‘plat, n.3 < Probably originally a variant of plot n., reinforced by association with plat adj. and probably also plat n.2 Compare plat n.5 . . II. A diagram, outline, scheme, etc. . . 2. A plan, a diagram, a design, esp. a ground plan of a building or of an area of land; a map, a chart; = plot n. 3b.. . . . 1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. iv. xv. 196 To prick the same down in a Blank Chart or Mercator's Plat. . . 1756 R. Rolt New Dict. Trade Plat, a popular term, among mariners, &c. for a sea-chart . . ‘
Re: ‘ . . I doubt his not lending my Lord money . .’
’Doubt’ here and elsewhere = ’think’ (as I’ve pointed out before) as it still does in North Country speech:
‘doubt, v. < Middle English < Old French . . . . 6. c. With infin. phrase or clause: To apprehend*; to suspect. arch. . . 1705 Wesley in T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. 28 Sept. My Flax [was] I doubt willfully fir'd and burnt . .
* apprehend, v. < French . . . . 9. a. To understand (a thing to be so and so); to conceive, consider, view, take (it) as. . . 1736 J. Wesley Wks. (1830) I. 100 I apprehended myself to be near death . .’
Both these dictionary entries have the caveat: ‘This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897).’
Re: ’ . . find her every day more and more coming . . ’
‘coming, adj. < Germanic . . . . 3. Inclined to make or receive advances; ready, eager, compliant, forward. Obs. Used with either negative or positive connotations. . . 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. iv. xii. 86 When Wenches are so coming, young Men are not so much to be blamed neither . . ‘
‘load, n. < Old English . . . . 2. b. The specific quantity of a substance which it is customary to load at one time; hence, taken as a unit of measure or weight for certain substances. The equivalence of a load varies considerably according to the locality and to the substance. As a measure, a load of wheat is usually 40 bushels, of lime 64 (in some districts 32) bushels, of timber 50 cubic feet, of hay 36 trusses (= 18 cwt.), of bulrushes 63 bundles, of meal 2 bolls (Sc.). A load of lead ore (in the Peak, Derbyshire) = 9 dishes (see dish n. 6c) . . ‘
‘just, adj. < Anglo-Norman . . . . 3. Based on reasonable or adequate grounds; well-founded; justifiable. . . 1697 E. Stillingfleet Answer to Mr. Locke's Let. 81 I have a just Esteem for the Invention of such who can spin Volumes barely out of their own Thoughts . . ‘
‘ . . With the disappearance of the old order Salisbury decided to support the republic . . He became a member of the council of state from 1649 to 1651, and its president for a while, and entered the Rump Parliament as MP for King's Lynn.
The protectorate, however, led to a change in the official attitude towards him, and by 1656 he was ousted from public activities, being excluded from Oliver Cromwell's second parliament, though elected for Hertfordshire. Salisbury retired to Hatfield where he died on 3 December 1668, but not before Charles II had appointed him high steward of St Albans in 1663 . . ‘
‘ . . With the disappearance of the old order Salisbury decided to support the republic . . He became a member of the council of state from 1649 to 1651, and its president for a while, and entered the Rump Parliament as MP for King's Lynn.
The protectorate, however, led to a change in the official attitude towards him, and by 1656 he was ousted from public activities, being excluded from Oliver Cromwell's second parliament, though elected for Hertfordshire. Salisbury retired to Hatfield where he died on 3 December 1668, but not before Charles II had appointed him high steward of St Albans in 1663 . . ‘
Re: ‘ . . we saw his water-works and the Oral . . ‘
‘noria, n. < Spanish < Arabic < Aramaic (Syriac) . . Originally in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries but subsequently more widely, esp. in the East: a device for raising water from a stream or river, consisting of a chain of pots or buckets revolving round a wheel which take in water when submerged and discharge it when they turn over at the top.
1696 P. Ayres Revengeful Mistress 24 Their usual Recreation in the Evenings, was..to view the Norias or admirable Water-works, with which the Spaniards industriously water their Gardens, or supply their Fountains . . ‘
(OED) …………… Pope’s Twickenham grotto is now in the hands of a trust which will restore it: http://www.popesgrotto.org.uk/ In Britain today we are (as in Pepys’ day) too poor or too mean to house our homeless - leaving them to sleep in the street - but unlimited funds are available to restore old buildings in the nicer parts of the capital like Twickenham; so Strawberry Hill (http://www.strawberryhillhouse.or…) and Turner’s house hve been restored (http://turnershouse.org/) and work is about to start on Marble Hill (https://twickerati.wordpress.com/…).
