Lamprey Pie would have tasted like any fish pie made today, poached fish, with lots of butter, perhaps with some onions or "chalets" thrown in for good measure. Today it would be made with a layer of mashed potatoes on top, but in Sam's day it was probably encased in pastry.
The Southern live oak or simply "Live Oak" (Quercus virginiana) is an evergreen (or nearly so) oak tree native to the southeastern United States. The tree is a common sight in states like Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana.
We also have Live Oaks in Southern California called quercus agrifolia.
"I did some little businesses, and so home again walking both forwards and backwards, as much along the street as we could to save going by water."
I took it to mean they walked both ways, and as he said, they did it to "save going by water." He doesn't say why he didn't want to go by water, possibly to save the fare, or perhaps to avoid the cold and "high wind," which would have been more unpleasant on a boat than on land.
Can someone do a demographic of the population of this pew? There's 2 Minnes, 2 Pepyses, and Ashwell---making 4 ladies' outfits (were they wearing hoops that year?) that we know of.
Hoop skirts did not come in until the 1800s, so if the pew was crowded it wasn't because of voluminous skirts. Perhaps hyperinflated egos were the problem. They have always been present in any social gathering, probably since the dawn if man.
Thanks to Tripleransom and Sue Nicholson for the information. I knew Sam's residence was in a building owned by the Navy but didn't know Sam's office was in the same building. That would explain the easy access. I do remember mention of the garden and Sam being pursued by bailiffs. Exciting!
"And here Mrs. The. shewed me my name upon her breast as her Valentine, which will cost me 20s."
What an odd custom. If it was MRS. The. she couldn't have been 11 years old. I see nothing that would imply that it was Mrs. The's daughter, rather than Mrs, The. who showed Sam's name upon her own breast. She's a married woman and he's a married man! What, pray tell, are the 20 shillings for? Blackmail?
"...rape of north america..." What hateful nonsense. The number of indigenous people in my state, Ohio, when white settlers enter could be seated in today's Ohio State University football stadium and they eager to trap, cut & burn to get white men's goods as white men were.
What, pray tell does it matter how many indigenous people were invaded in a particular area? Who were the invaders? Certainly not the indigenous people who, by all rights, were the rightful owners of the land known as America.
There would have been no cutting and burning to get white men's goods if they hadn't illegitimately invaded and stole "America" from the owners. Didn't the indigenous people have a right to attack the people invading their land!
Ruben wonders if we can "get back" to Pepys' London--but we haven't left it. It was Pepys himself who brought up "New England's masts," which makes the British invasion and rape of America a legitimate subject to be discussed here.
"I in the midst of them sad to think of the spending so much money and venturing upon the breach of my vow, which I found myself sorry for"
I wonder, would he not be so sorry for the breach of his vow if the plays were better?
As for the female dancers "bending their hams," I suspect he meant swinging their hips, which men don't do. He could easily have observed this--and enjoyed it--even though the women were "decently" clothed.
Hives, also known as urticaria. More likely than lice. An old remedy was to place stinging nettles on the inflamed areas. Today a doctor would give a shot of anti-histimine. Calamine lotion would have helped, too. How awful to live in the days before modern medicine. Did Sam say what he'd been eating? Shellfish is often the culprit. Other foods, too.
"and so home and had a good dinner with my wife, with which I was pleased to see it neatly done, and this troubled me to think of parting with Jane, that is come to be a very good cook."
". . .which vexes me cruelly, but it cannot be helped". It sounds to me as if Sam is saying he feels sorry for the incident and E's loss but he has no intention of buying another one. "There, there, dry your tears, dear, it can't be helped. I'm off to the office."
Comments
Second Reading
About Monday 13 April 1663
Louise Hudson • Link
"Up by five o’clock," but not betimes, today. I wonder if there's a cut-off.
About Saturday 4 April 1663
Louise Hudson • Link
Lamprey Pie would have tasted like any fish pie made today, poached fish, with lots of butter, perhaps with some onions or "chalets" thrown in for good measure. Today it would be made with a layer of mashed potatoes on top, but in Sam's day it was probably encased in pastry.
About Wednesday 1 April 1663
Louise Hudson • Link
The Southern live oak or simply "Live Oak" (Quercus virginiana) is an evergreen (or nearly so) oak tree native to the southeastern United States. The tree is a common sight in states like Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana.
We also have Live Oaks in Southern California called quercus agrifolia.
About Saturday 28 March 1663
Louise Hudson • Link
"I did some little businesses, and so home again walking both forwards and backwards, as much along the street as we could to save going by water."
I took it to mean they walked both ways, and as he said, they did it to "save going by water." He doesn't say why he didn't want to go by water, possibly to save the fare, or perhaps to avoid the cold and "high wind," which would have been more unpleasant on a boat than on land.
