Another thought on Penn: auditors will tell you, if you think there's someone on the fiddle in your organisation look for the one who never takes a holiday. I can imagine Penn, somewhat awkwardly, over dinner: "Pepys, old boy, Mr Wilkins may call into the office with a small packet - no need to open it, just send it on to me."
At night to supper and bed. I'm on my second reading of Sam's diary and it has only just occurred to me (after 10 + years), why does he mention going to bed so frequently? Considering all the stuff he omits, to our occasional distress, why mention something so commonplace?
When I still went to church as a child all sermons seemed dull and flat. I wonder if 17th c. sermons (quite apart from the content) were delivered in a more theatrical style? Does anyone know?
Way off the 17th century, but this reminds me irresistibly of the music hall comedian Max Miller in the "innocent" days before sex was invented in the 1960's:
I love the girls that do, I love the girls that don't. I hate the girls who say they will and then who say they won't. But the ones I love the best, and I think you'll say I'm right, are the ones who say they never would - but look as though they mi...'ere!
when he comes to tell the King his secret (for none but the Kings, successively, and their heirs must know it), Reminds me of the old sketch of Ronald Reagan being shown a vast, empty hangar: "THERE'S your stealth bomber!"
"drawing up an answer to several demands of my Lord Treasurer, and late at it till 2 o’clock. Then to dinner" Late at it? What time did they start, I wonder. The resentful cry of the civil servant echoes down the centuries. AND they had to go back to the office after lunch !
A small query, but how would you lose a sword in a coach? Surely the scabbard and sword hung from a belt - or did gentlemen unshackle themselves each time they sat down?
A bit late in the day to join in this discussion, but I wonder if the Sir Williams' real problem was that Sam had all the details at his fingertips when decisions needed to be made. My impression of them from his past comments is that they couldn't be bothered to get down to the nitty-gritty themselves. It would have been fascinating to hear how Sam tactfully pointed this out - he was not yet in a position to say: "Look it up yourselves, you lazy b............'s"
" the reason whereof every body knows" Can't remember who said around the time of Edward VII: "No greater loyalty than a man should lay down his wife for his king"
" all the afternoon at home to put my papers in order." We must remember that Sam had to keep track of two expenditures - personal and business, particularly when they overlapped so often. I assume he claimed expenses for travel, entertaining, etc and he would need detailed records to justify himself against any future complaints. We will see later on when his notebooks are quoted instead of the diary that he even recorded tips to grooms, servants and so on. Also he was not being paid a weekly wage so the reckoning periods could be quite long.
"with some women with him whom he took and me into the tavern" It's unusual for Sam not to name the female company (and describe them). Perhaps they were "no better than they ought to be" as my aunt used to say.
We kept this a holiday, and so went not to the office at all. The fact that he mentions this indicates that it was unusual - or a restoration revival of an old custom.
" since it has pleased God to bless me with something, I am desirous to lay out something for my father," I assume the custom would be to pay the outgoing Mr Young when he retired so Sam is not just asking for a favour, he's putting up a stake on behalf of his father. Good for him.
A small further thought on Sam's worries and complaints about Will, John, Bess, etc. He probably has no-one that he can talk to frankly about these sort of problems - except for his diary.
Comments
Second Reading
About Tuesday 8 July 1662
Tonyel • Link
" I found him a most ingenuous man and good company."
Should this not be "ingenious" ? Whatever else Coventry was, no-one would describe him as naïve.
About Sunday 29 June 1662
Tonyel • Link
Another thought on Penn: auditors will tell you, if you think there's someone on the fiddle in your organisation look for the one who never takes a holiday.
I can imagine Penn, somewhat awkwardly, over dinner: "Pepys, old boy, Mr Wilkins may call into the office with a small packet - no need to open it, just send it on to me."
About Tuesday 3 June 1662
Tonyel • Link
A nice point by the Old Salt about the difference between OF and TO.
The modern equivalents could be Chief Assistant and Assistant Chief.
About Friday 16 May 1662
Tonyel • Link
At night to supper and bed.
