Saturday 5 May 1660
All the morning very busy writing letters to London, and a packet to Mr. Downing, to acquaint him with what had been done lately in the fleet. And this I did by my Lord’s command, who, I thank him, did of himself think of doing it, to do me a kindness, for he writ a letter himself to him, thanking him for his kindness to me.
All the afternoon at ninepins, at night after supper good musique, my Lord, Mr. North, I and W. Howe. After that to bed.
This evening came Dr. Clarges to Deal, going to the King; where the towns-people strewed the streets with herbes against his coming, for joy of his going. Never was there so general a content as there is now. I cannot but remember that our parson did, in his prayer to-night, pray for the long life and happiness of our King and dread Soveraign, that may last as long as the sun and moon endureth.
21 Annotations
First Reading
Paul Brewster • Link
I was puzzled by the act of strewing the streets with herbes until I looked in the OED and found this reference ...
1782 S. Pegge Cur. Misc. 45 At Coronations the ground is strewed with flowers by a person ... called the Herbstrewer.
Nix • Link
Consider what the condition of the streets would have been BEFORE laying down a layer of flowers.
ellen • Link
What does/did dread Sovereign mean? Or did Sam know what was coming?
john s. • Link
Ellen..."dread Lord/Sovereign" was common usage for the reigning monarch; just another appelation to indicate who was running the show. Derived from old
usage when the monarch held the power of
life and death over his/her subjects.
Naomi • Link
One definition of dread in the OED is 'held in awe; awful; revered'. The example given from Middle English (no date) is 'Most Dredde Soverayne Lord'.
Hhomeboy • Link
(the) dread...
When used as it is here by Pepys, it is a standard, sentimental honorific and means an office, title, icon or person that is revered or held in universal reverence...after the Jacobite rebellions have run their course, 'dread' as an honorific for a royal is archaic...
By the 1800's dread is more frequently invoked re: something or 'someone' nasty as in the shuddering caused by a ghostly apparition or death's head (see a Christmas Carol)...
(The nastyboy of Britlit Marty Amis' latest--and dreadful--book about Stalin is titled 'Koba the Dread'....obviously Kingsley's lad had spent too much time bending elbows with ex-Trotskyite Hitch, who then denounced him for this shallow tome, which smacks atavistically of Amis p
chip • Link
Has anyone noticed that when Pepys has a long entry, for example yesterday, he seems to "blog" into the diary during the day? Today's shorter entry appears to have been written close to bed, with just an after thought. What do the originals of these resemble?
vincent • Link
"awe and dread" along with respect, bow, and scrape, curtsy,"Yes sir 3 bags full sir " . even before the banning of cane ,fagging and other methods of enforcing respect. One must tremble before ones betters. this be 20th century too "...wolfe from (c.hill p32 the world turned Upside down (17th)) does quote "..we must be careful the supreme power fall not into the people's hands .." another instance of P29 TWTUD "Oatmaker on trial before the High Commission in April 1630, said that he would never take off his hat to Bishops. 'But you will to Privy Councilors,' he was urged. 'Then as you are Privy Councilllors,' quoth he " I put off my hat; but as you are rags of beast, lo! I put it on again .' ref to ed. R.F. Williams, Court and Times of Charles l (1848)p71. This is one reason " awe" has opposite meanings the Psalm one, peasant another.
j a gioia • Link
dread
the word is still a form of respect in west indian usage. a rastafarian's dreadlocks are a reflection of the awe inspired by jah, the creator.
helena murphy • Link
At his trial Charles Stuart was also charged with having overthrown the rights and liberties of the people. He however got the better of his judges, and put his finger on the heart of the nation's dilemma when he said, "It is not my case alone; it is the freedom and liberty of the people of England;and do you pretend what you will, I stand more for their liberties; for,if power without law may make laws, may alter the fundamental laws of the Kingdom, I do not know what subject he is in England that can be sure of his life, or anything he calls his own."
Charles was right as there was no legal precedent or constitutional basis for his trial. During the trial he refused to recognise the court's authority or to make a plea.
vincent • Link
"Dread" :the expression "Dreadful" or "Aweful" weather does invoke Hate and Respect for nature's power.
mw • Link
Chip an interesting observation. I will watch to see if I can pick that pattern. What does the orginal show?
