Calamities tend to mix the various classes of folk. Methinks the labourers were sleepness due to the novelty of being housed in the Navy Office, the insides of which they would probably never have seen otherwise. (I think that the women put sugar in their beer for energy as well as sweetening probably very bitter beer.)
These entries dredged up painful memories of when the barn burnt down. (We lost a few horses, all the hay, and most of the grain.) Our protagonists have a fair amount of sang-froid and seem cool-headed, which is what one needs at such times. But I see Elizabeth's reaction to Mercer as a bit much, despite the stress.
Liberation, indeed, SDS: "She freed from her father-in-law’s tyranny, and is in condition to helpe her mother, who needs it" We just imagine what tyranny if Pepys describes it as such.
Peach, I think "officious little bureaucrat" is unwarranted. It is not an exaggeration to say that, were it not for Pepys, the British Navy would not have attained the power it did.
"which is a strange dullness, methinks." Unsure how to interpret this. The OED lists several meanings (omitting citations, which all go back to before Pepys):
The state or quality of being dull. 1. Slowness or obtuseness of intellect; stupidity. 2. Sluggishness, inertness, inactivity; drowsiness. 3. Gloominess of mind or spirits: now esp. as arising from want of interest. 4. Irksomeness; uninteresting character or quality. 5. Want of sensibility or acuteness (of the senses); want of sharpness, clearness, brightness, distinctness, or intensity (of physical qualities); bluntness, dimness, etc.: see dull a. 2, 6, 7.
"Povy discoursed with me about my Lord Peterborough’s 50l. which his man did give me from him, the last year’s salary I paid him, which he would have Povy pay him again; but I have not taken it to myself yet, and therefore will most heartily return him, and mark him out for a coxcomb."
This passage eludes me. Could someone kindly elucidate?
Dentition is a fascinating subject. Bears, as do many others, including us, have non-specialised teeth. (They graze upon awakening from hibernation to awaken their guts. Our molars do well with mast.) But the fruit of Pepys's day would not have been as soft as today.
With regard to instant blistering, roses are not phototoxic plants but the reaction to phototoxins can be immediate. A few years ago, I was reclaiming some of our back yard and whatever I cut caused a row of blisters across my leg.
To which, Terry, I add: "but it is impossible to do it, unless we have more money towards the doing it than yet we have in any view. But, however, the shew must be made to the world." And thusly to this day.
It strikes me that Pepys has a "crush" on Mercer beyond what we would today call sexual predation. The wonderful visit from his father over, Mercer leaving, and the war with Holland must be taking a toll.
SDS wrote (at the end of her very welcome summary): "but he won't do it for others."
I am reminded of particularly parsimonious relatives, who would never tip appropriately with the self-justification of "They make enough money!" (usually voiced simultaneously as a strange mantra).
In the 17th century, no sign of post-mortem poison would not be conclusive. (A good many poisons are not easily detectable even today, e.g. "Molecules of Murder" by Emsley.)
Interesting that Lady Denham wants the affair to be public, not secretive. (The image of "going at noon-day with all his gentlemen with him to visit her" certainly seems public enough.)
Another item of note -- to me, at least -- is that the Duke of Albemarle is one of the very few who thinks he did very well in the "fight".
1.1 The foot of a cat; †used lit. in reference to the fable or tale of a monkey (or a fox) using the foot or paw of a cat to rake roasted chestnuts out of the burning coals. (The story is told by some of a monkey belonging to Pope Julius II., 1503–13; see N. & Q. Ser. vi. VII. 286.)
[1623 Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. ii. 167 To take the Cat by the foote, and therewith to rake the coales out of the Ouen.] c 1661 Argyle's Last Will in Harl. Misc. (1746) VIII. 30/1 Like the Monkey, that took the Cat's Foot to pull the Chesnut out of the Fire. 1666 Pepys Diary 6 June, My Lord Brouncker, which I make use of as a monkey do the cat's foot. c 1680 Humane Prudence (1717) 214 The polite man makes use of others as the Fox did of the Cat's Foot, to pull the Apple out of the Fire.
Comments
Second Reading
About Thursday 13 September 1666
john • Link
A short entry nicely showing the content of coming back to a home intact after such turmoil.
About Thursday 6 September 1666
john • Link
Calamities tend to mix the various classes of folk. Methinks the labourers were sleepness due to the novelty of being housed in the Navy Office, the insides of which they would probably never have seen otherwise. (I think that the women put sugar in their beer for energy as well as sweetening probably very bitter beer.)
About Tuesday 4 September 1666
john • Link
"And in the evening Sir W. Pen and I did dig another, and put our wine in it; and I my Parmazan cheese, as well as my wine and some other things."
Important papers, wine, and cheese -- no doubt hoping for better days.
About Monday 3 September 1666
john • Link
These entries dredged up painful memories of when the barn burnt down. (We lost a few horses, all the hay, and most of the grain.) Our protagonists have a fair amount of sang-froid and seem cool-headed, which is what one needs at such times. But I see Elizabeth's reaction to Mercer as a bit much, despite the stress.
