Tuesday 11 August 1663
Up and to my office, whither, by and by, my brother Tom came, and I did soundly rattle him for his neglecting to see and please the Joyces as he has of late done. I confess I do fear that he do not understand his business, nor will do any good in his trade, though he tells me that he do please every body and that he gets money, but I shall not believe it till I see a state of his accounts, which I have ordered him to bring me before he sees me any more.
We met and sat at the office all the morning, and at noon I to the ’Change, where I met Dr. Pierce, who tells me that the King comes to towne this day, from Tunbridge, to stay a day or two, and then fetch the Queen from thence, who he says is grown a very debonnaire lady, and now hugs him, and meets him gallopping upon the road, and all the actions of a fond and pleasant lady that can be, that he believes has a chat now and then of Mrs. Stewart, but that there is no great danger of her, she being only an innocent, young, raw girl; but my Lady Castlemaine, who rules the King in matters of state, and do what she list with him, he believes is now falling quite out of favour. After the Queen is come back she goes to the Bath; and so to Oxford, where great entertainments are making for her.
This day I am told that my Lord Bristoll hath warrants issued out against him, to have carried him to the Tower; but he is fled away, or hid himself. So much the Chancellor hath got the better of him.
Upon the ’Change my brother, and Will bring me word that Madam Turner would come and dine with me to-day, so I hasted home and found her and Mrs. Morrice there (The. Joyce being gone into the country), which is the reason of the mother rambling. I got a dinner for them, and after dinner my uncle Thomas and aunt Bell came and saw me, and I made them almost foxed with wine till they were very kind (but I did not carry them up to my ladies). So they went away, and so my two ladies and I in Mrs. Turner’s coach to Mr. Povy’s, who being not within, we went in and there shewed Mrs. Turner his perspective and volary, and the fine things that he is building of now, which is a most neat thing. Thence to the Temple and by water to Westminster; and there Morrice and I went to Sir R. Long’s to have fetched a niece of his, but she was not within, and so we went to boat again and then down to the bridge, and there tried to find a sister of Mrs. Morrice’s, but she was not within neither, and so we went through bridge, and I carried them on board the King’s pleasure-boat, all the way reading in a book of Receipts of making fine meats and sweetmeats, among others to make my own sweet water, which made us good sport.
So I landed them at Greenwich, and there to a garden, and gave them fruit and wine, and so to boat again, and finally, in the cool of the evening, to Lyon Kee, the tide against us, and so landed and walked to the Bridge, and there took a coach by chance passing by, and so I saw them home, and there eat some cold venison with them, and drunk and bade them good night, having been mighty merry with them, and I think it is not amiss to preserve, though it cost me a little, such a friend as Mrs. Turner. So home and to bed, my head running upon what to do to-morrow to fit things against my wife’s coming, as to buy a bedstead, because my brother John is here, and I have now no more beds than are used.
46 Annotations
First Reading
jeannine • Link
"After the Queen is come back she goes to the Bath". The trips to Turnbridge and then to the Baths were trips made in an attempt to cure Catherine's infertility. It was believed that by taking the waters under a strict routine as her doctors advised her that she may actually conceive. The original thought was that she go to Turnbridge and from there to the Waters of Bourbon, but since Bourbon was a longer and more expensive trip, one of the Royal phsicians, Sir Alexander Fraser, "came to the rescue, and declared that he had analysed the Bourbon springs, when in attendance there with the Queen-mother, and found they exactly resembled those of Bath." (Davidson, p. 196). While in Bath Charles and Catherine will be the guest of Dr. Pierce, who had a mansion known as Abbey House. No doubt Dr. Pierce will fill Sam's ears with entertaining stories and gossip from this trip.
TerryF • Link
"I made them almost foxed with wine till they were very kind"
kind (adj.)
"friendly," from O.E. gecynde "natural, native, innate," originally "with the feeling of relatives for each other," from P.Gmc. *gakundiz, from *kunjan (see kin), with collective prefix *ga- and abstract suffix *-iz. Sense development from "with natural feelings," to "well-disposed" (c.1300), "benign, compassionate" (1297). Kindly (adj.) is O.E. gecyndelic. Kind-hearted is from 1535; kindness is from c.1290. http://www.etymonline.com/index.p…
"Kind" only when they are almost drunk?!