The former Pope’s Grotto pub is now the Alexander Pope hotel.
Re: ‘ . . evened with (him) for 100 pieces of callico . . ’
‘even, v. < Old English . . . . 4. a. To make (accounts, etc.) even; to balance, settle, square; to come to agreement upon (points of difference). . . 1664 S. Pepys Diary 15 July (1971) IV. 206 He hath now evened his reckonings at the Wardrobe till Michaelmas last.’ …………... Re: ‘ . . to look out some Dram timber . . ’
‘dram, n.2 < Short for Drammen. Timber from Drammen in Norway. Also attrib. 1663—1858’ …………... Re: ‘ . . can find none for our turne . . ’
'turn, n. < Anglo-Norman . . . . 30. a. Requirement, need, exigency; purpose, use, convenience. arch. . . 1659 H. Hammond Paraphr. & Annot. Psalms (xviii. 5 Annot.) 99/2 Ropes or cords are proper for that turne. …………... (OED)
‘sit, v. < Common Germanic . . . . 4. a. To occupy a seat in the capacity of a judge or with some administrative function. . . 1681 A. Wood Life 17 Aug. The judges..went to the Guildhall yard where they sate from 9 to 12 . . ‘
‘dog, v.1 < dog n.1… etymology unknown. No likely cognates have been identified with a meaning at all close to that of the English word, and all attempted etymological explanations are extremely speculative. A word of this phonological shape is hard to explain as a regular development from a Germanic base . .
1. trans. a. To follow like a dog on the heels of; to track (a person, or his or her trail, footsteps, etc.) closely and persistently . . . . 1608 R. Tofte in tr. L. Ariosto Satyres iv. 64 (note) Many Italians vse to dog their wiues when they goe abroad, the poore women not thinking that their husbands do watch them as they doe . . ‘
Re: ‘ . . even to the having bad words with my wife, and blows too . . ‘
‘blow, n.1 < Origin doubtful . . 3. ‘An act of hostility’ (Johnson). Usually in pl. blows = ‘combat, fighting, war’. . . . 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. v. 19 Their controversie must either come to blowes, or be undecided . . ‘
‘rare, adj.2 < Originally a variant of rear adj.1 . . 1. Of meat, esp. beef: lightly cooked; underdone . . Formerly often regarded as an Americanism, . . although it was current in English writing from the 18th cent. and in many English dialects . . 1615 G. Markham Eng. Hus-wife in Countrey Contentments ii. 54 To know when meate is rosted enough, for as too much rareness is unwholsome, so too much drinesse is not nourishing.' …….. Re: ‘ . . bring in of calicos .. . ‘
‘calico < Portuguese Qualecut (= calcutta) . . . . 2. b. Now, in England, applied chiefly to plain white unprinted cotton cloth, bleached or unbleached (called in Scotland and U.S. cotton). . . 1666 S. Pepys Diary 24 Sept. (1972) VII. 295 Flags which I had bought for the Navy, of calico.' …….. Re: ‘ . . Prince Rupert is fallen into Lee Road . .’
‘road < Germanic . . . . II. A place where ships ride. 3. a. Now usually in pl. A sheltered piece of water near the shore where vessels may lie at anchor in safety; a roadstead. . . 1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea 111 Princes..impose Custom upon Ships, as for the use of the Road upon their Coasts.' …….. (OED)
‘Opinions of Ayscue varied. Clarendon called him ‘a gentleman, but had kept ill company too long, which had blunted his understanding, if it had ever been sharp: he was of few words, yet spake to the purpose and to be easily understood’. Pepys believed he did not have ‘much of a seaman in him … by his discourse I find that he hath not minded anything in [his ship] at all’, but then Ayscue had just criticized the lack of organization of the Navy Board which Pepys served. On the other hand, Sir William Coventry found him ‘a very honest, gallant man … he does not serve mercenarily, for he lives handsomely and honourably in the fleet, beyond his pay’.’
‘dalliance, n. < Old French . . . . †4. Waste of time in trifling, idle delay. Obs. . . 1616 Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. i. 59 My businesse cannot brooke this dalliance . (OED) …………... “ . . My old man said: "Foller the van, And don't dilly-dally on the way". Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it. I walked be'ind wiv me old cock linnet.
