"so to spend the evening with my wife and W. Hewer talking over the business of the Office, and particularly my own Office, how I will make it, and it will become, in a little time, an Office of ease, and not slavery, as it hath for so many years been."
This hope and plan for the future hits home (though, unlike Pepys, I retired to make it so). Again, an indicator that Elizabeth is consulted.
"For it seems they do turn out every servant that belongs to the present Treasurer" Actions that I have experienced a few times after our small company was acquired.
@Clement on dressing: Michaela (https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…) posted a link to a Youtube video on gentlewomen dressing. Here is a link on a Restoration era gentleman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E… . The gent dresses himself but one can imagine the help putting on coats and so on. (I cannot vouch for the accuracy but Prior Attire claims to have researched extensively.)
"but I avoided it, that I might not be seen to look either way." "My wife and I spent much time this evening talking of our being put out of the Office,"
Interesting times -- when working at pleasure, a good strategy -- and more evidence that Elizabeth is kept informed.
Though this is my second time around (and hopefully I will last for a third), I still find it difficult to place myself in the minds of our main protagonists. This was a time period of arranged marriages based on finances, women mostly regarded as chattel, and all sorts of practices now rightfully considered heinous that form the social backdrop. Ten years ago, I wondered how much Elizabeth knew but now I wonder whether she cared as long as he consorted with (or preyed upon) women of appropriate social standing. Her purported remark ("reproaching me with inconstancy and preferring a sorry girl before her") seems to indicate his choice rather than his behaviour.
(As for another round, I suspect that Phil's second round is mostly automated.)
"for that she hath not yet owned, in any fit manner of thanks, my late and principal service to her husband about his place, which I alone ought to have the thanks for, if they know as much as I do; but let it go: if they do not own it, I shall have it in my hand to teach them to do it."
I read this as anger by Pepys in not receiving proper thanks for service rendered (by Pepys to the Turners) and determination to let them know.
@andy, I still do that with signature-sewn books. I know it as letting the book breathe. Sadly, there are few sewn books these days. Most publications are now "perfect-bound" (glued) and fall apart after a few years.
@SDS, sorry, I should have quoted: "Pepys then explains that his eyes are giving him a lot of trouble, and that he apologizes for not writing the letter himself. (I.E. He dictated it to a clerk.)" https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
"where the Duke of York’s long letter was read, to their great trouble, and their suspecting me to have been the writer of it. [...] by our being put out of the Office, which do not at all trouble me to think of."
Comments
Second Reading
About Sunday 6 December 1668
john • Link
"so to spend the evening with my wife and W. Hewer talking over the business of the Office, and particularly my own Office, how I will make it, and it will become, in a little time, an Office of ease, and not slavery, as it hath for so many years been."
This hope and plan for the future hits home (though, unlike Pepys, I retired to make it so). Again, an indicator that Elizabeth is consulted.
About Sunday 29 November 1668
john • Link
"after employments like mine for eight years, it were hard if I could not be justly thought to be able to do that."
Methinks this comment has been overlooked. This was an age when one did not act the part was regarded with suspicion. (This was, perhaps, ever thus.)
About Saturday 21 November 1668
john • Link
With all this personal turmoil, Pepys manages to keep his job on an even keel.
About Wednesday 11 November 1668
john • Link
"For it seems they do turn out every servant that belongs to the present Treasurer"
Actions that I have experienced a few times after our small company was acquired.
About Friday 6 November 1668
john • Link
@Clement on dressing: Michaela (https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…) posted a link to a Youtube video on gentlewomen dressing. Here is a link on a Restoration era gentleman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E… . The gent dresses himself but one can imagine the help putting on coats and so on. (I cannot vouch for the accuracy but Prior Attire claims to have researched extensively.)
About Wednesday 4 November 1668
john • Link
"but I avoided it, that I might not be seen to look either way."
"My wife and I spent much time this evening talking of our being put out of the Office,"
Interesting times -- when working at pleasure, a good strategy -- and more evidence that Elizabeth is kept informed.
About Wednesday 4 November 1668
john • Link
@SDS, let me add my condolences as well. Loss of a beloved companion tears out a piece of life.
About Saturday 31 October 1668
john • Link
"and I have reason to be sorry and ashamed of it" -- not a common sentiment of late.
About Sunday 25 October 1668
john • Link
Though this is my second time around (and hopefully I will last for a third), I still find it difficult to place myself in the minds of our main protagonists. This was a time period of arranged marriages based on finances, women mostly regarded as chattel, and all sorts of practices now rightfully considered heinous that form the social backdrop. Ten years ago, I wondered how much Elizabeth knew but now I wonder whether she cared as long as he consorted with (or preyed upon) women of appropriate social standing. Her purported remark ("reproaching me with inconstancy and preferring a sorry girl before her") seems to indicate his choice rather than his behaviour.
(As for another round, I suspect that Phil's second round is mostly automated.)
About Thursday 22 October 1668
john • Link
"for that she hath not yet owned, in any fit manner of thanks, my late and principal service to her husband about his place, which I alone ought to have the thanks for, if they know as much as I do; but let it go: if they do not own it, I shall have it in my hand to teach them to do it."
I read this as anger by Pepys in not receiving proper thanks for service rendered (by Pepys to the Turners) and determination to let them know.
About Monday 12 October 1668
john • Link
@andy, I still do that with signature-sewn books. I know it as letting the book breathe. Sadly, there are few sewn books these days. Most publications are now "perfect-bound" (glued) and fall apart after a few years.
About Monday 12 October 1668
john • Link
The discussion on staircases, doors, rooms, and other greeting places gives me interesting insights into the protocols of Pepys's day.
("fish from Newfoundland" -- amusing.)
About Tuesday 29 September 1668
john • Link
@SDS, sorry, I should have quoted: "Pepys then explains that his eyes are giving him a lot of trouble, and that he apologizes for not writing the letter himself. (I.E. He dictated it to a clerk.)" https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
The spoiled butter reminds me of a line from the old sea chanty: Fried in maggoty butter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%2…)
About Tuesday 29 September 1668
john • Link
@SDS, your comment of 16 Feb 2021 seems to be a good reason for the blanks (condensed into one blank page in L&M).
About Friday 25 September 1668
john • Link
"and so back to my chamber, the boy to read to me"
It would seem that "the boy" is receiving some sort of education.
About Monday 21 September 1668
john • Link
"Four more masts which were provided were too big to be sent. "
I am most curious as to how the other masts were sent by ship. (I assume that if towed, they would waterlog and sink.)
About Sunday 13 September 1668
john • Link
"and after supper made my wife to read them all over,"
I infer from this that Elizabeth is quite aware of what is happening at the Office.
About Thursday 10 September 1668
john • Link
@Jenny -- I would not call it a sulk. It is sometimes better to keep silent and suffer rather than respond and invoke a nasty row.
About Saturday 29 August 1668
john • Link
"where the Duke of York’s long letter was read, to their great trouble, and their suspecting me to have been the writer of it. [...] by our being put out of the Office, which do not at all trouble me to think of."
The die is cast?
About Monday 24 August 1668
john • Link
It seems that they are discoursing on a non-vendor-specific RFQ.