Nicolas
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Nicolas has posted 51 annotations/comments since 30 March 2020.
The most recent first…
Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
Nicolas has posted 51 annotations/comments since 30 March 2020.
The most recent first…
Comments
Third Reading
About Wednesday 13 March 1660/61
Nicolas • Link
I believe this is the same Captain John Smith who was saved from death by Pocahontas in 1607. She was the daughter of Chief Powhatan. But the story may he apocryphal as Captain Smith only wrote about this incident in 1616.
About Monday 27 February 1659/60
Nicolas • Link
John Evelyn died on today’s date, 27 February, in 1706.
About Wednesday 1 February 1659/60
Nicolas • Link
There is a character Hamfest Gamgee or “The Gaffer” in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
https://tolkiengateway.net/w/inde…
Second Reading
About Monday 30 March 1668
Nicolas • Link
Thanks SDS for the miniatures link. They’re really beautiful!
About Thursday 3 May 1660
Nicolas • Link
“Praised be forever the Lord of Heaven, who only doeth wondrous things, because his mercy endureth forever.”
Evelyn is quoting Psalms 72:18 and Psalms 136 (every verse) of the Authorised Version (KJV).
About Wednesday 26 May 1669
Nicolas • Link
In America a hawkish politician is frequently referred to as a warmonger. And when I was in Scotland some years ago I saw a shop with a sign out front: “Drinkmonger”, which is a liquor store.
About Wednesday 26 May 1669
Nicolas • Link
There are whoremongers too. See Ephesians 5:5, Authorised Version (KJV).
About Saturday 22 May 1669
Nicolas • Link
One of my favorite diary entries is that of 1 Jan 1667/1668 where Pepys visits a gambling house to observe, not to play, and describes at length the odd behavior of the players. https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Monday 3 May 1669
Nicolas • Link
"resolve first, and consider it and the fitness of it afterward."
It reminds me of “Marry in haste, repent at leisure”.
About Tuesday 13 April 1669
Nicolas • Link
It seems Pepys was in love with two women. Of course he couldn’t have both. But he was soon to be a widower. One must wonder whether, after a period of mourning, he did not chase after Deb again, possibly to make her his wife? And if not, why not?
Was her social ranking too low, or perhaps she was already attached by then? Or Deb, knowing what sort of man he was, wouldn’t’ve had him in any case.
About Wednesday 3 March 1668/69
Nicolas • Link
Pepys claims to have had “a very good night’s rest” but how could he have if he didn’t get to bed till 2am and then felt sleepy during the play?
About Wednesday 3 March 1668/69
Nicolas • Link
“she-cousin”: I think the masculine is assumed so you’d never see “he-cousin”. The modifier “she” here indicates the exception. In modern usage I’ve seen “she-wolf” and “she-bear” but never in reference to a person. In Roman mythology Romulus and Remus were raised by a she-wolf.
About Tuesday 23 February 1668/69
Nicolas • Link
Stephane, I’m enjoying your witty and learned commentary. I believe you’ve taken on the mantle of Robt. Gertz.
About Monday 25 January 1668/69
Nicolas • Link
John Shakespeare (c. 1531 – 7 September 1601), an English businessman in Stratford-upon-Avon, and the father of William Shakespeare, was a glover.
About Wednesday 21 October 1668
Nicolas • Link
“but he was not within, but I come too late, they being gone before”
“But the man not within”
Pepys is forever going to see someone who is out, so the trip is wasted. So inefficient! No-one could make an appointment? This must’ve been a common practice in the days before telecommunications and just accepted as the cost of doing business.
About Wednesday 16 September 1668
Nicolas • Link
In today’s entry why didn’t Wheatley censor Sam’s remarks about his activity with Jane. Was it not salacious enough?
About Monday 7 September 1668
Nicolas • Link
@Robt. Gertz: Your allusion to Scarborough Fair was inspired! I could hear the music.
About Sunday 12 July 1668
Nicolas • Link
The celebrated surrealist painter Salvador Dali, born in the early 20th century, was given the same name as that of his elder brother who died nine months before his birth.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sal…
And then we have the case of heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman who named all five of his sons George.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geo…
About Monday 22 June 1668
Nicolas • Link
“Mrs. Daniel looks like a spaniel” — Dylan Thomas
About Monday 22 June 1668
Nicolas • Link
Sarah, Terry’s short link worked for me. Here’s the long version:
https://books.google.com/books?id…