But I dillied and dallied, Dallied and dillied; Lost me way and don't know where to roam.
And you can't trust a "Special" Like the old-time copper When you can't find your way home . . “
‘puppy, n. < Middle French, . . . . 2. a. colloq. (frequently derogatory). A foolish, conceited, or impertinent young man . . 1544 E. Allen tr. A. Alesius Auctorite Word of God sig. D That curse that the puppy bloweth out vnder the name of almighty god & the holy saintes Peter & Paul. . . 1996 Independent (Nexis) 12 Oct. 16 It was not the Yorkshire Police who had done this to him but arrogant young puppies sent up from the Metropolitan Police.’
‘press, v.2 < prest . . 1. a. trans. To compel (a person) to enlist in the army or navy . . . . 1600 E. Fairfax tr. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne xx. xvi. 366 Men halfe naked, without strength or skill,..Late pressed foorth to warre, against their will. . . 1697 Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 69 The peaceful Peasant to the Wars is prest; The Fields lye fallow in inglorious Rest. . . 1991 P. O'Brian Nutmeg of Consol. (1993) i. 10 At least a third had been pressed into the Navy.’
‘prest, n. . . < Anglo-Norman . . . . 4. A sum of money paid to a sailor or soldier on enlistment. . . 1491 Act 7 Hen. VII c. 1 §1 Any Souldeour..which herafter shal be in Wages and reteyned or take any prest to serve the King upon the See. . . 1915 Morning Post 15 June 9/1 Thousands of civilians have been drafted into the Navy during the war: ‘pressed’ men, too, though they know it not—for the word is derived from the ‘prest’ or gratuity given to the recruit.
†5. The enlistment of a person by payment of such money; an enlistment of soldiers or sailors. Obs. . . 1625 Proclamation for better furnishing Navy No Mariner, or Sea faring man should absent, hide, or withdraw himselfe from His late Maiesties service or prests . . ‘
‘press, v.2 < prest . . 1. a. trans. To compel (a person) to enlist in the army or navy . . . . 1600 E. Fairfax tr. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne xx. xvi. 366 Men halfe naked, without strength or skill,..Late pressed foorth to warre, against their will. . . 1697 Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 69 The peaceful Peasant to the Wars is prest; The Fields lye fallow in inglorious Rest. . . 1991 P. O'Brian Nutmeg of Consol. (1993) i. 10 At least a third had been pressed into the Navy.’
‘prest, n. . . < Anglo-Norman . . . . 4. A sum of money paid to a sailor or soldier on enlistment. . . 1491 Act 7 Hen. VII c. 1 §1 Any Souldeour..which herafter shal be in Wages and reteyned or take any prest to serve the King upon the See. . . 1915 Morning Post 15 June 9/1 Thousands of civilians have been drafted into the Navy during the war: ‘pressed’ men, too, though they know it not—for the word is derived from the ‘prest’ or gratuity given to the recruit.
†5. The enlistment of a person by payment of such money; an enlistment of soldiers or sailors. Obs. . . 1625 Proclamation for better furnishing Navy No Mariner, or Sea faring man should absent, hide, or withdraw himselfe from His late Maiesties service or prests . . ‘
Re: ' . . paying 20s. dry money into the poor's box . . '
‘dry, adj. and adv. < Old English . . . . 19. Of money, rent, or fees: Paid in hard cash, in actual coin. [Compare French argent sec, perte sèche.] . . 1664 S. Pepys Diary 30 Sept. (1971) V. 284 I am fain to preserve my vowe by paying 20s. dry money into the poor's box . . ‘
Comments
Second Reading
About Sunday 23 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ’ . . understanding of plates. . .’
‘plat, n.3 < Probably originally a variant of plot n., reinforced by association with plat adj. and probably also plat n.2 Compare plat n.5
. . II. A diagram, outline, scheme, etc.
. . 2. A plan, a diagram, a design, esp. a ground plan of a building or of an area of land; a map, a chart; = plot n. 3b.. .
. . 1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. iv. xv. 196 To prick the same down in a Blank Chart or Mercator's Plat.
. . 1756 R. Rolt New Dict. Trade Plat, a popular term, among mariners, &c. for a sea-chart . . ‘
(OED)
About Friday 21 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . I doubt his not lending my Lord money . .’
