I'm a little surprised at Pepy's generosity towards John Downing. Pepys had gone out on a limb to recommend him to Coventry; it must be a little embarrassing to have to go back and say "Sorry but my man can't deliver". Bribery there may be, but having gotten the patronage you were expected to perform.
We might be a little hard on Sam's treatment of his girl. In the papers this week in my town is an account of how someone who flew into town with measles contracted overseas is now in an isolations ward. And we do have a lot more medicine now.
When I read it, I didn't read "please myself" as "pleasure myself", only as a comment that he liked the idea she would be in the neighborhood. And most of the time the comments to the diary seem to indicate "black" in descriptions to mean brunette, per the encyclopedia https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl… so I imagine that's the case here. I looked up Mingo, and someone quoted At last we made Mingo, Sir W. Batten's black, and Jack, Sir W. Pen's, dance, and it was strange how the first did dance with a great deal of seeming skill.” So it seems in that case, "black" was used as a noun rather than an adjective, making it clearer that the reference is to someone of African descent.
Even with today advantages I have an account for a group trip last year with the bank statement differs from mine by $2, no matter what I do. I'll have to think if there's another way to look at it, "though not perfect".
The two women are presumably the famed beauty Mrs Pierce, and Elizabeth, since Pierce spent the night with Sam. I took a look at their entries but don't know which would be the fair one and which the dark one. To me the portrait of Elizabeth could be either. Does anyone know from another source which might be the blonde and which the "dark lady"?
I thought to "dog someone" was to follow them, and found this dictionary definition that includes that meaning: [often passive] to cause trouble for someone over a long period of time. He has been dogged by persistent back problems. To cause problems for someone or something:let down, hold back, embarrass... to follow someone closely in a way that annoys them. dog (verb) definition and synonyms | Macmillan Dictionary https://www.macmillandictionary.c…
To put in a good word for Sam, apparently after a hard day and many worries, he war rowed "against tide and in the darke and very cold weather to Woolwich, where we had appointed to keepe the night merrily". I'm guessing the whole dance and party at Woolwich was a celebration of his 10th anniversary. Unless there's some October 11th holiday?
If you would like to see the poem Pepys admired so much, the full text of Davenant's The Siege of Rhodes is now available at http://www.operalib.eu/zpdf/siege…
Glyn's picture link seems to have gone bad, but it winds up in the City of London Collage website, where searching "plague" leads to this image which seems to match the description: https://collage.cityoflondon.gov.…
Another note about Dogger Bank: in human times, during the last ice age, Dogger Bank was a large island as the ice reduced the ocean sea level. It formed a land bridge between Britain and the continent. Thus there are conceivably remains of earlier homo sapiens and earlier hominoids under water there.
"but by his owne story his wife hath been ill, and he fain to leave his house and comes not to her, which continuing a trouble to me all the time I was there." Australian Sue interpreted this as Sam thinking he would not leave his wife in such straits. I read it differently, as Sam writing that he was disturbed by the possibly contangious presence of the Alderman, even though the Alderman had left the house and his wife.
St. John's Day is still widely celebrated in Spain and Portugal. I've seen enormous piles of old furniture, many stories tall, taken out for a bonfire in Burgos.
Elizabeth's argument does seem odd. Was it just yesterday she was partying all night? Perhaps a hangover? Or a New Year's resolution? Or like Samuel, just pretending?
Thinking about Alexander's question: "Sam's July 20, 1661, comment that he hopes to best his Uncle Thomas "by pretending bonds as well as a mortgage for the same money, and so as executor have the benefit of the bonds" raises a question about the ethical quality of the legal advice he was getting, doesn't it?" I think Sam might be using the older definition of "pretending", which is "asserting a claim". That is Sam actually has bonds, and is using that to strengthen his claim. That said, I haven't checked to see if there's any other evidence either way, so I can't say which meaning of "pretend" Sam intended.
I think Pepy's unwillingness to be a merchant may be more a good assessment of his own skills and deficiencies than any sort of class prejudice. As the son of a tailor I would expect him willing to try anything that he thinks he can do.
Comments
Second Reading
About Tuesday 8 May 1666
James Morgan • Link
I'm a little surprised at Pepy's generosity towards John Downing. Pepys had gone out on a limb to recommend him to Coventry; it must be a little embarrassing to have to go back and say "Sorry but my man can't deliver". Bribery there may be, but having gotten the patronage you were expected to perform.
About Thursday 3 May 1666
James Morgan • Link
We might be a little hard on Sam's treatment of his girl. In the papers this week in my town is an account of how someone who flew into town with measles contracted overseas is now in an isolations ward. And we do have a lot more medicine now.
About Friday 13 April 1666
James Morgan • Link
When I read it, I didn't read "please myself" as "pleasure myself", only as a comment that he liked the idea she would be in the neighborhood.
And most of the time the comments to the diary seem to indicate "black" in descriptions to mean brunette, per the encyclopedia
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
so I imagine that's the case here.