Robert Gertz • Link
"...which I have ordered him to bring me before he sees me any more..."
You know, I'm the eldest of seven and done reasonably well...And if I ever tried to pull this sort of thing with any of my siblings...
Australian Susan • Link
Dr Pierce as 17th century equivalent of correspondent for Hello! magazine. And doesn't Sam lap it up!
Lovely day out today - Sam, when in the mood, shows people a good time.
Yes, RG, Sam *is* being the heavy elder brother isn't he? perhaps it's because if Tom's business fails, he, Sam, will have to support him. Most of the family are dependent on him and then there's Balthasar as well......
dirk • Link
"where great entertainments are making for her"
That same awkward passive construction again (at least that's the way I read this)! We've encountered this construction a couple of times already in Sam's diary.
"are making" = "are being made"
Todd Bernhardt • Link
"(but I did not carry them up to my ladies)"
Interesting that Sam is able to keep his relations downstairs, filling their glasses, while his ladies remain in waiting upstairs ... what did he tell his relations and, (I assume) separately, the ladies? ("Oh, it's just my poor old uncle ... let me go downstairs and give him and auntie a glass or three, and they'll soon be overflowing with kindness and ready to do whatever I ask them ... which will be to be on their way!")
Interesting, too, that he's able to take the ladies (quite the day out, but again, here we see Sam the political animal) into Povey's and show them around while Povey's not there...
Patricia • Link
"....Madam Turner would come and dine with me to-day, so I hasted home and found her .... (The. Joyce being gone into the country), which is the reason of the mother rambling."
Now, why does Sam refer to The. Turner as The. Joyce here, unless it was a slip because he had written about scolding Tom for neglecting the Joyces?
aqua • Link
"...in a book of Receipts of making fine meats ..." now receipts is known as a recipe [latin receptus pp of recipere ]
another offshoot be RX - recipe L.
aqua • Link
The. Joyce, I take to be another female of clan Joyce.
Robert Gertz • Link
"MR. PEPYS! Don't get on board that boat!"
"Hewer?"
"Sir, I and the other clerks have translated the Greek. It's a cook book!"
"Hewer... Of course it's a cook...Hmmn... 'How to Serve Men and Make Sweet Water of Them'...Oh, I got it wrong before, damn my faulty Greek. Ummn. Cousin Jane?"
"Sorry, Cousin Samuel. You know I really did love you, dear heart. And we do appreciate your kindness in setting up this little trip on such short notice." Jane sighs, baring fangs.
"But it seems there really are such things as vampires."
aqua • Link
"...and I carried them on board the King’s pleasure-boat,..." no receipt required for the expense sheet.[just a perk, no voucher needed]. It be just in time the vind be just rite. Capitan has to keep the jib in working order, James must not know that this be a pure pleasure trip, not part of the business plan, other wise Navy will have all the yards asking for free trips to fleshpots of sutherk and the houses of ill repute.
Paul Chapin • Link
"he’s able to take the ladies ... and show them around while Povey’s not there"
Good point, Todd. He's been there before, and my guess is that the servants know him and admit him and his guests, and probably show them around as well. I doubt that a random citizen could show up and gain equal access.
Pedro • Link
Grammont says that Catherine went to Bladud's spring in Bath.
“Banished from the court because of leprosy, he became a swineherd. His pigs also contracted the disease but were cured after bathing in mud on this site, which Bladud himself decided to imitate. A cured man, he returned to the court and became king, and the Cross Bath became the one most favoured by nobility.”
http://www.thesalmons.org/lynn/wh…
jeannine • Link
"Grammont says that Catherine went to Bladud’s spring in Bath."
I am curious if anyone knows what exactly one was supposed to do at these curing waters at Bath, Turnbridge, etc. --just soak, or some ritual of healing or what. Any ideas anyone?
Mary • Link
Tunbridge, please: not Turnbridge.
These days always called Tunbridge Wells, as distinct from Tonbridge, a town a few miles away to the NW.