Of interest to me is what Mr Pepys is recording and what that record represents, to him.
For example many musical pursuits, much drinking and socialising but little weather or little food what he is reading? or looking at, landscape architecture? to name others vistas.
vincent • Link
"dread" Dread Sovereign:(as opening for a letter to Charles ll 1660 )
It is without doubt that your Sacred Majesty hath been informed of the loyal services my husband Sir David Kirke did (as his duty) to your royal father of ...............................But, as I have been to your royal father, so I remain,
To your Sacred Majesty's
Most humble subject
and servant,
[signed] Sara Kirke
http://www.heritage.nf.ca/avalon/…
Second Reading
Sasha Clarkson • Link
Think of "Dread" as magisterially inspiring both awe and fear. "Ivan the Dread" is generally regarded by Russophiles to be a far better translation of 'Ivan Grozny', than "Ivan the Terrible".
In the English context, imagine the dread sight of an Old Bailey judge in full regalia wearing the black cap as a sign of his authority to impose the death sentence.
Bill • Link
dread (adj.) revered, deeply honoured, held in awe. Shakespeare used "dread" in this sense over 20 times.
Rosencrantz to Claudius and Gertude: "your dread pleasures"
Robert Watson • Link
Re: "Ivan the Terrible", or "Ivan the Dread" -- "Terrible" didn't have its modern meaning back then, either.
A few quotations from the *Authorised Version* of the Bible (1611):
Psalm 66 verse 3---> "Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee."
Psalm 99 verse3---> "Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy."
Maybe "Ivan the Terrible" is a perfectly good translation.
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
Dr. Thomas Clarges -- brother of Ann Clarges, Monck's laundress at the Tower during his imprisonment 10 years ago. Reading his biograghy changes my view of Ann Clarges Monck.
She must have been like Pall -- the parents put all their efforts into educating the son(s), and Ann stayed at home, running errands, cooking and cleaning. No dowry, she made a bad match, and after a while the husband disappeared. She found a job at the Tower to support herself. She was kind to a political prisoner, and Monck never forgot it.
Moral of the story: No one knows what the future has in store for you, so just keep moving forward. It's probably not going to be "tidy" or logical.
Pall is cousin to Edward Montagu as well. She could easily end up being a maid at the Tower after the parents die, if her brothers don't take care of her.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... a packet to Mr. Downing, to acquaint him with what had been done lately in the fleet. And this I did by my Lord’s command, who, I thank him, did of himself think of doing it, to do me a kindness, for he writ a letter himself to him, thanking him for his kindness to me."
Now that is a grace note if ever I heard of one. Montagu is a gentleman. And he's teaching Pepys how to be one. Pay attention, Pepys. Things like this will take you far in nobleman land.
Eric the Bish • Link
“… our parson did, in his prayer to-night, pray for the long life and happiness of our King and dread Soveraign, that may last as long as the sun and moon endureth.”
By happy coincidence, this appears on the morning of the Coronation of Charles III.
Carol D • Link
Does anyone know if Clarges Street in London, near Berkeley Square, is named after this Dr Clarges. Forty years ago there was a pub on Clarges Street called The Pepys Tavern (or similar).
Terry Foreman • Link
An echo from Commons this day:
Saturday, May 5th, 1660.
Prayers.
Continuing Parliament.
A BILL ingrossed, for continuing this present Parliament, was, this Day, read the Third time.
Resolved, That this be the Title of the Bill, viz. An Act for removing and preventing all Questions and Disputes, concerning the Assembling and Sitting of this present Parliament:
And the said Bill, being put to the Question, passed.
Ordered, That Mr. Finch do carry up this Bill to the Lords.
Deferring Easter Term.
Mr. Francis Bacon reports a Declaration, concerning the putting off some Part of the next Easter Term, until Quinque Pasche; which was read, and committed unto Serjeant Hales, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Mr. Weston, Serjeant Glyn, Mr. Pryn, Mr. Turner, Mr. Charleton, Mr. Francis Bacon; who are presently to withdraw, and amend the said Declaration upon the Debate had in the House. https://www.british-history.ac.uk…