I looked up Mingo, and someone quoted At last we made Mingo, Sir W. Batten's black, and Jack, Sir W. Pen's, dance, and it was strange how the first did dance with a great deal of seeming skill.” So it seems in that case, "black" was used as a noun rather than an adjective, making it clearer that the reference is to someone of African descent.
About Tuesday 27 March 1666
James Morgan • Link
Even with today advantages I have an account for a group trip last year with the bank statement differs from mine by $2, no matter what I do. I'll have to think if there's another way to look at it, "though not perfect".
About Tuesday 16 January 1665/66
James Morgan • Link
The two women are presumably the famed beauty Mrs Pierce, and Elizabeth, since Pierce spent the night with Sam. I took a look at their entries but don't know which would be the fair one and which the dark one. To me the portrait of Elizabeth could be either. Does anyone know from another source which might be the blonde and which the "dark lady"?
About Tuesday 26 December 1665
James Morgan • Link
Unlike RG, I like the idea that the military commanders show respect for civilian authority and the power of the King.
About Monday 18 December 1665
James Morgan • Link
I thought to "dog someone" was to follow them, and found this dictionary definition that includes that meaning:
[often passive] to cause trouble for someone over a long period of time. He has been dogged by persistent back problems. To cause problems for someone or something:let down, hold back, embarrass... to follow someone closely in a way that annoys them.
dog (verb) definition and synonyms | Macmillan Dictionary
https://www.macmillandictionary.c…
About Saturday 18 November 1665
James Morgan • Link
When I thought of an ill-favored horse, this one from Cat Ballou came to mind:
http://www.cohol.info/cat-ballou-…
About Monday 23 October 1665
James Morgan • Link
Not his daughter-in-law, the daughter-in-law of Pepys landlady, who was pregnant to boot.
About Wednesday 11 October 1665
James Morgan • Link
To put in a good word for Sam, apparently after a hard day and many worries, he war rowed "against tide and in the darke and very cold weather to Woolwich, where we had appointed to keepe the night merrily". I'm guessing the whole dance and party at Woolwich was a celebration of his 10th anniversary.
Unless there's some October 11th holiday?
About Sunday 1 October 1665
James Morgan • Link
If you would like to see the poem Pepys admired so much, the full text of Davenant's The Siege of Rhodes is now available at
http://www.operalib.eu/zpdf/siege…
About Sunday 3 September 1665
James Morgan • Link
Glyn's picture link seems to have gone bad, but it winds up in the City of London Collage website, where searching "plague" leads to this image which seems to match the description:
https://collage.cityoflondon.gov.…
About Tuesday 29 August 1665
James Morgan • Link
It's probably a bit late, but I think in 2008 Robert Gertz meant to call Mercer a gadabout; a gadfly is quite different.
About Thursday 10 August 1665
James Morgan • Link
Another note about Dogger Bank: in human times, during the last ice age, Dogger Bank was a large island as the ice reduced the ocean sea level. It formed a land bridge between Britain and the continent. Thus there are conceivably remains of earlier homo sapiens and earlier hominoids under water there.
About Thursday 10 August 1665
James Morgan • Link
"but by his owne story his wife hath been ill, and he fain to leave his house and comes not to her, which continuing a trouble to me all the time I was there."
Australian Sue interpreted this as Sam thinking he would not leave his wife in such straits. I read it differently, as Sam writing that he was disturbed by the possibly contangious presence of the Alderman, even though the Alderman had left the house and his wife.
About Saturday 24 June 1665
James Morgan • Link
St. John's Day is still widely celebrated in Spain and Portugal. I've seen enormous piles of old furniture, many stories tall, taken out for a bonfire in Burgos.
About Sunday 18 June 1665
James Morgan • Link
I suppose the sudden need for caulkers was related to the recent battle.
About Friday 30 December 1664
James Morgan • Link
Elizabeth's argument does seem odd. Was it just yesterday she was partying all night? Perhaps a hangover? Or a New Year's resolution? Or like Samuel, just pretending?
About Tuesday 27 September 1664
James Morgan • Link
Thinking about Alexander's question:
"Sam's July 20, 1661, comment that he hopes to best his Uncle Thomas "by pretending bonds as well as a mortgage for the same money, and so as executor have the benefit of the bonds" raises a question about the ethical quality of the legal advice he was getting, doesn't it?"
I think Sam might be using the older definition of "pretending", which is "asserting a claim". That is Sam actually has bonds, and is using that to strengthen his claim. That said, I haven't checked to see if there's any other evidence either way, so I can't say which meaning of "pretend" Sam intended.
About Tuesday 2 August 1664
James Morgan • Link
I think Pepy's unwillingness to be a merchant may be more a good assessment of his own skills and deficiencies than any sort of class prejudice. As the son of a tailor I would expect him willing to try anything that he thinks he can do.