I'm on my second reading of Sam's diary and it has only just occurred to me (after 10 + years), why does he mention going to bed so frequently? Considering all the stuff he omits, to our occasional distress, why mention something so commonplace?
About Sunday 11 May 1662
Tonyel • Link
When I still went to church as a child all sermons seemed dull and flat. I wonder if 17th c. sermons (quite apart from the content) were delivered in a more theatrical style? Does anyone know?
About Tuesday 29 April 1662
Tonyel • Link
Way off the 17th century, but this reminds me irresistibly of the music hall comedian Max Miller in the "innocent" days before sex was invented in the 1960's:
I love the girls that do,
I love the girls that don't.
I hate the girls who say they will and then who say they won't.
But the ones I love the best,
and I think you'll say I'm right,
are the ones who say they never would - but look as though they mi...'ere!
About Friday 14 March 1661/62
Tonyel • Link
when he comes to tell the King his secret (for none but the Kings, successively, and their heirs must know it),
Reminds me of the old sketch of Ronald Reagan being shown a vast, empty hangar: "THERE'S your stealth bomber!"
About Thursday 27 February 1661/62
Tonyel • Link
"Pickthank" What a wonderful, expressive word! I shall look for an opportunity to use it.
About Sunday 19 January 1661/62
Tonyel • Link
Phil, congratulations on the new page design - very elegant and most helpful to aging eyes.
About Thursday 9 January 1661/62
Tonyel • Link
"drawing up an answer to several demands of my Lord Treasurer, and late at it till 2 o’clock. Then to dinner"
Late at it? What time did they start, I wonder. The resentful cry of the civil servant echoes down the centuries. AND they had to go back to the office after lunch !
About Wednesday 1 January 1661/62
Tonyel • Link
A small query, but how would you lose a sword in a coach? Surely the scabbard and sword hung from a belt - or did gentlemen unshackle themselves each time they sat down?
About Saturday 21 December 1661
Tonyel • Link
A bit late in the day to join in this discussion, but I wonder if the Sir Williams' real problem was that Sam had all the details at his fingertips when decisions needed to be made. My impression of them from his past comments is that they couldn't be bothered to get down to the nitty-gritty themselves.
It would have been fascinating to hear how Sam tactfully pointed this out - he was not yet in a position to say: "Look it up yourselves, you lazy b............'s"
About Thursday 12 December 1661
Tonyel • Link
Fascinating Terry, but what would have been the motive?
About Saturday 7 December 1661
Tonyel • Link
" the reason whereof every body knows"
Can't remember who said around the time of Edward VII: "No greater loyalty than a man should lay down his wife for his king"
About Tuesday 20 August 1661
Tonyel • Link
" all the afternoon at home to put my papers in order."
We must remember that Sam had to keep track of two expenditures - personal and business, particularly when they overlapped so often. I assume he claimed expenses for travel, entertaining, etc and he would need detailed records to justify himself against any future complaints.
We will see later on when his notebooks are quoted instead of the diary that he even recorded tips to grooms, servants and so on. Also he was not being paid a weekly wage so the reckoning periods could be quite long.
About Friday 26 July 1661
Tonyel • Link
I'm sure you are right Sasha - I had not noticed Mr Hill's calling, my opinions were coloured by my recollections of Popes Head Alley!
About Friday 26 July 1661
Tonyel • Link
"with some women with him whom he took and me into the tavern"
It's unusual for Sam not to name the female company (and describe them). Perhaps they were "no better than they ought to be" as my aunt used to say.
About Monday 24 June 1661
Tonyel • Link
We kept this a holiday, and so went not to the office at all.
The fact that he mentions this indicates that it was unusual - or a restoration revival of an old custom.
About Monday 3 June 1661
Tonyel • Link
" since it has pleased God to bless me with something, I am desirous to lay out something for my father,"
I assume the custom would be to pay the outgoing Mr Young when he retired so Sam is not just asking for a favour, he's putting up a stake on behalf of his father. Good for him.
About Friday 10 May 1661
Tonyel • Link
A small further thought on Sam's worries and complaints about Will, John, Bess, etc.
He probably has no-one that he can talk to frankly about these sort of problems - except for his diary.