Nate Lockwood

Annotations and comments

Nate Lockwood has posted 89 annotations/comments since 10 April 2013.

The most recent first…

Comments

Third Reading

About Sunday 1 September 1661

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

Holmes must trust Pepys not to repeat his confession that he is adept at being two-faced and to alert Pepys not to take at face value rumors about Holmes that Pepys might subsequently hear.

About Monday 19 August 1661

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

Except for the outings do you think that the children were bored to tears? I don't recall Sam mentioning song, music, or games one might play with children. They were away from their familiar beds, servants, and Mom.,

About Sunday 18 August 1661

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

It appears that the commentators assume that the captive cassowaries were taken as adults but I think it more likely that they were more safely taken and transpored as chicks.

About Thursday 15 August 1661

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

Regarding the link between milkmaids, cowpox, and small pox; that may have been Europe's discovery but the Chinese figured out a form of smallpox inoculation independently and it was also known in Africa. I believe that Edward Jenner may have learned about inoculation from his African slave or servant.

About Wednesday 7 August 1661

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

"The Most Catholic Majesty was the King of Spain.
The Most Christian Majesty was the King of France."

In this instance does "most Catholic" refer to the Catholic Church". Or does it translate to something like 'Universal'.
It is capitalized so Catholic as in Catholic Church is the likely use. Or is this a competition for the most impressive honorific? What does 'Most Catholic' mean?

About Monday 29 July 1661

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

It's not the anchor, weighing a couple of tons in the 17th century, that holds the ship in place so much as the large diameter and heavy hawser (rope). The anchor 'anchors' the end to prevent it from slipping on the harbor bottom since its flukes will dig in. Weighing anchor on a ship of the line required considerable crew at the capstan located midships, perhaps on two decks. The seven to one ratio is still used, I believe.

About Tuesday 23 July 1661

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

"Troubled to hear how proud and idle Pall is grown, that I am resolved not to keep her."

Sam is working and not home most days so not aware that Pall's behavior is tailored to his presence. In my mind's eye I cannot see that another servant would tattle unless quite resentful so that would leave Elisabeth as the source.

About Thursday 23 May 1661

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

Me, too, LKvM, same year same geography. But I had been subscribed to Scientific American magazine since high school. Their article was amazing to me and convincing. Later the Atlantic Ridge was found and the die-hards gave up.

I would have liked to have been able to ask what Mr. Moore's arguements were.

About Sunday 19 February 1659/60

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

What was the attire for venturing out into rainy weather in those days? Surly not the umbrella, but a (hooded?) woolen cloak or a hoodless cloak and, I assume a wide brimmed, hat?

Would the cloak be made from wool with the natural oils retained for water repellence?

About Saturday 11 February 1659/60

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

"... and so we went to the Star Tavern (Monk being then at Benson’s), where we dined and I wrote a letter to my Lord from thence"

D. Menchaca (first reading) may have been correct that mail went out from taverns - else where does Samuel obtain paper, ink and a pen unless he carries his writing supplies with him? Not in his pocket. Pocket, which derives from 'pouch' would have been a pouch secured under his outer clothes. An image flashed by my brain (just finished my morning draught of coffee) of Samuel carrying the briefcase of the times, a bowler, and umbrella as he meanders around the City.

About Tuesday 7 February 1659/60

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

'Writing in character' by Mary, Queen of Scots, was mentioned in 'Nature Briefing' today, a daily missive from Nature Magazine; this one with a link to Gizmodo. It shows some of the substitutions.

Nature said: "Three scientists have decrypted 57 letters by Mary, Queen of Scots, written in cipher in the years before she was executed in 1587 for plotting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England. "

(I was disappointed that there was no mention of letters written in the years after her execution ....)

https://gizmodo.com/coded-letters…

Second Reading

About Thursday 9 July 1668

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

re: John Powell to Willliamson letter
"The very tempestuous weather sets the country in fear of a bad harvest, as likely to prove prejudicial to the corn; ..."

"Corn" does not refer to "Maize" which we Yanks call corn; is that correct?

About Monday 31 December 1666

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

An echo from the past and past annotators: "Thus ends this year of publick wonder and mischief to this nation, and, therefore, generally wished by all people to have an end."

About Saturday 29 December 1666

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

Regarding cold temperatures, I assume that the temperatures in the houses and apartments were quite cold. They had no knowledge of the Franklin stove so the only heat came from really inefficient fireplaces and coal was expensive. The kitchen would be warmer for those that had one.

For the poor in the winter the daylight fades to darkness, it's really cold so the only recourse is to go to bed and snuggle up.

About Friday 28 December 1666

Nate Lockwood  •  Link

YouTube has some videos showing some aspects of making and using rushlights/rush candles. A couple of months ago I saw one that showed the rushes being gathered and impregnated with fat.

There's a link below forr another, I've not actually reviewed it as I can't use the sound on my computer at present, but it has a good scene showing the light that is given off when burned correctly.

Folks in cities would probably have to buy the rushes as they couldn't harvest them nor would they have much available fat.

https://youtu.be/b_8bAZ_Lu40