Baboon thoughts My first thought was the same as Ellen's - why not a baboon? But then I thought of a couple of reasons why it seems unlikely. First, although intelligent, baboons are reputedly vicious and dangerous, and would be less likely to be kept as a domestic pet than a chimp. Second, Sam seems to have had some concept of what a baboon should look like, and thought this creature looked more like a human, speculating that it is the offspring of a man and a baboon.
BTW, since Australian Susan mentioned Koko, I would suggest that not all reports on Koko be taken at face value. Ms. Patterson, Koko's "mentor", is more adept as a publicist than as a scientist, and I think it is fair to say that primatologists do not take the claims about Koko's behavior too seriously. Apologies for straying off topic.
Sam and the sermon Daniel - when Sam says he "staid out the sermon", I think he means he stayed for the whole thing, not that he walked out, although he probably wished he could.
What "it" is I have to side with Stolzi's interpretation. The natural syntactic reference of "it" in the sentence is "mourning", which in this context means mourning clothes. I infer that it was the custom of the time for the head of family to provide the mourning clothing for all the family members, if he could afford it. Sam's father couldn't afford it, but they all dressed up anyway to make it look like he had, thus "doing him the greatest honour." Recall yesterday's entry, where Will Joyce complains that his father didn't give him enough (money) for mourning, which annoyed Sam. Here he is demonstrating that he is above such pettiness.
deputacon A strange word. Evidently an alternate spelling of "deputation"; Google yields 5 instances besides this entry by Sam, all from the 17th or late 16th century. Unlike modern usage, the term appears to refer to a formal document naming person A (Sam) the deputy of person B (my Lord Sandwich). Lacking such a document, Sam had to rely on the testimony of others to prove his bona fides. I can't confirm this inference from any source available to me, however. I wonder if someone with access to the OED could check on this and tell us more?
This was a favorite device of the composer Claudio Monteverdi. To hear some fine examples of its use, and for a wonderful musical experience in general, listen to Monteverdi's Vespers of the Blessed Virgin (Vespro della Beata Virgine).
Still more about coinage and weight When I was in London in 1964, I remember being astonished and delighted in a bank to see that they determined the monetary value of a heap of coins by weighing them. I doubt that that still works.
The other Mr. Edward Montagu again Here it is even clearer than it was the other day that this Mr. Edward Montagu is not "my Lord" [Sandwich], but is housesitting for my Lord in his absence. I suggested previously that it might be Manchester (among the various extant Edward Montagus). Does anyone have any evidence to the contrary? In any case, both links should be amended.
Clarification re Edward Montagu I don't normally repeat myself on the anno page, but I think my point above was misunderstood. It is a matter of grammar, not history. "My lord", i.e. Sandwich, tells Sam that he is to take orders from two people, the Lord Chancellor and Mr. Edward Montagu. He could not have been referring to himself; if he had been, the sentence would have been phrased differently. Therefore the Mr. Edward Montagu referred to must be a different person, probably Manchester.
Mr. Edward Montagu In the context, this cannot refer to Sandwich, contrary to the current link. Presumably it is the Edward Mountagu who is the 2nd Earl of Manchester, who was closely involved in the match with Catherine (see annotations on him in "People").
Status and correct procedures were taken very seriously
Another aspect of 17th century life that hasn't changed much in the 21st. In the U.S. Congress, the Senate and the House have their distinct prerogatives, and each body is quick to remind the other of that whenever a possible breach is perceived.
Hic retearius, Sorry, but I don't know where to find the 'related photo' album, despite having looked in several places. I would like to see the portrait of SP you mention. Can you provide a link? Thanks!
Midshipman and ensign Just to add one more ingredient to this terminological stew, in American usage a midshipman is a naval cadet, an officer in training. Upon graduation the midshipman is commissioned as an ensign, the lowest rank of naval officer, equivalent to a second lieutenant in the army.
"do offer me an eighth part to concern myself with it" I don't understand why Sam would value part ownership of a lighthouse (or its equivalent). I can't imagine a business model that would make it profitable, in any century. Necessary, of course, but how would you get anyone to pay for using it? Anyone have any theories?
"Non sufficit orbis" And an alternative translation is "The World Is Not Enough", which interestingly enough is the title of one of the recent cinematic adventures of Sir Thomas Bond's latter-day descendant James, 007. Thanks, Dirk, for that fascinating tidbit.
Comments
First Reading
About Tuesday 17 September 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
Great Bed of Ware
Description: http://oak.atlantia.sca.org/18/18…
Photo: http://www.pbase.com/image/250063…
About Tuesday 10 September 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
Marvell's mower
A slight correction to A. Hamilton's link: it should be
http://www.luminarium.org/sevenli…
About Saturday 24 August 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
Baboon thoughts
My first thought was the same as Ellen's - why not a baboon? But then I thought of a couple of reasons why it seems unlikely. First, although intelligent, baboons are reputedly vicious and dangerous, and would be less likely to be kept as a domestic pet than a chimp. Second, Sam seems to have had some concept of what a baboon should look like, and thought this creature looked more like a human, speculating that it is the offspring of a man and a baboon.
