Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning, and then with my two clerks home to dinner, and so back again to the office, and there very late very busy, and so home to supper and to bed.
Well since Sam is so busy working today, here are a few fun work related quotes in his honor ~~nothing uplifting or inspirational here, just a different perspective on the old 9 to 5.
Steve Martin:
“All I've ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work.”
Mark Twain:
“I do not like work even when someone else does it.”
“Work is a necessary evil to be avoided.”
Mark Twain’s definition of a Public Servant, a little too close for comfort to Sam’s time!
“Persons chosen by the people to distribute the graft.
Mark Twain’s view of Procrastination
“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.”
I wonder if building a bureaucratic army of clerks had crossed Pepys mind as a representation of status and power, or would it be considered as a pointless accumulation of rather independent souls as practical as herding cats?
Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning, and then with my two clerks home to dinner, and so back again to the office, and there very late very busy, and so home to supper and to bed.
As we all gather here today We’ve few words with which we can play
After yesterday’s office warning Sam’s makes a quick start of his morning
He busies himself with all his works With the help a few Navy clerks
Office life is a box by Skinner One ding and they all leave for dinner
Then with a lightening fast swish They return to the office
They stay late and they are very busy The workload could make us very dizzy
Supper may be a loaf of bread Dog tired and then off to bed
Maybe tomorrow he’ll pick up the pace As he returns to the Naval rat race.
Written from: On board H.M.S. Great-Gift off the Middle Ground Date: 21 October 1665
On the appearance of the Dutch Fleet of Harwich, the writer caused the buoy of the Gunfleet to be sunk. Reports their strength & movements and desires further orders.
[Communicated by Sir William Penn to Lord Sandwich].
-----
Captain Titus to Arlington
Written from: Margate in Thanet Date: 21 October 1665
The Dutch fleet has, for a long time, been riding between the Longsands Reach and Northsands Head. Now and then, they have sent ships on the back of the Goodwins; and sometimes into Margate Roads, but thence they were started by some dismal honey-combed guns that more endangered the gunners than the enemy.
Jesse: Sam has always had two clerks , one that nearly got Samuell's job , being from the good old days of Cromwell, and then his [ADC ] personal helper who not only had to bring in the morning ale but find Samuel's lost stockings and find the Mayde to delouse Samuel whom went on to be his life time friend. All the Navy office Officers had two penmen to carry out the verbal orders, no Dictaphone then.
Daily moan Parliament have non conforming preachers suppressed, and not be allowed to speak in publick; King gets 1250 quid for supplies Parliament orders to ways to prevent the Plague [ get rid of the cats?]
Parliament is to get laws to prevent the embezzling of prize silks and other goodies ,
see H of C:
Here I be, I thought it could only happen in the 20 C & 21 C that one could nick the Kings goods?
“I did not find this visitation to have taken away in or about the city any person of prime authority or command.” – Roger L’Estrange, Newes, October 21, 1665.
He was probably right as most had long since fled. Early on one alderman had died; the City’s official Remembrancer, coroner, three sheriffs, the master of Newgate, several parish clerks and churchwardens, several overseers and collectors of the poor apparently were not worthy of his notice. -- gleaned from: The Great Plague, Lloyd and Dorothy Moote, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004, pages 220 and 222
Roger L’Estrange’s biography in the House of Commons collection says his “reporting of the second Anglo-Dutch war failed to satisfy the Court, and in 1665 his news-books were superseded by the foundation of the Gazette under the editorship of Joseph Williamson.”
Filling out CGS's comments about the Oxford Parlimentary meetings today:
'Parliament have non-conforming preachers suppressed, and not be allowed to speak in public;' -- this prohibition also includes non-conforming SCHOOLMASTERS.
'King gets 1,250 quid for supplies' -- from both the Commons and the Lords in one day, so Evelyn's letters had been heard: "Supply Bill. The ingrossed Bill for granting the Sum of Twelve hundred and Fifty thousand Pounds to the King's Majesty, for his present further Supply, was read." -- Is that 1,250,000l. or 1,250l.?
'Parliament orders to ways to prevent the Plague [get rid of the cats?]' -- Neighborhood beadles and constables had gone through the streets at the end of June telling householders to kill “all their dogs of what sort or kind soever before Thursday next at ye furthest.’ The deadline passed and negligent pet owners faced prosecution, if the arm of the law could reach them.’ -- The Great Plague, Lloyd and Dorothy Moote, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004, pages 115-116.