’Doubt’ here and elsewhere = ’think’ (as I’ve pointed out before) as it still does in North Country speech:
‘doubt, v. < Middle English < Old French . .
. . 6. c. With infin. phrase or clause: To apprehend*; to suspect. arch.
. . 1705 Wesley in T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. 28 Sept. My Flax [was] I doubt willfully fir'd and burnt . .
* apprehend, v. < French . .
. . 9. a. To understand (a thing to be so and so); to conceive, consider, view, take (it) as.
. . 1736 J. Wesley Wks. (1830) I. 100 I apprehended myself to be near death . .’
Both these dictionary entries have the caveat: ‘This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897).’
About Thursday 20 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ’ . . find her every day more and more coming . . ’
‘coming, adj. < Germanic . .
. . 3. Inclined to make or receive advances; ready, eager, compliant, forward. Obs. Used with either negative or positive connotations.
. . 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. iv. xii. 86 When Wenches are so coming, young Men are not so much to be blamed neither . . ‘
About Tuesday 18 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ’ . . 3,000 loade of timber. . .’
‘load, n. < Old English . .
. . 2. b. The specific quantity of a substance which it is customary to load at one time; hence, taken as a unit of measure or weight for certain substances. The equivalence of a load varies considerably according to the locality and to the substance. As a measure, a load of wheat is usually 40 bushels, of lime 64 (in some districts 32) bushels, of timber 50 cubic feet, of hay 36 trusses (= 18 cwt.), of bulrushes 63 bundles, of meal 2 bolls (Sc.). A load of lead ore (in the Peak, Derbyshire) = 9 dishes (see dish n. 6c) . . ‘
(OED)
About Monday 17 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . a just advantage . . ’
‘just, adj. < Anglo-Norman . .
. . 3. Based on reasonable or adequate grounds; well-founded; justifiable.
. . 1697 E. Stillingfleet Answer to Mr. Locke's Let. 81 I have a just Esteem for the Invention of such who can spin Volumes barely out of their own Thoughts . . ‘
About William Cecil (2nd Earl of Salisbury)
Chris Squire UK • Link
‘ . . With the disappearance of the old order Salisbury decided to support the republic . . He became a member of the council of state from 1649 to 1651, and its president for a while, and entered the Rump Parliament as MP for King's Lynn.
The protectorate, however, led to a change in the official attitude towards him, and by 1656 he was ousted from public activities, being excluded from Oliver Cromwell's second parliament, though elected for Hertfordshire. Salisbury retired to Hatfield where he died on 3 December 1668, but not before Charles II had appointed him high steward of St Albans in 1663 . . ‘
(DNB)
About Sunday 16 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
‘ . . With the disappearance of the old order Salisbury decided to support the republic . . He became a member of the council of state from 1649 to 1651, and its president for a while, and entered the Rump Parliament as MP for King's Lynn.
The protectorate, however, led to a change in the official attitude towards him, and by 1656 he was ousted from public activities, being excluded from Oliver Cromwell's second parliament, though elected for Hertfordshire. Salisbury retired to Hatfield where he died on 3 December 1668, but not before Charles II had appointed him high steward of St Albans in 1663 . . ‘
(DNB)
About Saturday 15 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . we saw his water-works and the Oral . . ‘
‘noria, n. < Spanish < Arabic < Aramaic (Syriac) . . Originally in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries but subsequently more widely, esp. in the East: a device for raising water from a stream or river, consisting of a chain of pots or buckets revolving round a wheel which take in water when submerged and discharge it when they turn over at the top.
1696 P. Ayres Revengeful Mistress 24 Their usual Recreation in the Evenings, was..to view the Norias or admirable Water-works, with which the Spaniards industriously water their Gardens, or supply their Fountains . . ‘
(OED)
……………
Pope’s Twickenham grotto is now in the hands of a trust which will restore it: http://www.popesgrotto.org.uk/ In Britain today we are (as in Pepys’ day) too poor or too mean to house our homeless - leaving them to sleep in the street - but unlimited funds are available to restore old buildings in the nicer parts of the capital like Twickenham; so Strawberry Hill (http://www.strawberryhillhouse.or…) and Turner’s house hve been restored (http://turnershouse.org/) and work is about to start on Marble Hill (https://twickerati.wordpress.com/…).
The former Pope’s Grotto pub is now the Alexander Pope hotel.