Robert Gertz • Link
Even in Sam's days these places-Bath, Turnbridge, etc were major tourist centers, like Epsom with Sam and Creed, and it being the Queen, she could expect a good deal of various entertainments in addition to soaking and doctors' consults. It's a jump ahead to remember the sad fate of Lydgate the brilliant, ruined young doctor in "Middlemarch" who ends up a practitioner at Bath, I think, ministering nostrums and gout treatments to the elderly wealthy there, his promising experimental career reduced to a hunt for cash for his shallow wife and family, but I'm sure you could find a solid corps of practitioners there at this time.
Pedro • Link
Taking the waters of Bath
Stick to the buns and the ciderr the water tastes bloody awful.
“Now, I'll admit that the water is an acquired taste: it smells and tastes like rotten eggs. But when I was on holiday in Bath nearly four years ago, I had my morning coffee in the Pump Room every day, where I ate a Bath Bun and also drank the spa water. I don't know whether it was the buns, the spa water or something else, but after years of being told I could not have children, a few weeks later I was pregnant!”
http://www.timetravel-britain.com…
Robert Gertz • Link
Brampton Place...August 11, 1663...
“My Son,
My wife your Mother, who has been less troubled in spirit herself of late, and doth grow less crazed in manner, though this summer has worn hard on us all, sends her greetings. (“Father?...”). As does your unworthy sister who should pray to God Almighty for a better heart and spirit.
At last we are sending your Wife to you. Son, you’ve been a generous lad to your aged parents and I do not like to complain, God Almighty knows but this summer has been sheer unmitigated Hell since she came with her fancy French ways (“Paulina, take that ungodly thing off and burn it!” “But Father, Sister Bess says this is the latest...” “Paulina!!”) and her condescending manners (“If this is the only meat you have, Mr. Pepys, it must suffice, I suppose”...he mimics.) and her sharp, (God to have such a hellion in the house forever, I pity you, my son) tongue. Not to mention her unchaste, heathenish French way of flirting with every young man who comes into view...Son, such things may be passed over at the wicked Court without a thought but here, in a Christian household, I must say I tremble for the girl’s soul and your own peace. Though, thanks to my constant care of your name and honor and diligence watching over her every move, I feel I can assure you that nothing to your shame and hers has yet occurred whilst she has been in my care.
(Poor Bess...It really has been Hell, Sam sighs, reading...Still, discipline must be used to rein in the wayward spirit...)
The one relief has been her girl, Ashwell. A most charming personage who did delight our evenings with her fine musickal abilities. A treasure, my son, keep her well. Sadly your Wife did not appreciate our regard for the poor girl’s efforts and has mistreated her cruelly all the summer, striking her in my presence at least once. A poor repayment for the girl’s attempts to correct her flaws in musick and dance.
(But Dad, you routinely used to kick the maid down the stairs for tepid shaving water...And for saying no...)
An innocent joke in front of Lady Jem as to your Wife’s lack of ability, repeated to us at dinner, should hardly be cause for such temper.
(Oh, God...In front of my Lady?...It’s the noose for Mary...Sam sighs...)
Speaking of my Lady Jemmina, I must also note your Wife’s most lamentably Proud Spirit in constantly going forth to visit her. We have maintained our proper respectful place in regards to her Ladyship, accepting her visits in a most humble spirit and it grieves me to have seen your Wife acting as if she held herself nearly to my Ladyship’s level, visiting her at every opportunity as if life here were of too coarse a tone for one such as her. True, her Ladyship seemed to enjoy the visits and did come to bring her many times but surely a Wife, even in the wicked circles of Court should know better than to act in so forward a manner. I must say her example has had a bad effect on your already wayward sister. Paulina now boldly goes with your Wife on her visits and speaks of her betters familiarly. However, I will take steps to deal with that impudence shortly.
(Never thought I’d feel sorry for poor Pall...Sam shakes head.)
And I was most put out by your Wife’s bold impudence in arguing with me in discussing her parents. She did insist that you and she (as if she should decide in such matters!) were generous to us, your own parents but sadly lacking in support to her own family, the ‘Sieur’ and his wife. I do believe, son that Pall is right in thinking that your Wife does indeed hold back some of her housekeeping moneys for them and I should look into the state of your affairs most carefully on her return. A shilling here or there may not seem like much to you in your success now, but good husbandry requires that you keep constant vigil over each penny.
