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E has posted six annotations/comments since 6 July 2013.

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Second Reading

About Friday 26 June 1663

E  •  Link

The word "compass" here could most likely be understood to mean "afford."

African slavery was extensively employed around the Mediterranean.

I would guess that the captain may have demanded that Sir William pay him cash on the spot for the slave, as it would not do at all to extend credit on such a business matter until the ship went in to port. The captain certainly would not have wanted the freed slave remaining on board, either. As the representative of the ship's and cargo's owners, this is responsible behavior on the captain's part.

About Monday 15 June 1663

E  •  Link

Coach likely left from the Red Lion in Aldersgate Street (see notes)(NB mere steps from Barbican station!); coaches for Huntington were leaving from there in 1722 and it is probable that no changes happened to reroute. Coaching inns are particular buildings and not easily duplicated in a crowded city. According to W. Stow, reproduced very kindly and helpfully by Pascal Bonenfant, the waggon left on Monday and the coach on Wednesday in 1722. Schedule alterations are more easily accomplished than relocating the service point.

About Thursday 22 May 1662

E  •  Link

Wondering now whether Dorothy Sayers (who would have been familiar with the history of this period) named her heroine Harriet Vane after the Harry Vane mentioned here. The stubborness and adherence to principles in Harriet Vane's character certainly echo Harry Vane's.

About Sunday 10 November 1661

E  •  Link

Cliffhanger sermon! And the audience is hooked.

Not so hooked as to eschew getting too drunk to pray straight hours later, though.

About Thursday 5 July 1660

E  •  Link

Dick Wilson et al.: Spent---expended, used up. See "spend," in dictionaries.

Venison was served, and in quantity.