Thursday 17 April 1662
To Mr. Holliard’s in the morning, thinking to be let blood, but he was gone out. So to White Hall, thinking to have had a Seal at Privy Seal, but my Lord did not come, and so I walked back home and staid within all the afternoon, there being no office kept to-day, but in the evening Sir W. Batten sent for me to tell me that he had this day spoke to the Duke about raising our houses, and he hath given us leave to do it, at which, being glad, I went home merry, and after supper to bed.
12 Annotations
First Reading
Bradford • Link
"To Mr. Holliard's in the morning, thinking to be let blood, but he was gone out.”
Taking physique, being bled—-entertainment varies so much from one century to the next.
Miss Ann • Link
Unless he is suffering from haemochromatosis, letting of blood really wouldn't have helped him. Maybe eating a well-balanced diet, even consuming some vegetables, especially greens, would have had a far greater effect on his system. I would even suggest he have a couple of glasses of fine red wine! Then he would have more than enough vim and vigour to undertake the renovations and "raising of the roof" - DIY can be so draining ...
A. De Araujo • Link
"to be let blood"
Taking physique,being bled-methinks in his mind Sam was thinking he was doing some cleansing of his body; a kind of spring cleaning.
Alan Bedford • Link
Taking physique, being bled - Why, that's your basic mid-17th century wellness program. Pretty much in line with then-current medical thinking. Gets rid of excessive humours, you know.
Thomas Burns • Link
Does anyone know what a "typical" work schedule for a civil servant was during this era? Sam seems to have a great deal of discretion on when he's required to be at the office - tho there've been plenty of entries that have him there to the wee hours as well...
A. Hamilton • Link
To... thinking.... To ... thinking ....
Nice parallels. Seems to me Sam rarely uses rhetoric in the diary. His pleasure at the happy outcome to an otherwise frustrating day shows in the way he records the day.
A. Hamilton • Link
Typical work schedule
It seems that Sam works (hard) when there is work to be done, but otherwise enjoys much liberty. The Navy office is not yet a full-fledged bureaucracy, it seems (though it would be nice to know if Hayter and Hewer and the other clerks are required to show up every day a la Sam Crachitt). Make-work is at a minimum, and Parkinson's Law (work expands to fill the time available for its completion) is not yet in force.
A. Hamilton • Link
Correction
Bob Cratchitt.
Judith Boles • Link
I thought Sam Cratchitt the best of puns...
Cumgranissalis • Link
QU.?"Hayter and Hewer and the other clerks are [they] required to show up every day"?
Hater as a matter of principle, he being the senior clerk for Sam, would be there, most of the time, note Sam has mentioned, it be just He [Sam] and the Principals, the Willies at most times. Coventry be at the meetings with P. James. The other two, Lord Berkeley of Stratton, kept his seat warm in the house of L. and the other, Pett [Peter] appears to stay down at Woolwich.
Thomas Turner, Chief clerk to the controller from oct '60, at a guess, would be there too, most of the Time.
At this time it was less rigid, but scandals and games that be played, the rules had to be made and slowly the organisation that is now known as 'Civil Service ' was evolving. Although I did notice some habits of the early days were still being practiced back in the 60's [20 C.]
Sam's second clerk [W. Hewer or Will on good days] would be Sam's Gofor, Batman, Officially being paid as a clerk but his Salary was kept by Sam for his troubles, as he was also apprenticed to learn the Clerkship for his 'Nunc' the Banker.
Second Reading
Bill • Link
"thinking to be let blood"
BLEEDING. Bleeding is said to be highly necessary in the phrenitis, ophthalmia, quinzy, rheumatism, cough, consumption, hectic fits, and, in general, in all inflammatory cases. Some even make no scruple of bleeding a consumptive patient every other day for several weeks together.
---A New and Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. 1764.
john • Link
Today's entry on blood-letting made me strongly aware that we are reading from the past (especially as I had blood-work done yesterday and I cannot imagine Mr Holliard having the same level of prophylaxis as the technician who took my sample).