CO is cool and all, but I'm still stuck on Pepys' "book of tales." I had never seen a reference to this, and now it makes me wonder if that's where he also may have written down those ghost stories that he mentions hearing (and telling?) earlier this year. I hope this comes to the light of day during my lifetime.
I for one would love to know _how_ he bought the eels. Was it a street vendor? Did he go through the Fishmongers' guild ... market? Maybe he wants to eat them the next day for dinner, because he doesn't mention eating them that night, yet seemed so proud of getting them. Remember, their big meal was dinner - lunch. I'm not sure he bought them for that night's dinner (supper).
So ... "I would conclude myself wronged by Sir Robert, which he granted I should do ... " What does this mean, exactly? It almost sounds like fightin' words - a duel?! - but I would think the compensation or satisfaction of that wrong would be more genteel. Or does it simply mean he could take Sir Robert back to court, with his consent?
And, yes, many thanks to those who, many years ago, explained this all for folks like me who have some trouble following it.
I know it's late in the game to be asking, but, did Sam have a timepiece? He seems to give a fairly definite accounting of time here. I know there were public clocks by this time, but I can't tell if he is consulting one of those, or just making an estimate. Just curious.
And, re: the Rembrandt painting - I have seen it in person, once, and stood for a good while in awe of it.
"It's amazing how much Sam can manage to fit into each day. He makes light of the ride itself, almost like a throw away line. The route will have taken him through my home town of Sutton on his way to places I know well,.. Banstead, Epsom and Sutton. These days there are 37 sets of traffic lights through suburbia on this route through Lambeth, Brixton, Streatham, Mitcham, Sutton and thence to Banstead. Today it takes at least an hour to go the 19 miles. I wonder how long it took on horseback."
I should read ahead, I guess! this is what I was thinking of a couple of days ago when I made my comment about how it would be interesting to try and retrace one of his daily routes. Thanks very much (a decade later) for the modern context of what Pepys is doing, Roger.
And, "et"? I have an image of some old Western movie in my head, but can't think of the actor.
JayW: While reading today's journal entry, I began to wonder how long Sam's days are. Today he got up late (although he never says whether it was later or earlier than the 8 o'clock that he thought), and still managed to pack in a full day of social visits, office work, and letter writing. It would be interesting to try and reconstruct one of his days, although I suspect there aren't many water taxis left in London, correct?
Nice link. And there they have a translation of the motto, as "By Royal patronage trade flourishes, by trade the realm" that I don't think was given above. I have forgotten most of my 8th-grade Latin.
""Being Weary" It appears to me he seldom goes to bed before midnight and rises regularly "betimes" which I have gotten into my head is approximatly 6.00 a.m. No wonder he is sometimes tired. He has also written into his diary in the past 3 days the equivalent of 2500 words. Busy man, it's a pity he takes it out on poor Elizabeth but he seems to have realised he was at fault in this case."
I'm just finishing up a book that was referenced here - "At Day's Close: Night in Times Past," by A. Robert Ekirch. Absolutely fascinating, and he makes a case that sleep habits in those times were much different. People would apparently sleep a few hours, then frequently wake in the middle of the night and take some time to go back to sleep, busying themselves with conversation or other amusements. It's not clear that they anything more than 8 hours - and frequently less - was the norm. So I'm not sure that for someone of his station, Sam is doing anything unusual.
Glad the Diary is back. I visited last night, and was rebuffed.
The very first sentence is interesting: "Waked with great pain in my right ear (which I find myself much subject to) ... " What is he suffering from? It seems to have gone away, because he doesn't mention it for the rest of the day.
Fantastic, StanB, thank you! I looked for it at the Barbers Company website, but could only find the Holbein picture. Thought the cup might have been lost in the Fire or the War.
And, yes, I'm a lurker coming out into daylight. Have been following this diary for about a year. I love it.
Comments
Second Reading
About Saturday 5 December 1663
Jonathan V • Link
CO is cool and all, but I'm still stuck on Pepys' "book of tales." I had never seen a reference to this, and now it makes me wonder if that's where he also may have written down those ghost stories that he mentions hearing (and telling?) earlier this year. I hope this comes to the light of day during my lifetime.
About Thursday 1 October 1663
Jonathan V • Link
Very romantic, David!
About Thursday 1 October 1663
Jonathan V • Link
I for one would love to know _how_ he bought the eels. Was it a street vendor? Did he go through the Fishmongers' guild ... market? Maybe he wants to eat them the next day for dinner, because he doesn't mention eating them that night, yet seemed so proud of getting them. Remember, their big meal was dinner - lunch. I'm not sure he bought them for that night's dinner (supper).