About Wednesday 29 August 1666
john • Link
Liberation, indeed, SDS: "She freed from her father-in-law’s tyranny, and is in condition to helpe her mother, who needs it" We just imagine what tyranny if Pepys describes it as such.
About Friday 24 August 1666
john • Link
Peach, I think "officious little bureaucrat" is unwarranted. It is not an exaggeration to say that, were it not for Pepys, the British Navy would not have attained the power it did.
About Sunday 19 August 1666
john • Link
"which is a strange dullness, methinks."
Unsure how to interpret this. The OED lists several meanings (omitting citations, which all go back to before Pepys):
The state or quality of being dull.
1. Slowness or obtuseness of intellect; stupidity.
2. Sluggishness, inertness, inactivity; drowsiness.
3. Gloominess of mind or spirits: now esp. as arising from want of interest.
4. Irksomeness; uninteresting character or quality.
5. Want of sensibility or acuteness (of the senses); want of sharpness, clearness, brightness, distinctness, or intensity (of physical qualities); bluntness, dimness, etc.: see dull a. 2, 6, 7.
About Tuesday 31 July 1666
john • Link
"Povy discoursed with me about my Lord Peterborough’s 50l. which his man did give me from him, the last year’s salary I paid him, which he would have Povy pay him again; but I have not taken it to myself yet, and therefore will most heartily return him, and mark him out for a coxcomb."
This passage eludes me. Could someone kindly elucidate?
About Saturday 28 July 1666
john • Link
Robert, I have been monocular for only 20y, long after needing spectacles.
About Saturday 28 July 1666
john • Link
Dentition is a fascinating subject. Bears, as do many others, including us, have non-specialised teeth. (They graze upon awakening from hibernation to awaken their guts. Our molars do well with mast.) But the fruit of Pepys's day would not have been as soft as today.
About Thursday 12 July 1666
john • Link
With regard to instant blistering, roses are not phototoxic plants but the reaction to phototoxins can be immediate. A few years ago, I was reclaiming some of our back yard and whatever I cut caused a row of blisters across my leg.
About Friday 6 July 1666
john • Link
I do not disagree with Bryant's calculations but to what was
Pepys writing about "is not much above half a 100 lb. bag full, but is much weightier."?
About Wednesday 4 July 1666
john • Link
To which, Terry, I add: "but it is impossible to do it, unless we have more money towards the doing it than yet we have in any view. But, however, the shew must be made to the world." And thusly to this day.
About Saturday 30 June 1666
john • Link
In the midst of war, they are eating their corn seed, and Pepys is clearing his financial table in the event of collapse.
About Saturday 23 June 1666
john • Link
It strikes me that Pepys has a "crush" on Mercer beyond what we would today call sexual predation. The wonderful visit from his father over, Mercer leaving, and the war with Holland must be taking a toll.
About Friday 15 June 1666
john • Link
SDS wrote (at the end of her very welcome summary): "but he won't do it for others."
I am reminded of particularly parsimonious relatives, who would never tip appropriately with the self-justification of "They make enough money!" (usually voiced simultaneously as a strange mantra).
About Thursday 14 June 1666
john • Link
"Thence took Creed with some kind of violence and some hard words between us [...]"
Did he man-handle Creed into the carriage or is this odd phrasing?
About Sunday 10 June 1666
john • Link
Thank you for the interesting information, SDS.
In the 17th century, no sign of post-mortem poison would not be conclusive. (A good many poisons are not easily detectable even today, e.g. "Molecules of Murder" by Emsley.)
About Sunday 10 June 1666
john • Link
Interesting that Lady Denham wants the affair to be public, not secretive. (The image of "going at noon-day with all his gentlemen with him to visit her" certainly seems public enough.)
Another item of note -- to me, at least -- is that the Duke of Albemarle is one of the very few who thinks he did very well in the "fight".
About Wednesday 6 June 1666
john • Link
"as a monkey do the cat’s foot" made the OED:
cat's-foot
1.1 The foot of a cat; †used lit. in reference to the fable or tale of a monkey (or a fox) using the foot or paw of a cat to rake roasted chestnuts out of the burning coals. (The story is told by some of a monkey belonging to Pope Julius II., 1503–13; see N. & Q. Ser. vi. VII. 286.)
[1623 Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. ii. 167 To take the Cat by the foote, and therewith to rake the coales out of the Ouen.] c 1661 Argyle's Last Will in Harl. Misc. (1746) VIII. 30/1 Like the Monkey, that took the Cat's Foot to pull the Chesnut out of the Fire. 1666 Pepys Diary 6 June, My Lord Brouncker, which I make use of as a monkey do the cat's foot. c 1680 Humane Prudence (1717) 214 The polite man makes use of others as the Fox did of the Cat's Foot, to pull the Apple out of the Fire.