Well, perhaps the boy is also getting some benefit from this, but I imagine the prime object of the exercise is to relieve Pepys's eyes of the strain of reading by candlelight.
Mennes is an elderly man (69 at this date and will die in 1671) so, although not impossible, it's unlikely that the child is his own unacknowledged offspring. Indeed, he seems to have no children of his own and will leave his estate primarily to a two nieces and a nephew.
Just possibly the infant(s) literally laid at his door are the children of men employed by the Navy and left at the boss's door on the basis that one begotten "by the navy" should be the responsibility of the navy.
Second thoughts on poor Mrs. Pierce's lack of prettiness. Perhaps she's reached that 'fat-faced' stage of pregnancy in which finer features are blurred (temporarily, we hope) as weight-gain accelerates.
That should read the highlighted "tube-spectacle of paper" in today's (11/8/68) entry.
Wherever terms, names etc. are highlighted in the text, clicking on them produces further information, perhaps with reference to an entry in the blog's encyclopaedia of elsewhere within the site.
Perhaps those perentheses are significant. Much might depend on whether they are original or editorial. If original, they might signify the mention of an unverified (and unverifiable) report. The subsequent mention of the cockleshell found in a dog's gall bladder might be an equally unverified tale adduced in possible support of the voided bullet tale.
If the parentheses are merely editorial they may say more about the editor than about the original recorder of the day's proceedings.
Sorry, forgot to add any background material. Most academic time spent on development of the English language from Anglo-Saxon through Middle Eng. and modern Eng. plus primarily Old and ME literature. Pushed Eng. Lit. as far as the first half of the 17th century, but very gappy thereafter. English born and bred, but spent 30 years following husband to SE Asia, Central America, West Africa and parts of Europe. If only we had had the internet for most of that time, what a difference it would have made to life. A joy in retirement, though.
(formerly tagged just as Mary) I'm still here, too, and have been since almost the beginning of the "first edition". The big question is, of course, will Phil have the time and the stamina to take us into a third edition? I really hope so as I, like many others I'm sure, continue to learn so much from this blog and from my fellow annotators, both their own observations and not least from their recommendations for further reading and research. My sincere thanks to all Pepysians, both past and present, but most of all to Phil himself. Little did he know what he was starting so many years ago.
I take it that Pepys is demonstrating on the spot how quickly he can draw up a document using his shorthand skills (thereby impressing Mr. Ashburnham) but then he privately blames this writing system for his eyesight problems.
Arguably the greatest enduring love of Charles's life was that for his sister, Minette, the wife of The Duke of Orleans, brother to Louis IX. Their letters to one another, "My Dearest Minette" edited by Ruth Norrington, reveal a deep love and mutual respect expressed between brother and sister. The book, though first published in 1996, is still available in paperback. Another Pepsian annotator mentioned the same book quite recently.
Whatever the definition (colloquial or official) of sunrise, twilight etc. at this precise time (25th May 2021) a clear sky in the London area brings quite enough light at 3 a.m GMT (4 a.m. British Summer Time) for trouble-free and well-lit journeys away from home.
A passing thought - could the mustard here refer to mustard greens? (Called collard greens in the USA I believe). It would perhaps be easier to cover a dish of tripes with mustard greens ( a kind of brassica) that with dried mustard.
If one was invited to see the treasures and curiosities that such a closet housed, it was considered only polite or de rigueur to add something equally interesting to the collection. Presumably Pepys had not expected to be granted the honour of this private view, and so went unprovided.
Comments
Second Reading
About Friday 25 September 1668
Mary K • Link
Well, perhaps the boy is also getting some benefit from this, but I imagine the prime object of the exercise is to relieve Pepys's eyes of the strain of reading by candlelight.
About Thursday 10 September 1668
Mary K • Link
Sir John Mennes and foundlings.
Mennes is an elderly man (69 at this date and will die in 1671) so, although not impossible, it's unlikely that the child is his own unacknowledged offspring. Indeed, he seems to have no children of his own and will leave his estate primarily to a two nieces and a nephew.
Just possibly the infant(s) literally laid at his door are the children of men employed by the Navy and left at the boss's door on the basis that one begotten "by the navy" should be the responsibility of the navy.
About Tuesday 25 June 1667
Mary K • Link
Exactly so. Latham & Mattthews read "shew" at this point.