(Hmmn... “Hewer! Where are Mrs. Pepys’ household accounts books?”)
In closing my Son, I wish you good health and hope that you will take proper steps to curb your Wife’s bold Spirit which must, if left unchecked, prove your Downfall.
Your affectionate Father,
John Pepys"
Bradford • Link
The archetypal sign-off to a letter of indignant complaint in the "Times":
"Disgusted in Tunbridge Wells"
Query: often, for dessert (or pudding, as you please) in the Diary, wine and fruit are paired. No doubt our wine and fruit are different; but what combination would not be to the disadvantage of one element or the other? True, you could drink Calvados with apple pie; yes, even Sack with mince; but claret paired with pears would be bitter, Rhenish with oranges thin, and every wine bore knows what apples do to the wine-buyer's palate. Your suggestions solicited, in advance of my next soirée.
TerryF • Link
Robert, John's letter w/ others' interjections are spot on.
Very nice empathy for their several points of view and personalities - something we all need to keep in mind in other comments.
Great thanks!
aqua • Link
"for dessert (or pudding, as you please)"
Puddin n, v. [haggis]\ sausage stuffing? in the intestine?
[ME. poding, puddyng: derivation uncertain: see Note below.]
I. 1. a. The stomach or one of the entrails of a pig, sheep, or other animal, stuffed with a mixture of minced meat, suet, oatmeal,
seasoning, etc., boiled and kept till needed; a kind of sausage: for different varieties, see BLACK, HOG'S, WHITE PUDDING. Now chiefly Sc. and dial.
1615 MARKHAM Eng. Housew. (1660) 178 Pudding which is called the Haggas or Haggus, of whose goodnesse it is vain to boast.
1617 MORYSON Itin. III. II. iii. 81 In lower Germany they supply the meale with bacon and great dried puddings, which puddings are sauory and so pleasant.
1659 HOWELL Proverbs, Lett. Advice, There must be Suet as well as Oatmeal to make a Pudding
b. A stuffing like the above, roasted within the body of the animal. Obs.
2. (Chiefly pl.) The bowels, entrails, guts. Now dial. and Sc. [So OF. bodeyn, bowel, 14th c. in Godef.]
3. a. ? Some kind of artificial light or firework. b. A kind of fuse for exploding a mine. (Cf. F. boudin and saucisson in Littré.) Obs.
4. Naut. a. A wreath of plaited cordage placed round the mast and yards of a ship as a support; a dolphin. b. A pad to prevent damage to the gunwale of a boat; a fender. c. The binding on rings, etc., to prevent the chafing of cables or hawsers. (So F. boudin.)
5. fig. a. Applied to a stout thick-set person. 1st of in 1789
b. coarse slang. [along with pud]
II. 6. A preparation of food of a soft or moderately firm consistency, in which the ingredients, animal or vegetable, are either mingled in a farinaceous basis (chiefly of flour), or are enclosed in a farinaceous ‘crust’ (cf. DUMPLING), and cooked by boiling or steaming. Preparations of batter, milk and eggs, rice, sago, tapioca, and other farinaceous substances, suitably seasoned, and cooked by baking, are now also called puddings.
The earliest use (connecting this with 1) apparently implied the boiling of the composition in a bag or cloth (pudding-bag or -cloth), as is still often done; but the term has been extended to similar preparations otherwise boiled or steamed, and finally to things baked, so that its meaning and application are now rather indefinite.
a. with a and pl., as an individual thing. Now usu. in British English, the sweet course following the main course of a meal, ‘afters’.
1589 RIDER Bibl. Schol. 1162 A pudding made of milke, cheese, and herbs, moretum, herbosum moretum.
1692 TRYON Good House-w. ix. 75 In Puddens it is usual to mix Flower, Eggs, Milk, Raisins or Currants, and sometimes both Spice, Suet, the Fat or Marrow of Flesh, and several other things.
b. Without a or pl., as name of the substance.
1670 EACHARD Cont. Clergy 87 Mr. Clerk's Lives of famous men,..such as Mr. Carter of Norwich, that used to eat such abundance of pudden.