About Wednesday 16 September 1663
Jonathan V • Link
Ah, that sounds sensible. Thanks.
About Wednesday 16 September 1663
Jonathan V • Link
So ... "I would conclude myself wronged by Sir Robert, which he granted I should do ... " What does this mean, exactly? It almost sounds like fightin' words - a duel?! - but I would think the compensation or satisfaction of that wrong would be more genteel. Or does it simply mean he could take Sir Robert back to court, with his consent?
And, yes, many thanks to those who, many years ago, explained this all for folks like me who have some trouble following it.
About Friday 11 September 1663
Jonathan V • Link
I know it's late in the game to be asking, but, did Sam have a timepiece? He seems to give a fairly definite accounting of time here. I know there were public clocks by this time, but I can't tell if he is consulting one of those, or just making an estimate. Just curious.
And, re: the Rembrandt painting - I have seen it in person, once, and stood for a good while in awe of it.
About Saturday 25 July 1663
Jonathan V • Link
"It's amazing how much Sam can manage to fit into each day.
He makes light of the ride itself, almost like a throw away line. The route will have taken him through my home town of Sutton on his way to places I know well,.. Banstead, Epsom and Sutton. These days there are 37 sets of traffic lights through suburbia on this route through Lambeth, Brixton, Streatham, Mitcham, Sutton and thence to Banstead. Today it takes at least an hour to go the 19 miles. I wonder how long it took on horseback."
I should read ahead, I guess! this is what I was thinking of a couple of days ago when I made my comment about how it would be interesting to try and retrace one of his daily routes. Thanks very much (a decade later) for the modern context of what Pepys is doing, Roger.
And, "et"? I have an image of some old Western movie in my head, but can't think of the actor.
About Tuesday 21 July 1663
Jonathan V • Link
Yeah, as soon as I posted that, I figured that there had to be at least one water taxi service. Very cool, thanks.
About Tuesday 21 July 1663
Jonathan V • Link
JayW: While reading today's journal entry, I began to wonder how long Sam's days are. Today he got up late (although he never says whether it was later or earlier than the 8 o'clock that he thought), and still managed to pack in a full day of social visits, office work, and letter writing. It would be interesting to try and reconstruct one of his days, although I suspect there aren't many water taxis left in London, correct?
About Monday 29 June 1663
Jonathan V • Link
Yes, Classical, it is amazing. I always try to picture when he has time to write out his days, almost daily.
About Saturday 23 May 1663
Jonathan V • Link
Nice link. And there they have a translation of the motto, as "By Royal patronage trade flourishes, by trade the realm" that I don't think was given above. I have forgotten most of my 8th-grade Latin.
About Saturday 2 May 1663
Jonathan V • Link
""Being Weary" It appears to me he seldom goes to bed before midnight and rises regularly "betimes" which I have gotten into my head is approximatly 6.00 a.m. No wonder he is sometimes tired. He has also written into his diary in the past 3 days the equivalent of 2500 words. Busy man, it's a pity he takes it out on poor Elizabeth but he seems to have realised he was at fault in this case."
I'm just finishing up a book that was referenced here - "At Day's Close: Night in Times Past," by A. Robert Ekirch. Absolutely fascinating, and he makes a case that sleep habits in those times were much different. People would apparently sleep a few hours, then frequently wake in the middle of the night and take some time to go back to sleep, busying themselves with conversation or other amusements. It's not clear that they anything more than 8 hours - and frequently less - was the norm. So I'm not sure that for someone of his station, Sam is doing anything unusual.
About Tuesday 14 April 1663
Jonathan V • Link
Very interesting, Sasha. The more I read of the Diary, the more intrigued I am by the social implications of everyone's behavior and how it's gauged.
About Friday 27 February 1662/63
Jonathan V • Link
Interesting. Not only is the painting of the King by Holbein, but the cup was designed by him as well, according to the link you provided.
About Saturday 28 February 1662/63
Jonathan V • Link
Glad the Diary is back. I visited last night, and was rebuffed.
The very first sentence is interesting: "Waked with great pain in my right ear (which I find myself much subject to) ... " What is he suffering from? It seems to have gone away, because he doesn't mention it for the rest of the day.
About Friday 27 February 1662/63
Jonathan V • Link
Fantastic, StanB, thank you! I looked for it at the Barbers Company website, but could only find the Holbein picture. Thought the cup might have been lost in the Fire or the War.
And, yes, I'm a lurker coming out into daylight. Have been following this diary for about a year. I love it.