I wonder which quarter we are talking about. The current quarter runs from December 25th to Lady Day (March 25th). "Coming on" could be taken to mean 'next quarter' i.e. Lady Day to Midsummer Day. However,it seems more likely that we are concerned with the current quarter, which still has the better part of 2 months (actually 7 weeks) to run (coming on).
Jane was first given her notice on January 5th, just 10 days into the current quarter, and immediately took time off to go and look for another position. One month later she leaves and Sam insists on paying her in full to the end of the quarter in seven weeks' time even though she has only worked a part of it. Elizabeth is especially vexed because this leaves the Pepyses two months out of pocket (behind).
Strictly speaking, Jane and others like her should have been employed on an annual contract which could not be broken in mid-term unless by mutual consent or because of serious misdeeds by the employee or after reasonable cause had been shown to a magistrate. In practice, the letter of the law was by no means always adhered to and many servants were turned out with no notice and little, if any, payment. By contemporary standards Jane has not done badly at all; she's had a month in which to look for another job and I see no suggestion that she was to be cast adrift with no pay at all. The argument between Sam and Elizabeth is about how much she should be paid, not whether she should be given any pay. Jane wants to be paid for the whole quarter, not just for a part of it,and that is what she achieves. Does she calculate that Sam will pay up in order to avoid gossip?
As for the reasons for Jane's dismissal, they are not entirely clear, but on January 5th Sam agrees that "she hath faults and is cunning" (i.e. crafty, devious, sly). On January 6th he reports "they say a little apt to scold - but I hear her not." (But he isn't at home as much as the rest of the household).
There is clearly friction within the household. Whether Jane or Elizabeth is the prime cause of this we cannot tell for sure, but one of them has to go and it's not going to be Mrs. Pepys. That really would get the neighbourhood, the Navy Office and Sam's professional colleagues' tongues wagging.
Let's not forget that we're only hearing Sam's side of the argument, and we all know how many hours a day Sam spends wrapped in the bosom of his extended 'family'. Precious few.
Is Jane such a paragon? We don't know because Sam has no idea how she has been behaving whilst he is out practically all day, every day. He's not too happy with her behaviour now that she's been dismissed. Perhaps he is too ready to accept her account of Elizabeth's behaviour, notably with regard to Tom. Tom is Sam's boy, not Elizabeth's, and it should be up to Sam to see that the lad is properly employed.
Speaking from many years' experience of living in developing countries with live-in servants in the house, I can attest to the fact that it is not always easy to build working relationships that are equally satisfactory to both partners in the employers' marriage.
It will not be many years hence (1689) that Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas" will get it's first performance delivered by the members of a girls' school. Given Sam's complimentary remarks, it's clear that the Blands' kinswoman is herself an accomplished singer. However, as noted above, although this is the first time that he has told of a woman singing in mixed company, it would appear that she sang solo, rather than in consort with any of the men present.
I initially misread this word as 'malthouse' and still have a niggling question in mind. L&M state that there was no madhouse near the Navy Office, but there could have been a malthouse. Does any annotator have enough knowledge of Pepys's shorthand system to be able to tell whether the one word could have been misread for the other?
Sam is making an apparently significant point of the fact that the boy accompanies him today, whereas we've heard nothing of Tom's daily doings for some time. It seems that the boss is adopting the less painful option of removing Tom from the scene of discord (i.e. getting him out from under Jane's feet) rather than taking harsher measures to counteract the alleged spoiling.
Tom has plainly become a great favourite with both Sam and Elizabeth.
I've always assumed that the pronunciation was "Bell-assize' but am ready to be corrected. English proper names can be very misleading, e.g. Wriothesley = 'Risley'.
There could be 3 or 4 constables to a parish (appointed by the incumbent and churchwardens). The office of constable was most unpopular, being poorly paid and representing the lowest grade of local authority office-bearer. The constables were assisted by the parish watchmen 'who were not always conspicuously energetic'.(Picard). A recipe for a patchy service.
L&M suggest that it may have been a distaff, or possibly rock-work made of shells. Certainly OED says that the term 'distaff' could be used for the 'rock' or staff of a hand spinning-wheel upon which the flax to be spun is placed.
I wonder whether it might not have been a geode, with pretty crystals in its interior. Decorative but useless and so capable of being dismissed as a bauble.
"..... and discoursing and faisant ce que je voudrais quant a la toucher: but she would not laisser me faire l'autre thing, though I did what I pouvais to have got her a me le laisser. But I did enough to faire grand plaisir a moy-meme."
trans: and discoursing and doing what I wanted in so far as touching her: but she would not allow me to do the other thing, though I did what I could to have got her to let me do it. But I did enough to give myself great pleasure.
In other words, Jane was prepared to put up with a bit of pawing and fumbling, but she wasn't about to allow Sam to go all the way. Small wonder that Sam needed to change is clothes when he got home; up to two hours indulging in heavy petting in the fields (we've had a bit of a thaw, remember) with an outcome of 'great pleasure' might well lead to the necessity of changing one's clothes.
