"After dinner up to my chamber and made an end of Dr. Power’s Henry Power booke of the Microscope, very fine and to my content, and then my wife and I..." Good to see that someone reads the instruction book fully before having a go with the equipment itself.
I note that it Sam (and sometimes Sam and Elizabeth) who make the purchases mentioned in the Diary but not Elizabeth by herself. Given that Sam is conscious that Elizabeth is "companionless" and seeking a role, it seems strange (to modern minds) that she could not get out a bit more by herself, especially to go shopping for household goods for example to buy candle snuffers a few days ago. Were women not given control of money or would it seem strange them going into shops alone?
Since Mr Rawlinson was an tavern keeper, perhaps this means that Sam and Mr Deane had to pay for their dinner.
As a keen reader of the annotations (but not contributor since everyone has already said everything I can think of, and so much better than I could), I think it is great that we have further interesting and erudite contributors on the second time round, such as San Diego Sarah and Louise Hudson. Thank you.
"As Lord High Treasurer and First Lord of the Admiralty, Juxon was the last English clergyman to hold both secular and clerical offices in the medieval tradition of clerical state service."
However, pockets of secular and clerical office continued for over a century afterwards. For example Nathaniel Crew https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat… , who was the brother-in-law of the Earl of Sandwich, became Bishop of Durham with the powers of a Prince Bishop "Prior to 1836, the Bishop of Durham was a prince-bishop and had significant temporal powers over the Liberty of Durham and later the County Palatine of Durham." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bis….
Good point Sasha. It may also be that Uncle Wight was not left anything in the will because, as a successful fishmonger, he was seen as sufficiently wealthy already and had no need of more money from Robert.
In addition to the three brothers of Lord Crew already noted, he had five sisters named Anne, Patience, Temperance, Silence and Prudence; the Crews were after all a well-known puritan family, see Barthomley: In Letters From a Former Rector to His Eldest Son (1856) by Edward Hinchliffe.
I am assuming that the £530 is in cash/gold, possibly after deducting his monthly debts. But I understand that he also hold some land in Bampton; does anyone get any sense of whether the capital value of this land is included?
"But the House did, in very open terms, say, they were grown too wise to be fooled again into another army; and said they had found how that man that hath the command of an army is not beholden to any body to make him King."
This is the reason, I believe, why the UK has a Royal Navy and a Royal Air Force but no Royal Army to the present day. There are regiments with "Royal" titles, e.g. Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, but not the army as a whole
"so I fear may do us that are nearer to him [i.e. Sam is nearer than Mrs Norbury] a great deal of wrong, if he [Uncle Wight] should die without children, which I am sorry for". According to Phil's excellent family tree, Uncle Wight is Sam's father's half brother in that they shared the same father but had different mothers. On the other hand, Mrs Norbury was Uncle Wight's sister-in-law, being the full sister of Aunt Wight. This comment makes sense if "nearness" is measured only through the male line but not if Aunt Wight were also considered. It seems unfair to our modern eyes that Sam should expect that the property in a childless marriage should only go to the husband's side of the family. Or perhaps Sam is referring to the closeness of the social interaction between him and Uncle Wight as compared to Uncle Wight and Mrs Norbury. Thanks Phil for the updated site (and family tree). It was excellent before but now is even better.
I think that train-band is correct, as in The Diverting History of John Gilpin by William Cowper, although he was rather later (1731–1800) JOHN GILPIN was a citizen Of credit and renown, A train-band captain eke was he Of famous London town. see http://www.bartleby.com/41/324.ht… It is worth a read
I should also like to thank Phil also for the brilliant original idea of posting daily Pepys blogs and allowing annotations that have without fail been funny, knowledgeable or insightful (and frequently all three). You have really attracted a wonderful group of followers who have been great companions during this stroll through the diary.
Although sad for us that the diary has stopped, it is perhaps for the best that he has bowed out at the top of his game, wielding substantial influence, with money in the bank (or in the strong room), with good friends to dine and be merry with and most of all with Elizabeth still with him. I personally would have loved to hear of his time as president of the Royal Society but alas that is not to be.
I shall now take a break (mourning) and start again in January since there is something particularly satisfying with knowing what Samuel was doing on this day 343 years ago or 353 years ago when I start again. I hope that Phil’s much deserved break will allow him to contemplate what a great and good thing he has constructed and I further hope that he can be persuaded to allow further annotations since they will surely be even more funny, knowledgeable and insightful for having passed that way before.
Comments
Second Reading
About Sunday 14 August 1664
Nick Hedley • Link
"After dinner up to my chamber and made an end of Dr. Power’s Henry Power booke of the Microscope, very fine and to my content, and then my wife and I..."
Good to see that someone reads the instruction book fully before having a go with the equipment itself.
