SDS, I recall an entry where a boatman would not take Pepys but rather transport some livestock. Apologies but I am unable to locate it. (Pepys wrote about revenge against the boatman and there was speculation whether he would be pressed.)
The assumption made is that the "vessel" was the cause of death. Pepys seems rightly skeptical about this ("excellent invention"). Remember that toxicology was hardly advanced then. I suspect that they saw fibroids (https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-c…) and cause of death not determined.
As SDS writes, welcome all and please do read the entries. This year promises to be full. I dusted off the next volume of L&M -- it weighs in at 603 pages, over 50% larger than last year's.
So much commentary on graft and larceny. We seem to often forget that such "rewards" back then were considered exactly that, namely rewards or commissions for services rendered, both normal and expected.
"... but I perceive it changes its place, and do not trouble me at all in making of water, and that is my joy, so that I believe it is nothing but a strain." Nice bit of logical diagnosis, not at all common then (or now).
Mustering the MPs: "...King having given order to my Lord Chamberlain to send to the playhouses and bawdy houses, to bid all the Parliament-men that were there to go to the Parliament presently." This king would certainly know where to find them.
SDS, personal commissions were accepted (and expected) practise back then but why would he bring them? I suspect that they covered minutiae that the board would know little of and thus could easily criticise.
I have never thought of Pepys being miserly but rather prudent. He pays his bills and spends lavishly when socially or personally acceptable. We should remember that he is essentially the sole source of income in his household.
Also, I think that the first guilded books were a test. He is pleased with the result and thus gave Richardson more to guild.
Hotspur seems to be in regular use by 1660s. From the OED:
hotspur 1. One whose spur is hot with impetuous or constant riding; hence, one who spurs or pushes on recklessly; a heady or rash person. (First occurring, and best known, as surname of Sir Henry Percy, son of the Earl of Northumberland, who fell in the rebellion against Henry IV, in 1403.) 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) 243 Herry Percy the yonger, whom the Scottis clepid Herry Hatspore. 1586 J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinshed II. 97/2 He was‥in matters of importance an headlong hotspur. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, v. ii. 19 A haire-brain'd Hotspurre, gouern'd by a Spleene. 1600 Holland Livy xxxvi. vi. 922 Some hot-spurres‥gave councell to goe against them with all their forces.
Modern plague deaths are unusual. Y. pestis is endemic in the ground squirrels of the southern U.S. and easilly diagnosed there but less well-known elsewhere. However, later reports indicate that Malcolm Casadaban may have died from other causes.
Comments
Second Reading
About Sunday 20 January 1666/67
john • Link
SDS, Terry just quoted from the museum website, which still exists.
About Sunday 13 January 1666/67
john • Link
SDS, I recall an entry where a boatman would not take Pepys but rather transport some livestock. Apologies but I am unable to locate it. (Pepys wrote about revenge against the boatman and there was speculation whether he would be pressed.)
About Friday 11 January 1666/67
john • Link
"merrily, yet I know enviously, said, I could not come honestly by them."
Petty praise, in my opinion.
About Tuesday 8 January 1666/67
john • Link
The assumption made is that the "vessel" was the cause of death. Pepys seems rightly skeptical about this ("excellent invention"). Remember that toxicology was hardly advanced then. I suspect that they saw fibroids (https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-c…) and cause of death not determined.
About Tuesday 1 January 1666/67
john • Link
As SDS writes, welcome all and please do read the entries. This year promises to be full. I dusted off the next volume of L&M -- it weighs in at 603 pages, over 50% larger than last year's.
About Thursday 20 December 1666
john • Link
So much commentary on graft and larceny. We seem to often forget that such "rewards" back then were considered exactly that, namely rewards or commissions for services rendered, both normal and expected.
About Thursday 13 December 1666
john • Link
"... but I perceive it changes its place, and do not trouble me at all in making of water, and that is my joy, so that I believe it is nothing but a strain."
Nice bit of logical diagnosis, not at all common then (or now).
About Saturday 8 December 1666
john • Link
Mustering the MPs: "...King having given order to my Lord Chamberlain to send to the playhouses and bawdy houses, to bid all the Parliament-men that were there to go to the Parliament presently." This king would certainly know where to find them.
About Friday 7 December 1666
john • Link
German also has the delightful twist of nuetral diminutives until the sex of the person is known.
About Tuesday 27 November 1666
john • Link
It was common to tip the servants after a good meal, Robert of the past, so Jane may actually be looking forward to the meal.
About Tuesday 20 November 1666
john • Link
In dark times, people take refuge in light entertainment. The bishops wanted more suffering.
About Sunday 28 October 1666
john • Link
So lucky for us that Pepys is not a gossip and thus others speak to him so freely.
About Tuesday 16 October 1666
john • Link
San Diego Sarah, methinks "a funny stunt" in the sense of showing one's inferior the proper place.
About Saturday 13 October 1666
john • Link
"[...] and had for forty times together forgot to carry the 60 which I had in my mind, in one denomination which exceeded 60"
In today's world of spreadsheets, calculators, and such gadgetry, we forget how accounting was carried out in those days.
About Wednesday 3 October 1666
john • Link
SDS, personal commissions were accepted (and expected) practise back then but why would he bring them? I suspect that they covered minutiae that the board would know little of and thus could easily criticise.
About Thursday 4 October 1666
john • Link
I have never thought of Pepys being miserly but rather prudent. He pays his bills and spends lavishly when socially or personally acceptable. We should remember that he is essentially the sole source of income in his household.
Also, I think that the first guilded books were a test. He is pleased with the result and thus gave Richardson more to guild.
About Thursday 27 September 1666
john • Link
"that he may be the fitter to go abroad with me."
Dressing-for-success was more than a buzzword in Pepys's world and there is a tendency to forget that he served at pleasure.
About Wednesday 26 September 1666
john • Link
Hotspur seems to be in regular use by 1660s. From the OED:
hotspur
1. One whose spur is hot with impetuous or constant riding; hence, one who spurs or pushes on recklessly; a heady or rash person. (First occurring, and best known, as surname of Sir Henry Percy, son of the Earl of Northumberland, who fell in the rebellion against Henry IV, in 1403.)
1460 J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) 243 Herry Percy the yonger, whom the Scottis clepid Herry Hatspore. 1586 J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinshed II. 97/2 He was‥in matters of importance an headlong hotspur. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, v. ii. 19 A haire-brain'd Hotspurre, gouern'd by a Spleene. 1600 Holland Livy xxxvi. vi. 922 Some hot-spurres‥gave councell to goe against them with all their forces.
About Friday 21 September 1666
john • Link
Modern plague deaths are unusual. Y. pestis is endemic in the ground squirrels of the southern U.S. and easilly diagnosed there but less well-known elsewhere. However, later reports indicate that Malcolm Casadaban may have died from other causes.
About Monday 17 September 1666
john • Link
"Up betimes, and shaved myself after a week’s growth"
Normality returning after a week of terror, shaving off the fear with the hairs.