior before and during the measles episode. But as we know from COVID, viruses don't spread easily in well-ventilated places.

https://partylike1660.com/five-th…

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

“Jealousy contains more of self-love than of love.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) -- from Reflections: Or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)

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