About Sunday 15 March 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
Bradford on 15 Mar 2006 • Link • Flag
Can someone do a demographic of the population of this pew? There's 2 Minnes, 2 Pepyses, and Ashwell---making 4 ladies' outfits (were they wearing hoops that year?) that we know of.
Hoop skirts did not come in until the 1800s, so if the pew was crowded it wasn't because of voluminous skirts. Perhaps hyperinflated egos were the problem. They have always been present in any social gathering, probably since the dawn if man.
About Thursday 12 March 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
The word laryngitis was first used in the early 19th Century.
About Thursday 12 March 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
✹
A. De Araujo on 13 Mar 2006
"I being quite hoarse with it"
It is called laryngitis Sam.
---------
I doubt it was called that in Sam's time. The word probably hadn't yet been invented.
About Monday 9 March 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
Thanks to Tripleransom and Sue Nicholson for the information. I knew Sam's residence was in a building owned by the Navy but didn't know Sam's office was in the same building. That would explain the easy access. I do remember mention of the garden and Sam being pursued by bailiffs. Exciting!
About Monday 9 March 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
I wonder how far Sam's office is from his home. He seems to pop over there at all hours of the day and night without a second thought. Anyone know?
About Tuesday 3 March 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
If Mrs. The is 11, it t sounds as if she is being trained to be a prostitute!
About Tuesday 3 March 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
"And here Mrs. The. shewed me my name upon her breast as her Valentine, which will cost me 20s."
What an odd custom. If it was MRS. The. she couldn't have been 11 years old. I see nothing that would imply that it was Mrs. The's daughter, rather than Mrs, The. who showed Sam's name upon her own breast. She's a married woman and he's a married man! What, pray tell, are the 20 shillings for? Blackmail?
What strange goings on are these.
About Saturday 28 February 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
JWB wrote
"...rape of north america..."
What hateful nonsense. The number of indigenous people in my state, Ohio, when white settlers enter could be seated in today's Ohio State University football stadium and they eager to trap, cut & burn to get white men's goods as white men were.
What, pray tell does it matter how many indigenous people were invaded in a particular area? Who were the invaders? Certainly not the indigenous people who, by all rights, were the rightful owners of the land known as America.
There would have been no cutting and burning to get white men's goods if they hadn't illegitimately invaded and stole "America" from the owners. Didn't the indigenous people have a right to attack the people invading their land!
Ruben wonders if we can "get back" to Pepys' London--but we haven't left it. It was Pepys himself who brought up "New England's masts," which makes the British invasion and rape of America a legitimate subject to be discussed here.
About Wednesday 25 February 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
✹
dirk wrote:
"provision of several things against Lent"
With Ash Wednesday on 4 March, and Easter on 19 April, there's only a week left before Lent begins.
Would the food she bought last even a week with no refrigeration?
I doubt that Londoners had ice boxes and ice delivery in 1663. I'm thinking that ice boxes weren't around until the 19th century.
About Monday 23 February 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
"I in the midst of them sad to think of the spending so much money and venturing upon the breach of my vow, which I found myself sorry for"
I wonder, would he not be so sorry for the breach of his vow if the plays were better?
As for the female dancers "bending their hams," I suspect he meant swinging their hips, which men don't do. He could easily have observed this--and enjoyed it--even though the women were "decently" clothed.
About Sunday 15 February 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
Brag, whist, cribbage and euchre were card games played in the 17th century, among others.
About Sunday 15 February 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
In school in the states we were always told Newfoundland was pronounced NEWfundlind. Then I met a girl from there and she pronounced it NewFOUNDland.
My husband, who's a Brit, always pronounces St. john as Sint JOHN. Americans say SAINT John.
But who knows how they pronounced anything in Pepys' time. It wasn't that long after Shakespeare.
About Sunday 8 February 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
Hives, also known as urticaria. More likely than lice. An old remedy was to place stinging nettles on the inflamed areas. Today a doctor would give a shot of anti-histimine. Calamine lotion would have helped, too. How awful to live in the days before modern medicine. Did Sam say what he'd been eating? Shellfish is often the culprit. Other foods, too.
About Saturday 7 February 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
There is a comprehensive history called Pepys's Navy: Ships, Men and Warfare 1649-89
by J. D. Davies
It has received excellent reviews.
It's available through Amazon.
About Sunday 1 February 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
"and so home and had a good dinner with my wife, with which I was pleased to see it neatly done, and this troubled me to think of parting with Jane, that is come to be a very good cook."
Serves you right, Sam.
About Wednesday 28 January 1662/63
Louise Hudson • Link
". . .which vexes me cruelly, but it cannot be helped". It sounds to me as if Sam is saying he feels sorry for the incident and E's loss but he has no intention of buying another one. "There, there, dry your tears, dear, it can't be helped. I'm off to the office."