About Sunday 23 August 1668
Mary K • Link
Second thoughts on poor Mrs. Pierce's lack of prettiness. Perhaps she's reached that 'fat-faced' stage of pregnancy in which finer features are blurred (temporarily, we hope) as weight-gain accelerates.
About Tuesday 11 August 1668
Mary K • Link
Paper tube:correction
That should read the highlighted "tube-spectacle of paper" in today's (11/8/68) entry.
Wherever terms, names etc. are highlighted in the text, clicking on them produces further information, perhaps with reference to an entry in the blog's encyclopaedia of elsewhere within the site.
About Tuesday 11 August 1668
Mary K • Link
If you read tomorrow's entry and click on the highlighted "paper tubes" you will find a brief explanation of their size and intended function.
About Saturday 8 August 1668
Mary K • Link
Must have been a very early dinner by Pepys normal standards.
About Thursday 6 August 1668
Mary K • Link
Perhaps those perentheses are significant. Much might depend on whether they are original or editorial. If original, they might signify the mention of an unverified (and unverifiable) report. The subsequent mention of the cockleshell found in a dog's gall bladder might be an equally unverified tale adduced in possible support of the voided bullet tale.
If the parentheses are merely editorial they may say more about the editor than about the original recorder of the day's proceedings.
About Roll Call. Say hello!
Mary K • Link
Sorry, forgot to add any background material. Most academic time spent on development of the English language from Anglo-Saxon through Middle Eng. and modern Eng. plus primarily Old and ME literature. Pushed Eng. Lit. as far as the first half of the 17th century, but very gappy thereafter. English born and bred, but spent 30 years following husband to SE Asia, Central America, West Africa and parts of Europe. If only we had had the internet for most of that time, what a difference it would have made to life. A joy in retirement, though.
About Wednesday 5 August 1668
Mary K • Link
SDS, thank you so much for reminding us all of the existence of the Roll Call
About Roll Call. Say hello!
Mary K • Link
(formerly tagged just as Mary)
I'm still here, too, and have been since almost the beginning of the "first edition". The big question is, of course, will Phil have the time and the stamina to take us into a third edition? I really hope so as I, like many others I'm sure, continue to learn so much from this blog and from my fellow annotators, both their own observations and not least from their recommendations for further reading and research. My sincere thanks to all Pepysians, both past and present, but most of all to Phil himself. Little did he know what he was starting so many years ago.
About Friday 31 July 1668
Mary K • Link
drawing a thing presently
I take it that Pepys is demonstrating on the spot how quickly he can draw up a document using his shorthand skills (thereby impressing Mr. Ashburnham) but then he privately blames this writing system for his eyesight problems.
About Thursday 30 July 1668
Mary K • Link
Charles II had a more intimate relationship with 'Bab' (Baptist) May, cousin of this Mr. May, who Pepys regarded as the king's pimp.
About Sunday 26 July 1668
Mary K • Link
Arguably the greatest enduring love of Charles's life was that for his sister, Minette, the wife of The Duke of Orleans, brother to Louis IX. Their letters to one another, "My Dearest Minette" edited by Ruth Norrington, reveal a deep love and mutual respect expressed between brother and sister. The book, though first published in 1996, is still available in paperback. Another Pepsian annotator mentioned the same book quite recently.
About Friday 3 July 1668
Mary K • Link
"set down presently what I had done and said..."
i.e. at once, without delay.
About Friday 26 June 1668
Mary K • Link
Ensign commonly pronounced ens'n in everyday speech. Hence confusion perhaps?
About Friday 26 June 1668
Mary K • Link
ancient = ensign, I presume.
About Sunday 24 May 1668
Mary K • Link
Whatever the definition (colloquial or official) of sunrise, twilight etc. at this precise time (25th May 2021) a clear sky in the London area brings quite enough light at 3 a.m GMT (4 a.m. British Summer Time) for trouble-free and well-lit journeys away from home.
About Friday 24 October 1662
Mary K • Link
A passing thought - could the mustard here refer to mustard greens? (Called collard greens in the USA I believe). It would perhaps be easier to cover a dish of tripes with mustard greens ( a kind of brassica) that with dried mustard.
About Friday 15 May 1668
Mary K • Link
"did shew me her closet..."
If one was invited to see the treasures and curiosities that such a closet housed, it was considered only polite or de rigueur to add something equally interesting to the collection. Presumably Pepys had not expected to be granted the honour of this private view, and so went unprovided.