1685 S. WESLEY Maggots, Tobacco Pipe, For that can best as you may quickly prove Settle the wit, as Pudding settles Love
aqua • Link
this appears to conflick with Samuell's estimation of the Joyes "...my brother Tom came, and I did soundly rattle him for his neglecting to see and please the Joyces as he has of late done..."
Does Samuell find that the leather connection be of future use? , nice suede shoes maybe, for wondering around the better homesteads.
Mary • Link
wine and fruit together.
As Sam and his contemporaries regularly sweetened their wine with sugar to make it more palatable, perhaps the two didn't conflict too badly.
Robert Gertz • Link
I will say, while I've had fun with John Pepys Sr this summer and at other times, I can only bow to a man who after working God knows what onerous hours to feed his family took time not only to seek out every possible opportunity for his sons health and education but to bring music into his home and instill a love for it into at least one of his kids. All was done with the same great affection and regard I really do have for your boy, John.
dirk • Link
wine and fruit together
Spanish "sangría" (lit. "bloodletting")
CLASICA: 1 botella de vino tinto, un cuarto botella de soda, jugo de un limón, 1 pocillo de caf‚ de azúcar, rodajas de limón y naranja, hielo
FANTASIA: A la sangría clásica se le agrega, además: Fruta (pera, durazno, melón, etc.) en cubitos. Una pizca de canela en polvo, una copita de cognac.
SECA: Una variación de las dos anteriores, donde se omite el agregado del azúcar manera de servirla en el sur de España: es esencial agregarle un toque de canela.
From: http://es.geocities.com/gerasimas…
Translation:
CLASSIC: 1 bottle of red wine, a quarter bottle of soda, juice of one lemon, a small piece of "caf" [= ???] , sugar, slices of lemon and orange, ice
PHANTASY: add to the classic sangría: fruit (pear, peach, melon, etc.) in small cubes. A tiny bit of cinnamon powder, a shot of cognac.
SEC: A variation on the two above, where the sugar is ommitted, as they do in the south of Spain: adding a bit of cinnamon is essential.
Hmmm...
TerryF • Link
A receipt: Very kind guests
4 stoned peaches
3 stoned pears
1 almost-stewed turner
1 almost-smashed morrice
2 almost-blotto pepyses
Method:
stir, chill, serve in stemware.
Australian Susan • Link
Bath
The waters of Bath are the only naturally hot springs in the UK - known from Roman times. The water is OK if drunk when just drawn and hot (I'vedone it) - luke warm it's disgusting. In the 17th and 18th centuries, you bathed in the water every day for a cure and also drank it every day. I don't think they offer the waters to drink anymore as they are infected with dystentary and a girl died.(picked up the amoebae in a swimming pool) Nowadays the waters in the baths which are used by people are treated first.
The spa waters at Epsom, Tunbridge, Cheltenham, Buxton, Llandindrod et al were all cold. The waters discovered in Bristol come from the same source as the Bath ones, but (despite being hopefully called Hotwells) were only warm, as they have to travel further to get to the surface.
Pedro • Link
“The water is OK if drunk when just drawn and hot”
For the cold water of Buxton follow Jerome K. Jerome (The Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow)…
“I drank them neat for six consecutive days, and they nearly killed me; but after then I adopted the plan of taking a stiff glass of brandy-and-water immediately on the top of them, and found much relief thereby.”
jeannine • Link
Susan and Pedro --As always, thanks for the info! I think that Jerome's method would be the preferable one today!
Naomi • Link
Bath Spa
The thermal spa at Bath reopened on 7th August, having been closed since 1978 when there was a death caused by Legionnaire's disease. There was a long saga of building problems and disasters, resulting in the opening date being delayed by more than 4 years.
There has never been any problem with the spa water used for drinking. It is still served from the fountain in the Pump Room - and to me tastes revolting hot or cold.