BTW, since Australian Susan mentioned Koko, I would suggest that not all reports on Koko be taken at face value. Ms. Patterson, Koko's "mentor", is more adept as a publicist than as a scientist, and I think it is fair to say that primatologists do not take the claims about Koko's behavior too seriously. Apologies for straying off topic.
About Thursday 22 August 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
Sam and the sermon
Daniel - when Sam says he "staid out the sermon", I think he means he stayed for the whole thing, not that he walked out, although he probably wished he could.
About Thursday 22 August 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
What "it" is
I have to side with Stolzi's interpretation. The natural syntactic reference of "it" in the sentence is "mourning", which in this context means mourning clothes. I infer that it was the custom of the time for the head of family to provide the mourning clothing for all the family members, if he could afford it. Sam's father couldn't afford it, but they all dressed up anyway to make it look like he had, thus "doing him the greatest honour." Recall yesterday's entry, where Will Joyce complains that his father didn't give him enough (money) for mourning, which annoyed Sam. Here he is demonstrating that he is above such pettiness.
About Friday 9 August 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
deputacon
A strange word. Evidently an alternate spelling of "deputation"; Google yields 5 instances besides this entry by Sam, all from the 17th or late 16th century. Unlike modern usage, the term appears to refer to a formal document naming person A (Sam) the deputy of person B (my Lord Sandwich). Lacking such a document, Sam had to rely on the testimony of others to prove his bona fides. I can't confirm this inference from any source available to me, however. I wonder if someone with access to the OED could check on this and tell us more?
About Trillo
Paul Chapin • Link
This was a favorite device of the composer Claudio Monteverdi.
To hear some fine examples of its use, and for a wonderful musical experience in general, listen to Monteverdi's Vespers of the Blessed Virgin (Vespro della Beata Virgine).
About Saturday 15 June 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
Still more about coinage and weight
When I was in London in 1964, I remember being astonished and delighted in a bank to see that they determined the monetary value of a heap of coins by weighing them. I doubt that that still works.
About Friday 14 June 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
The other Mr. Edward Montagu again
Here it is even clearer than it was the other day that this Mr. Edward Montagu is not "my Lord" [Sandwich], but is housesitting for my Lord in his absence. I suggested previously that it might be Manchester (among the various extant Edward Montagus). Does anyone have any evidence to the contrary? In any case, both links should be amended.
About Monday 10 June 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
Clarification re Edward Montagu
I don't normally repeat myself on the anno page, but I think my point above was misunderstood. It is a matter of grammar, not history. "My lord", i.e. Sandwich, tells Sam that he is to take orders from two people, the Lord Chancellor and Mr. Edward Montagu. He could not have been referring to himself; if he had been, the sentence would have been phrased differently. Therefore the Mr. Edward Montagu referred to must be a different person, probably Manchester.
About Monday 10 June 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
Mr. Edward Montagu
In the context, this cannot refer to Sandwich, contrary to the current link. Presumably it is the Edward Mountagu who is the 2nd Earl of Manchester, who was closely involved in the match with Catherine (see annotations on him in "People").
About Friday 7 June 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
Status and correct procedures were taken very seriously
Another aspect of 17th century life that hasn't changed much in the 21st. In the U.S. Congress, the Senate and the House have their distinct prerogatives, and each body is quick to remind the other of that whenever a possible breach is perceived.
About Saturday 11 May 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
Hic retearius,
Sorry, but I don't know where to find the 'related photo' album, despite having looked in several places. I would like to see the portrait of SP you mention. Can you provide a link? Thanks!
About Monday 22 April 1661
Paul Chapin • Link
How was the weather?
Thanks to Vicente's link, we know from Rev. Josselin that it was "dry, to serve the pompous show ... at London."
About Tuesday 12 March 1660/61
Paul Chapin • Link
Midshipman and ensign
Just to add one more ingredient to this terminological stew, in American usage a midshipman is a naval cadet, an officer in training. Upon graduation the midshipman is commissioned as an ensign, the lowest rank of naval officer, equivalent to a second lieutenant in the army.
About Wednesday 6 March 1660/61
Paul Chapin • Link
my Lady
I suspect from the context that the Lady mentioned here is Batten, not Montagu.
About Saturday 23 February 1660/61
Paul Chapin • Link
"do offer me an eighth part to concern myself with it"
I don't understand why Sam would value part ownership of a lighthouse (or its equivalent). I can't imagine a business model that would make it profitable, in any century. Necessary, of course, but how would you get anyone to pay for using it? Anyone have any theories?
About Wednesday 2 January 1660/61
Paul Chapin • Link
"the former home"
The "former" is his money, which he took home.
About Sunday 30 December 1660
Paul Chapin • Link
For more about taking physics, see the 15 January annotations
at http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
including my grandmother's joke on the subject, which I won't repeat here.
About Sir Thomas Bond
Paul Chapin • Link
"Non sufficit orbis"
And an alternative translation is "The World Is Not Enough", which interestingly enough is the title of one of the recent cinematic adventures of Sir Thomas Bond's latter-day descendant James, 007.
Thanks, Dirk, for that fascinating tidbit.