About Wednesday 12 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . evened with (him) for 100 pieces of callico . . ’
‘even, v. < Old English . .
. . 4. a. To make (accounts, etc.) even; to balance, settle, square; to come to agreement upon (points of difference).
. . 1664 S. Pepys Diary 15 July (1971) IV. 206 He hath now evened his reckonings at the Wardrobe till Michaelmas last.’
…………...
Re: ‘ . . to look out some Dram timber . . ’
‘dram, n.2 < Short for Drammen.
Timber from Drammen in Norway. Also attrib. 1663—1858’
…………...
Re: ‘ . . can find none for our turne . . ’
'turn, n. < Anglo-Norman . .
. . 30. a. Requirement, need, exigency; purpose, use, convenience. arch.
. . 1659 H. Hammond Paraphr. & Annot. Psalms (xviii. 5 Annot.) 99/2 Ropes or cords are proper for that turne.
…………...
(OED)
About Tuesday 11 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ’ . . where we sat all the morning.’
‘sit, v. < Common Germanic . .
. . 4. a. To occupy a seat in the capacity of a judge or with some administrative function.
. . 1681 A. Wood Life 17 Aug. The judges..went to the Guildhall yard where they sate from 9 to 12 . . ‘
(OED)
About Monday 10 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . Sir W. Batten do raffle still against Mr. Turner and his wife .. ‘
‘raffle, v.3 < Origin uncertain. Obs. rare. intr. To quarrel, wrangle.
a1796 S. Pegge Two Coll. Derbicisms (1896) 117 Raffle, to wrangle and quarrel . . ‘
(OED)
About Sunday 9 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . from church dogged her home . . ’
‘dog, v.1 < dog n.1… etymology unknown. No likely cognates have been identified with a meaning at all close to that of the English word, and all attempted etymological explanations are extremely speculative. A word of this phonological shape is hard to explain as a regular development from a Germanic base . .
1. trans. a. To follow like a dog on the heels of; to track (a person, or his or her trail, footsteps, etc.) closely and persistently . .
. . 1608 R. Tofte in tr. L. Ariosto Satyres iv. 64 (note) Many Italians vse to dog their wiues when they goe abroad, the poore women not thinking that their husbands do watch them as they doe . . ‘
(OED)
About Friday 7 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . even to the having bad words with my wife, and blows too . . ‘
‘blow, n.1 < Origin doubtful . .
3. ‘An act of hostility’ (Johnson). Usually in pl. blows = ‘combat, fighting, war’. .
. . 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. v. 19 Their controversie must either come to blowes, or be undecided . . ‘
(OED)
About Thursday 6 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . a rare chine of beefe . . ‘
‘rare, adj.2 < Originally a variant of rear adj.1 . .
1. Of meat, esp. beef: lightly cooked; underdone . . Formerly often regarded as an Americanism, . . although it was current in English writing from the 18th cent. and in many English dialects . .
1615 G. Markham Eng. Hus-wife in Countrey Contentments ii. 54 To know when meate is rosted enough, for as too much rareness is unwholsome, so too much drinesse is not nourishing.'
……..
Re: ‘ . . bring in of calicos .. . ‘
‘calico < Portuguese Qualecut (= calcutta) . .
. . 2. b. Now, in England, applied chiefly to plain white unprinted cotton cloth, bleached or unbleached (called in Scotland and U.S. cotton).
. . 1666 S. Pepys Diary 24 Sept. (1972) VII. 295 Flags which I had bought for the Navy, of calico.'
……..
Re: ‘ . . Prince Rupert is fallen into Lee Road . .’
‘road < Germanic . .
. . II. A place where ships ride.
3. a. Now usually in pl. A sheltered piece of water near the shore where vessels may lie at anchor in safety; a roadstead.
. . 1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea 111 Princes..impose Custom upon Ships, as for the use of the Road upon their Coasts.'
……..
(OED)
About Sir George Ayscue
Chris Squire UK • Link
From 2017 DNB:
‘Opinions of Ayscue varied. Clarendon called him ‘a gentleman, but had kept ill company too long, which had blunted his understanding, if it had ever been sharp: he was of few words, yet spake to the purpose and to be easily understood’. Pepys believed he did not have ‘much of a seaman in him … by his discourse I find that he hath not minded anything in [his ship] at all’, but then Ayscue had just criticized the lack of organization of the Navy Board which Pepys served. On the other hand, Sir William Coventry found him ‘a very honest, gallant man … he does not serve mercenarily, for he lives handsomely and honourably in the fleet, beyond his pay’.’