If annotators restricted their information to that which was only relevant to a particular day's page, this whole blog would lose much, if not most, of its interest and value; it would certainly not have survived for 5 lively years under such narrow restriction, nor would it have achieved a world-wide reputation.
John Evelyn's writings are directly relevant to Pepys. The two men shared an extensive correspondence over a number of years.
In the early days of the diary Sam walked almost everywhere, come rain or shine, winter and summer. These days, having gained in reputation, importance and wealth, he travels about town more and more often by coach.
In the first rank of these did Zimri stand, A man so various that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome: Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong, Was everything by starts, but nothing long: But in the course of one revolving moon Was chymist, fiddler, statesman and buffoon; Then all for women,painting, rhyming, drinking, Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking. Blest madman, who could every hour employ With something new to wish or to enjoy ....
OED gives this as meaning 'a wooden dwelling, booth, shed' when it first appears in English (1632) and hypothesizes that it may have been formed from 'cabanet' either in error or on account of the connexion between taberna and tavern.
By 1652, the meaning 'pot-house, drinking-house' has accrued to it.
The first apothecary to formulate and sell laudanum was one Thomas Sydenham, who introduced this remedy to the English market in 1680. It was a compound of opium, sherry and herbs.
Sam's apparent symptoms (possible constipation and attested sleepiness) could be ascribed to the use of opium, but if this is the case I'm surprised that he hasn't mentioned the substance. He's usually fairly careful to note down exactly what affects his health and, in particular, the circumstances in which his pain returns. Hollyard dined with the Pepyses on 12th January, but no mention was made in that entry of any new prescription.
Some 20 years ago I came across a 'Wanted' advertisement in a London newspaper for '7 yards of leather-bound books in good condition, preferably with matched bindings'. Books can furnish a room in more ways than one.
Comments
First Reading
About Sunday 5 February 1664/65
Mary • Link
"lay in bed most of the morning..."
Sulking?
About Saturday 4 February 1664/65
Mary • Link
"this quarter coming on"
I wonder which quarter we are talking about. The current quarter runs from December 25th to Lady Day (March 25th). "Coming on" could be taken to mean 'next quarter' i.e. Lady Day to Midsummer Day. However,it seems more likely that we are concerned with the current quarter, which still has the better part of 2 months (actually 7 weeks) to run (coming on).
Jane was first given her notice on January 5th, just 10 days into the current quarter, and immediately took time off to go and look for another position. One month later she leaves and Sam insists on paying her in full to the end of the quarter in seven weeks' time even though she has only worked a part of it. Elizabeth is especially vexed because this leaves the Pepyses two months out of pocket (behind).
Strictly speaking, Jane and others like her should have been employed on an annual contract which could not be broken in mid-term unless by mutual consent or because of serious misdeeds by the employee or after reasonable cause had been shown to a magistrate. In practice, the letter of the law was by no means always adhered to and many servants were turned out with no notice and little, if any, payment. By contemporary standards Jane has not done badly at all; she's had a month in which to look for another job and I see no suggestion that she was to be cast adrift with no pay at all. The argument between Sam and Elizabeth is about how much she should be paid, not whether she should be given any pay. Jane wants to be paid for the whole quarter, not just for a part of it,and that is what she achieves. Does she calculate that Sam will pay up in order to avoid gossip?
As for the reasons for Jane's dismissal, they are not entirely clear, but on January 5th Sam agrees that "she hath faults and is cunning" (i.e. crafty, devious, sly). On January 6th he reports "they say a little apt to scold - but I hear her not." (But he isn't at home as much as the rest of the household).
There is clearly friction within the household. Whether Jane or Elizabeth is the prime cause of this we cannot tell for sure, but one of them has to go and it's not going to be Mrs. Pepys. That really would get the neighbourhood, the Navy Office and Sam's professional colleagues' tongues wagging.
About Saturday 4 February 1664/65
Mary • Link
a word for Elizabeth.
Let's not forget that we're only hearing Sam's side of the argument, and we all know how many hours a day Sam spends wrapped in the bosom of his extended 'family'. Precious few.
Is Jane such a paragon? We don't know because Sam has no idea how she has been behaving whilst he is out practically all day, every day. He's not too happy with her behaviour now that she's been dismissed. Perhaps he is too ready to accept her account of Elizabeth's behaviour, notably with regard to Tom. Tom is Sam's boy, not Elizabeth's, and it should be up to Sam to see that the lad is properly employed.
Speaking from many years' experience of living in developing countries with live-in servants in the house, I can attest to the fact that it is not always easy to build working relationships that are equally satisfactory to both partners in the employers' marriage.
About Thursday 2 February 1664/65
Mary • Link
the singing kinswoman.
It will not be many years hence (1689) that Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas" will get it's first performance delivered by the members of a girls' school. Given Sam's complimentary remarks, it's clear that the Blands' kinswoman is herself an accomplished singer. However, as noted above, although this is the first time that he has told of a woman singing in mixed company, it would appear that she sang solo, rather than in consort with any of the men present.