Mary • Link
"that awkward, passive construction"
Dirk, that passive construction still has applications in modern English. For example:
my car needs cleaning
those cows need milking
my hair needs washing.
are all current constructions where the -ing form of the verb represents the passive 'to be -ed.'
pepfie • Link
"the Joyces" and "The.Joyce"
While The[ophila Turner and] Joyce [Norton] flock together quite often
( ...Mrs. Turner, Theoph., Madame Morrice, and Joyce,[1660/01/07]
...The. Turner, and Joyce,[1660/02/22]
...The. Turner and Joyce,[1660/09/22]
...Mrs. The. and Joyce[1661/02/22]
...The. and Joyce[1661/02/26]
...Mrs. Turner, The, Joyce,[1661/03/13]
...Mrs. Turner, The, Joyce,[1661/03/26]
...Mrs. Turner her daughter, Joyce Norton,[1663/04/04] ),
"the Joyces" would have been Kate, Mary, Anthony and William, I presume, and not Joyce Norton as the misplaced link suggests.
Second Reading
Bill • Link
“This day I am told that my Lord Bristoll hath warrants issued out against him, to have carried him to the Tower”
George Digby, second Earl of Bristol, was very vindictive against Clarendon, and when he failed in his attack on that minister Charles II. was very angry, and Bristol had to retire from Court and remain in concealment for a time. The Proclamation was dated August 25th, 1663. A copy of it is in the British Museum.
---Wheatley, 1893.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... my Lady Castlemaine, who rules the King in matters of state, and do what she list with him, he believes is now falling quite out of favour."
Barbara Villiers Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine is pregnant with Henry FitzRoy (born 28 September 1663) so she is 7-1/2 months pregnant and probably feeling tired, so is presumably out of favor because she's not frolicking in the Royal bed so much. But in matters of state Charles II is doing whatever she lists with him.
I've never heard that term in a 17th century context: TO DO LIST: Go to war with Dutch - Fire Clarendon - Turn Roman Catholic - Arrest Quakers - Imprison Earl of Bristol in Tower ... is that really the sort of list she had ... it doesn't seem plausible to me. Maybe I don't understand what a 17th century list was.
Terry Foreman • Link
List
transitive verb
: please, suit
intransitive verb
archaic : wish, choose
http://www.merriam-webster.com/di…
Bill • Link
LIST, Will, Desire, &c.
---An universal etymological English dictionary. N. Bailey, 1724.
LIST...
3. Desire; willingness; choice.
To LIST...
5. To hearken to; to listen; to attend.
---A Dictionary Of The English Language. Samuel Johnson, 1756.
Terry Foreman • Link
Here, I take it, the point is that my Lady Castlemaine does whatever she pleases or wishes with the King, who, for whatever reason, indulges her.
San Diego Sarah • Link
Thanks, that helps. But the basic conflict remains: perhaps Castlemaine is still in favor with Charles II, so she still wields power. But she is out of favor with the Court because she lost the Bristol / Clarendon showdown. ???? I think people would toady up to her because she still has the King's ear, no matter what they privately thought. So perhaps they refuse to let her win at cards these days, or something.
And I think the impending baby covers a lot of sins for Charles. He must have liked children.
We know he liked dogs ... I wonder what he'll say when he gets back to Whitehall and finds one of his brindle mastiffs went missing recently ... http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Terry Foreman • Link
"my Lady Castlemaine, who rules the King in matters of state, and do what she list with him, he believes is now falling quite out of favour."
An underlying issue is the reliability of this Court scuttlebutt, borne by James Pearse, prolific rumor-monger, whose access is as Surgeon to the Duke of York (not to the King). It would be nice to have another, demonstrably different source. There may be certain facts that can be known about the principals at this point, but beyond that is conjecture and sensation and faction: soap opera and politics with real power, affections and pregnancies at stake.
Sasha Clarkson • Link
Perhaps the reason that Sam can "order" Tom to bring his accounts is that it's still technically John Senior's business, but managed by Tom subject to Sam's oversight as his dad's representative?
Re "list": the word also means to lean physically, and presumably metaphorically. The truncated sentence is "Dr Pierce tells me that ... Lady Castlemaine ... do what she list with him", that is, whatever her whim is today. (He tells me that she "do", rather than she "does", is an example of the semi-archaic present subjunctive in reporting an action: it derives from the German, where it's still common.)