TODAY: "Ordered, That Sir John Heath, Lord Gorge, and Mr. Trevor, be added to the Committee to which the Bill for preventing the Spreading of the Plague is committed." -- so it's just more talk.
'Parliament is to get laws to prevent the embezzling of prize silks and other goodies.' -- The lengthy list of MP's to consider how to prevent the embezzlement of prize goods includes a Mr. Forde and Colonel Reames ... but I didn't recognize anyone else besides a Winston Churchill, but he's not the one I remember of course. They scheduled a hearing and requested all paperwork and regulations. The premise leads me to believe Sandwich's letters explaining his actions have been in vain.
'Neighborhood beadles and constables had gone through the streets at the end of June telling householders to kill “all their dogs of what sort or kind soever before Thursday next at ye furthest."'
Yes, they did kill dogs during outbreaks of plague. In the 17th century the "experts" still looked to classical philosophers and doctors as the most knowledgeable and reliable sources of medical information.
The Roman author Titus Lucretius Carus, in his account of the sources and effects of their pestilences, wrote in his poem "De Rerum Natura" that dogs caught the pestilences as well as people: "... above all faithful dogs would lie stretched in all the streets and yield up breath with a struggle; for the power of disease would wrench life from their frame."
The Greek historian Thucydides also said dogs perished besides humans during the great plague at Athens. A popular translation of the Thucydides “by Thomas Nicolls Citezeine and Goldesmyth of London” was published in 1550: "And aboue all othere beastes, the dogges gaue mooste knowlayge of thys infectyonne for that, that they mooste accustomedde to haunte the people."
That Thucydides’ original was as cryptic on the reasons as Nicholls translation only made the relationship between dogs and the plague more mysterious and therefore suspect.
In the accounts of the 1603 plague outbreak in Winchester, there is a payment to a professional dog-killer: "Item, paid to Robert Wells the 19th of June, 1603, for killing of fore-score dogs, 6s. 8d."
Sadly, in Early Modern plague times, human corpses ended up lying in the streets and being devoured by stray dogs. Also, weak and sickly frightened people probably emboldened packs of dogs to defend what they saw as their territory. Fangs were probably bared in bad times with much greater frequency than in good times so, unpleasant as it is to think about it, killing the dogs did marginally help break the chain of infection, and made the streets generally safer.
Experts today agree that the dogs did not catch the Early Modern plague. As to what ailed the Athenians and Romans, who knows.
Sources: De Rerum Natura Libri Sex. (H. A. J. Munro tr.) (1891), III.182.
The hystory writtone by Thucidides the Athenyan of the warre, whiche was betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenyans, translated oute of Frenche into the En∣glysh language by Thomas Nicolls Citezeine and Goldesmyth of London.
Simpson, W. J. A Treatise on Plague (1905), 342. The plague order of 35 Henry VIII (1543) reads: “That all persons having any dogs in their houses other than hounds, spaniels or mastiffs, necessary for the custody or safe keeping of their houses, should forthwith convey them out of the city, or cause them to be killed and carried out of the city and buried at the common laystall …”
“Churchwardens Accompts of St. Margaret’s, Winchester.” Nichols, John: Illustrations of the Manners and Expences of Antient Times in England.
Fortunately, there is no campaign to kill dogs (or cats) during the current COVID19 pandemic. Actually sales and adoptions of dogs have soared as we cope with lockdowns and being cooped up in our homes.
13 Annotations
First Reading
jeannine • Link
After yesterday's admission that he is behind in work, today it's all work and no play! Must be a 'catch up' day.
jeannine • Link
Well since Sam is so busy working today, here are a few fun work related quotes in his honor ~~nothing uplifting or inspirational here, just a different perspective on the old 9 to 5.
Steve Martin:
“All I've ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work.”
Mark Twain:
“I do not like work even when someone else does it.”
“Work is a necessary evil to be avoided.”
Mark Twain’s definition of a Public Servant, a little too close for comfort to Sam’s time!
“Persons chosen by the people to distribute the graft.
Mark Twain’s view of Procrastination
“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.”
Oscar Wilde
“Work is the curse of the drinking classes”
Robert Gertz • Link
Pity Sam has so little to say about Mrs. Clerke's place.
Just In From Heaven...And by the same post carrier Sam missed yesterday.
"I wouldn't say so, sir.
Yours,
Elisabeth St. Michel Pepys."