About Friday 16 October 1663
Nick Hedley • Link
I note that it Sam (and sometimes Sam and Elizabeth) who make the purchases mentioned in the Diary but not Elizabeth by herself. Given that Sam is conscious that Elizabeth is "companionless" and seeking a role, it seems strange (to modern minds) that she could not get out a bit more by herself, especially to go shopping for household goods for example to buy candle snuffers a few days ago. Were women not given control of money or would it seem strange them going into shops alone?
About Saturday 26 September 1663
Nick Hedley • Link
"..only no invitation".
Since Mr Rawlinson was an tavern keeper, perhaps this means that Sam and Mr Deane had to pay for their dinner.
As a keen reader of the annotations (but not contributor since everyone has already said everything I can think of, and so much better than I could), I think it is great that we have further interesting and erudite contributors on the second time round, such as San Diego Sarah and Louise Hudson. Thank you.
About Thursday 4 June 1663
Nick Hedley • Link
"As Lord High Treasurer and First Lord of the Admiralty, Juxon was the last English clergyman to hold both secular and clerical offices in the medieval tradition of clerical state service."
However, pockets of secular and clerical office continued for over a century afterwards. For example Nathaniel Crew https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat… , who was the brother-in-law of the Earl of Sandwich, became Bishop of Durham with the powers of a Prince Bishop
"Prior to 1836, the Bishop of Durham was a prince-bishop and had significant temporal powers over the Liberty of Durham and later the County Palatine of Durham." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bis….
About Thursday 12 March 1662/63
Nick Hedley • Link
Good point Sasha. It may also be that Uncle Wight was not left anything in the will because, as a successful fishmonger, he was seen as sufficiently wealthy already and had no need of more money from Robert.
About Monday 10 November 1662
Nick Hedley • Link
In addition to the three brothers of Lord Crew already noted, he had five sisters named Anne, Patience, Temperance, Silence and Prudence; the Crews were after all a well-known puritan family, see Barthomley: In Letters From a Former Rector to His Eldest Son (1856) by Edward Hinchliffe.
About Tuesday 3 June 1662
Nick Hedley • Link
I am assuming that the £530 is in cash/gold, possibly after deducting his monthly debts. But I understand that he also hold some land in Bampton; does anyone get any sense of whether the capital value of this land is included?
About Wednesday 22 January 1661/62
Nick Hedley • Link
"But the House did, in very open terms, say, they were grown too wise to be fooled again into another army; and said they had found how that man that hath the command of an army is not beholden to any body to make him King."
This is the reason, I believe, why the UK has a Royal Navy and a Royal Air Force but no Royal Army to the present day. There are regiments with "Royal" titles, e.g. Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, but not the army as a whole
About Sunday 19 January 1661/62
Nick Hedley • Link
"so I fear may do us that are nearer to him [i.e. Sam is nearer than Mrs Norbury] a great deal of wrong, if he [Uncle Wight] should die without children, which I am sorry for".
According to Phil's excellent family tree, Uncle Wight is Sam's father's half brother in that they shared the same father but had different mothers. On the other hand, Mrs Norbury was Uncle Wight's sister-in-law, being the full sister of Aunt Wight. This comment makes sense if "nearness" is measured only through the male line but not if Aunt Wight were also considered. It seems unfair to our modern eyes that Sam should expect that the property in a childless marriage should only go to the husband's side of the family. Or perhaps Sam is referring to the closeness of the social interaction between him and Uncle Wight as compared to Uncle Wight and Mrs Norbury.
Thanks Phil for the updated site (and family tree). It was excellent before but now is even better.
About Tuesday 28 February 1659/60
Nick Hedley • Link
I think that train-band is correct, as in The Diverting History of John Gilpin by William Cowper, although he was rather later (1731–1800)
JOHN GILPIN was a citizen
Of credit and renown,
A train-band captain eke was he
Of famous London town.
see http://www.bartleby.com/41/324.ht…
It is worth a read
About Thursday 16 February 1659/60
Nick Hedley • Link
Thanks for re-starting the diary again Phil and for the ability to post. The summer seemed slightly lacking without the daily fix of Pepys.
First Reading
About Monday 31 May 1669
Nick Hedley • Link
I should also like to thank Phil also for the brilliant original idea of posting daily Pepys blogs and allowing annotations that have without fail been funny, knowledgeable or insightful (and frequently all three). You have really attracted a wonderful group of followers who have been great companions during this stroll through the diary.
Although sad for us that the diary has stopped, it is perhaps for the best that he has bowed out at the top of his game, wielding substantial influence, with money in the bank (or in the strong room), with good friends to dine and be merry with and most of all with Elizabeth still with him. I personally would have loved to hear of his time as president of the Royal Society but alas that is not to be.
I shall now take a break (mourning) and start again in January since there is something particularly satisfying with knowing what Samuel was doing on this day 343 years ago or 353 years ago when I start again. I hope that Phil’s much deserved break will allow him to contemplate what a great and good thing he has constructed and I further hope that he can be persuaded to allow further annotations since they will surely be even more funny, knowledgeable and insightful for having passed that way before.