About Monday 3 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . by each other’s dalliance . . “
‘dalliance, n. < Old French . .
. . †4. Waste of time in trifling, idle delay. Obs.
. . 1616 Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. i. 59 My businesse cannot brooke this dalliance .
(OED)
…………...
“ . . My old man said: "Foller the van,
And don't dilly-dally on the way".
Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it.
I walked be'ind wiv me old cock linnet.
But I dillied and dallied,
Dallied and dillied;
Lost me way and don't know where to roam.
And you can't trust a "Special"
Like the old-time copper
When you can't find your way home . . “
Don't Dilly Dally - old English music hall song
About Sunday 2 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ’ . . a place too good for this puppy . .’
‘puppy, n. < Middle French, . .
. . 2. a. colloq. (frequently derogatory). A foolish, conceited, or impertinent young man . .
1544 E. Allen tr. A. Alesius Auctorite Word of God sig. D That curse that the puppy bloweth out vnder the name of almighty god & the holy saintes Peter & Paul.
. . 1996 Independent (Nexis) 12 Oct. 16 It was not the Yorkshire Police who had done this to him but arrogant young puppies sent up from the Metropolitan Police.’
About Impressment ("The Press")
Chris Squire UK • Link
‘press, v.2 < prest . .
1. a. trans. To compel (a person) to enlist in the army or navy . .
. . 1600 E. Fairfax tr. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne xx. xvi. 366 Men halfe naked, without strength or skill,..Late pressed foorth to warre, against their will.
. . 1697 Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 69 The peaceful Peasant to the Wars is prest; The Fields lye fallow in inglorious Rest.
. . 1991 P. O'Brian Nutmeg of Consol. (1993) i. 10 At least a third had been pressed into the Navy.’
‘prest, n. . . < Anglo-Norman . .
. . 4. A sum of money paid to a sailor or soldier on enlistment.
. . 1491 Act 7 Hen. VII c. 1 §1 Any Souldeour..which herafter shal be in Wages and reteyned or take any prest to serve the King upon the See.
. . 1915 Morning Post 15 June 9/1 Thousands of civilians have been drafted into the Navy during the war: ‘pressed’ men, too, though they know it not—for the word is derived from the ‘prest’ or gratuity given to the recruit.
†5. The enlistment of a person by payment of such money; an enlistment of soldiers or sailors. Obs.
. . 1625 Proclamation for better furnishing Navy No Mariner, or Sea faring man should absent, hide, or withdraw himselfe from His late Maiesties service or prests . . ‘
About Saturday 1 October 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
‘press, v.2 < prest . .
1. a. trans. To compel (a person) to enlist in the army or navy . .
. . 1600 E. Fairfax tr. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne xx. xvi. 366 Men halfe naked, without strength or skill,..Late pressed foorth to warre, against their will.
. . 1697 Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 69 The peaceful Peasant to the Wars is prest; The Fields lye fallow in inglorious Rest.
. . 1991 P. O'Brian Nutmeg of Consol. (1993) i. 10 At least a third had been pressed into the Navy.’
‘prest, n. . . < Anglo-Norman . .
. . 4. A sum of money paid to a sailor or soldier on enlistment.
. . 1491 Act 7 Hen. VII c. 1 §1 Any Souldeour..which herafter shal be in Wages and reteyned or take any prest to serve the King upon the See.
. . 1915 Morning Post 15 June 9/1 Thousands of civilians have been drafted into the Navy during the war: ‘pressed’ men, too, though they know it not—for the word is derived from the ‘prest’ or gratuity given to the recruit.
†5. The enlistment of a person by payment of such money; an enlistment of soldiers or sailors. Obs.
. . 1625 Proclamation for better furnishing Navy No Mariner, or Sea faring man should absent, hide, or withdraw himselfe from His late Maiesties service or prests . . ‘
About Friday 30 September 1664
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ' . . paying 20s. dry money into the poor's box . . '
‘dry, adj. and adv. < Old English . .
. . 19. Of money, rent, or fees: Paid in hard cash, in actual coin. [Compare French argent sec, perte sèche.]
. . 1664 S. Pepys Diary 30 Sept. (1971) V. 284 I am fain to preserve my vowe by paying 20s. dry money into the poor's box . . ‘
(OED)