As for Mrs Turner, I believe that "she do what she list" with our Sam. For good reasons, there is no relative outside immediate family to whom he is more attached. Although, as a Pepys, uncle Thomas is her relative too, it's not him she's come to see!
San Diego Sarah • Link
" ... Morrice and I went to Sir R. Long’s to have fetched a niece of his, but she was not within, and so we went to boat again and then down to the bridge, and there tried to find a sister of Mrs. Morrice’s, ..." This sounds like Pepys and Mr. Morrice were out scrounging up some girls for a spontaneous boat ride on the King's pleasure craft. However, Sir Robert Long MP, 1st Bart. of Draycot was Chancellor of the Exchequer and not a colleague, and I would guess a bit out of Pepys' league.
But when you consider the possibility from the encyclopedia that Mr. Morrice worked at the Exchequer, the back story changes; Pepys had arranged for the Morrices and .Jane Turner to go out on the craft for the afternoon. Morrice mentioned at the office that he was leaving early to go for an outing on it, and Sir Robert asked him (or Morrice offered) to swing by the house and include Sir Robert's niece. Either she didn't know so she was out, or she did know and didn't want to go, so she pretended to be out. Same with Mrs. Morrice's sister.
I don't think just anyone could show up and take a ride on the King's pleasure boat. This was probably a perk of his office, and a way of giving the rowers some practice.
Many of the seemingly spontaneous meetings Sam has are probably orchestrated ahead of time ... I wonder who is running his errands now he is without a Boy. Wayneman, I miss you!
Terry Foreman • Link
" ... Morrice and I went to Sir R. Long’s to have fetched a niece of his, but she was not within, and so we went to boat again and then down to the bridge, and there tried to find a sister of Mrs. Morrice’s, ..."
Morrice may be at the Exchequer where Pepys was once a clerk; they may be contemporaries; Sir Robert Long has been an administrator there. Long may be pulling social and age rank: he is the senior figure here (he was born c.. 1600). Pepys is keenly aware of the need of the Navy Board to humor the men at the Exchequer on a daily basis and may be currying favor -- and making a nice investment.
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . in the plainest way and without ambages . . ’
‘ambage, n. < 14th cent. French . .
. . 3. For delay: Circumlocutions, beating about the bush . .
. . 1678 A. Behn Sir Patient Fancy v. i. 73 Without more Ambages Sir, I have consider'd your former desires, and have consented to marry him . . ‘
(OED)
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . I did soundly rattle him . . ‘
‘rattle, v.1 < Dutch . .
. . 4. trans. a. To scold or berate; to rail at. Now rare.
. . 1667 S. Pepys Diary 9 Aug. (1974) VIII. 378, I did soundly rattle him for neglecting her so much as he hath done . . ‘
….
Re: ‘ . . they were very kind . . ‘
‘kind, adj. < Old English . .
. . 6. Of persons, their actions, etc.: Affectionate, loving, fond; on intimate terms. †a kind girl: a mistress. Also euphemistically. Now rare exc. dial.
. . 1594 H. Constable Diana (new ed.) viii. i. sig. F4, Women are kind by kind, but coy by fashion.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 110 The next Moon their Women flock to the Sacred Wells; where, they say, it is not difficult to persuade them to be kind.
….
re: ‘ . . do what she list with him . . ’
‘list, v.1< Old English . .
. . 2. With personal construction.
b. Without dependent inf.: To wish, desire, like, choose . .
. . 1611 Bible (King James) John iii. 8 The winde bloweth where it listeth . . ‘
….
(OED)
The post re 'ambage' above relates to tomorrow.
Terry Foreman • Link
" I in Mrs. Turner’s coach to Mr. Povy’s, who being not within, we went in and there shewed Mrs. Turner his perspective and volary, and the fine things that he is building of now,"
L&M: Povey's house was in Lincoln's Inn Fields. For the perspective, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
The volary was a large bird-cage in which the birds could fly about.
Third Reading
ChrisH • Link
Late to the party here, but as a Buxtonian, I am surprised that the Buxton spring waters are considered cold.
The water in thermal baths, used by the Romans, and later, Victorian gentry to be cured of arthritis and the like, rises at a steady 81 degrees F, or 27.5 C.
It is also a lovely natural pale blue colour.