About Wednesday 1 February 1664/65
Mary • Link
"and the people at the madhouse"
I initially misread this word as 'malthouse' and still have a niggling question in mind. L&M state that there was no madhouse near the Navy Office, but there could have been a malthouse. Does any annotator have enough knowledge of Pepys's shorthand system to be able to tell whether the one word could have been misread for the other?
About Wednesday 1 February 1664/65
Mary • Link
"I with the boy..."
Sam is making an apparently significant point of the fact that the boy accompanies him today, whereas we've heard nothing of Tom's daily doings for some time. It seems that the boss is adopting the less painful option of removing Tom from the scene of discord (i.e. getting him out from under Jane's feet) rather than taking harsher measures to counteract the alleged spoiling.
Tom has plainly become a great favourite with both Sam and Elizabeth.
About Tuesday 31 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
How is 'Bellasses' pronounced?
I've always assumed that the pronunciation was "Bell-assize' but am ready to be corrected. English proper names can be very misleading, e.g. Wriothesley = 'Risley'.
About Monday 30 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
constables/watchmen
There could be 3 or 4 constables to a parish (appointed by the incumbent and churchwardens). The office of constable was most unpopular, being poorly paid and representing the lowest grade of local authority office-bearer. The constables were assisted by the parish watchmen 'who were not always conspicuously energetic'.(Picard). A recipe for a patchy service.
About Friday 27 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
those fields.
You're quite right, JTK; I had inadvertently transposed their dalliance from the house to the open air.
About Friday 27 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
that 'rocke'
L&M suggest that it may have been a distaff, or possibly rock-work made of shells. Certainly OED says that the term 'distaff' could be used for the 'rock' or staff of a hand spinning-wheel upon which the flax to be spun is placed.
I wonder whether it might not have been a geode, with pretty crystals in its interior. Decorative but useless and so capable of being dismissed as a bauble.
About Friday 27 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
the missing dalliance.
"..... and discoursing and faisant ce que je voudrais quant a la toucher: but she would not laisser me faire l'autre thing, though I did what I pouvais to have got her a me le laisser. But I did enough to faire grand plaisir a moy-meme."
trans: and discoursing and doing what I wanted in so far as touching her: but she would not allow me to do the other thing, though I did what I could to have got her to let me do it. But I did enough to give myself great pleasure.
In other words, Jane was prepared to put up with a bit of pawing and fumbling, but she wasn't about to allow Sam to go all the way. Small wonder that Sam needed to change is clothes when he got home; up to two hours indulging in heavy petting in the fields (we've had a bit of a thaw, remember) with an outcome of 'great pleasure' might well lead to the necessity of changing one's clothes.
About Thursday 26 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
'relevant to this page'
If annotators restricted their information to that which was only relevant to a particular day's page, this whole blog would lose much, if not most, of its interest and value; it would certainly not have survived for 5 lively years under such narrow restriction, nor would it have achieved a world-wide reputation.
John Evelyn's writings are directly relevant to Pepys. The two men shared an extensive correspondence over a number of years.
About Monday 23 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
Lack of exercise, too?
In the early days of the diary Sam walked almost everywhere, come rain or shine, winter and summer. These days, having gained in reputation, importance and wealth, he travels about town more and more often by coach.
About Wednesday 25 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
Freaking.
See also Dryden's 'Absalom and Achitophel"
In the first rank of these did Zimri stand,
A man so various that he seemed to be
Not one, but all mankind's epitome:
Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong,
Was everything by starts, but nothing long:
But in the course of one revolving moon
Was chymist, fiddler, statesman and buffoon;
Then all for women,painting, rhyming, drinking,
Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking.
Blest madman, who could every hour employ
With something new to wish or to enjoy ....
Zimri = George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham.
About Monday 23 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
cabaret.
OED gives this as meaning 'a wooden dwelling, booth, shed' when it first appears in English (1632) and hypothesizes that it may have been formed from 'cabanet' either in error or on account of the connexion between taberna and tavern.
By 1652, the meaning 'pot-house, drinking-house' has accrued to it.
About Monday 23 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
"laisser aller les femmes.."
Literally 'let women go ..' but the meaning is that he will leave women aside, leave them alone.
About Friday 20 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
Mary.
Miriam, the same thought had occurred to me, but I didn't dare mention it. Pray not.
About Friday 20 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
Different declension.
O *tempora*, o mores
About Thursday 19 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
laudanum.
The first apothecary to formulate and sell laudanum was one Thomas Sydenham, who introduced this remedy to the English market in 1680. It was a compound of opium, sherry and herbs.
Sam's apparent symptoms (possible constipation and attested sleepiness) could be ascribed to the use of opium, but if this is the case I'm surprised that he hasn't mentioned the substance. He's usually fairly careful to note down exactly what affects his health and, in particular, the circumstances in which his pain returns. Hollyard dined with the Pepyses on 12th January, but no mention was made in that entry of any new prescription.
About Wednesday 18 January 1664/65
Mary • Link
Impressively bound books
Some 20 years ago I came across a 'Wanted' advertisement in a London newspaper for '7 yards of leather-bound books in good condition, preferably with matched bindings'. Books can furnish a room in more ways than one.