Annotations and comments

Scube has posted 74 annotations/comments since 14 September 2015.

The most recent first…

Comments

Third Reading

About Monday 20 May 1661

Scube  •  Link

SDS - thanks for this. Very interesting.
On the drinking, I wonder about alcohol content. Seems it would be pretty tough to get much work done. Though I guess folks in the 1960s-70s drank a good deal midday as well, judging from shows like Mad Men anyway.

About Tuesday 26 March 1661

Scube  •  Link

"No anesthetics." Raises a question if they knocked him out with alcohol or some other substance. Probably posted earlier, but apologies if I missed it. Also wonder at the survival rate for such surgeries back then. Guess they didn't keep records on that sort of thing, and no malpractice insurance!

About Wednesday 12 December 1660

Scube  •  Link

Any insight on all these pardons Sam is providing? I assume that the pardons are for subjects who may have backed Cromwell, but how does the process work, who provides the pardons, what does Sam have to do with it and how much does he make?

About Sunday 7 October 1660

Scube  •  Link

"I heard Dr. Spurstow preach before the King a poor dry sermon;" and "A poor cold sermon of Dr. Lambs." Two poor sermons on a single Sunday, one dry and one cold. And I wonder how many sermons Sam critiqued in his diary and how many were good, fair or poor.

About Tuesday 4 September 1660

Scube  •  Link

Would one of you far more knowledgeable folks please remind or explain the wager that Mr. Moore lost? Thanks

About Friday 6 July 1660

Scube  •  Link

"So to my Lord’s and dined with W. Howe and Sarah, thinking it might be the last time that I might dine with them together." What is the reason that this might be the last time? Apologies if I missed some clear explanation.

About Sunday 17 June 1660

Scube  •  Link

"To Mr. Mossum’s; a good sermon." Sam often remarks on the quality of the sermon. I wonder how many times through the entire diary? Also, as time goes on, it seems he was less enthralled by sermons, and often characterized them as "dull." Or perhaps that is just my impression.

About Saturday 12 May 1660

Scube  •  Link

I too am a bit confused as to how Sam loses sight of both coasts at the same time, not apparently by weather but by movement. One would think that Calais would grow clearer in sight as Dover faded in the distance. Also a question on cards. What games did they play?
Probably been answered before, but if so I missed it.

About Saturday 21 April 1660

Scube  •  Link

Ah yes, JB. The Oyster Bar. It feels as old as the ships in this diary. Nothing like it.

About Saturday 14 April 1660

Scube  •  Link

Yes. Wonder about Joan too. And I wonder if Patrick O'Brian drew inspiration from Pepy's diary. Fascinating that poor Lord Lambert spent the rest of his life in prison when so many others were pardoned either formally or informally.

About Friday 6 April 1660

Scube  •  Link

SDS - thanks and yes it was certainly you who I was crediting with great expertise (as well as insightful posts).
As to the Patrick O'Brian books, the playing of the violins is certainly evocative.

About Friday 6 April 1660

Scube  •  Link

SDH - given your great expertise, do you have any insight re: LKvM's question? Puzzled me as well.

About Wednesday 4 April 1660

Scube  •  Link

ETB - interesting interpretation. That makes sense. Question I have is for which position was Sandwich looking to be chosen? ("At night, my Lord resolved to send the Captain of our ship to Waymouth and promote his being chosen there, which he did put himself into a readiness to do the next morning.") I must have missed it somewhere along the line?

About Saturday 10 March 1659/60

Scube  •  Link

Ensign Tom:

Thanks very much for clearing this up. Appreciate it and look forward to more of your comments.

About Saturday 10 March 1659/60

Scube  •  Link

Question as to Creed's proposal for two secretaries. Was Pepys opposed to this? I take it that is the reason he went to Montagu, but not entirely clear.