Followed ten minutes later by...
"My dear Sir,
You have done me great service this day. My thanks.
Please be so good as to explain why my wife should be writing you letters?
Your obt servant,
Samuel Pepys, Esq."
Jesse • Link
"with my two clerks"
I wonder if building a bureaucratic army of clerks had crossed Pepys mind as a representation of status and power, or would it be considered as a pointless accumulation of rather independent souls as practical as herding cats?
jeannine • Link
Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning, and then with my two clerks home to dinner, and so back again to the office, and there very late very busy, and so home to supper and to bed.
As we all gather here today
We’ve few words with which we can play
After yesterday’s office warning
Sam’s makes a quick start of his morning
He busies himself with all his works
With the help a few Navy clerks
Office life is a box by Skinner
One ding and they all leave for dinner
Then with a lightening fast swish
They return to the office
They stay late and they are very busy
The workload could make us very dizzy
Supper may be a loaf of bread
Dog tired and then off to bed
Maybe tomorrow he’ll pick up the pace
As he returns to the Naval rat race.
Terry Foreman • Link
John Evelyn's Diary (in lieu of Dirk's posting it)
21 I came from Gravesend where Sir Jo: Griffith the Governor of the fort, entertaind me very handsomly:
dirk • Link
From the Carte Papers, Bodleian Library
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/s…
-----
Captain John Reynolds [to Sir William Penn]
Written from: On board H.M.S. Great-Gift off the Middle Ground
Date: 21 October 1665
On the appearance of the Dutch Fleet of Harwich, the writer caused the buoy of the Gunfleet to be sunk. Reports their strength & movements and desires further orders.
[Communicated by Sir William Penn to Lord Sandwich].
-----
Captain Titus to Arlington
Written from: Margate in Thanet
Date: 21 October 1665
The Dutch fleet has, for a long time, been riding between the Longsands Reach and Northsands Head. Now and then, they have sent ships on the back of the Goodwins; and sometimes into Margate Roads, but thence they were started by some dismal honey-combed guns that more endangered the gunners than the enemy.
cgs • Link
Jesse: Sam has always had two clerks , one that nearly got Samuell's job , being from the good old days of Cromwell, and then his [ADC ] personal helper who not only had to bring in the morning ale but find Samuel's lost stockings and find the Mayde to delouse Samuel whom went on to be his life time friend.
All the Navy office Officers had two penmen to carry out the verbal orders, no Dictaphone then.
cgs • Link
Daily moan
Parliament have non conforming preachers suppressed, and not be allowed to speak in publick;
King gets 1250 quid for supplies
Parliament orders to ways to prevent the Plague [ get rid of the cats?]
Parliament is to get laws to prevent the embezzling of prize silks and other goodies ,
see H of C:
Here I be, I thought it could only happen in the 20 C & 21 C that one could nick the Kings goods?
Second Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
“I did not find this visitation to have taken away in or about the city any person of prime authority or command.” – Roger L’Estrange, Newes, October 21, 1665.
He was probably right as most had long since fled. Early on one alderman had died; the City’s official Remembrancer, coroner, three sheriffs, the master of Newgate, several parish clerks and churchwardens, several overseers and collectors of the poor apparently were not worthy of his notice. -- gleaned from: The Great Plague, Lloyd and Dorothy Moote, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004, pages 220 and 222
Roger L’Estrange’s biography in the House of Commons collection says his “reporting of the second Anglo-Dutch war failed to satisfy the Court, and in 1665 his news-books were superseded by the foundation of the Gazette under the editorship of Joseph Williamson.”
San Diego Sarah • Link
Filling out CGS's comments about the Oxford Parlimentary meetings today:
'Parliament have non-conforming preachers suppressed, and not be allowed to speak in public;' -- this prohibition also includes non-conforming SCHOOLMASTERS.
'King gets 1,250 quid for supplies' -- from both the Commons and the Lords in one day, so Evelyn's letters had been heard: "Supply Bill.
The ingrossed Bill for granting the Sum of Twelve hundred and Fifty thousand Pounds to the King's Majesty, for his present further Supply, was read."
-- Is that 1,250,000l. or 1,250l.?
'Parliament orders to ways to prevent the Plague [get rid of the cats?]' -- Neighborhood beadles and constables had gone through the streets at the end of June telling householders to kill “all their dogs of what sort or kind soever before Thursday next at ye furthest.’ The deadline passed and negligent pet owners faced prosecution, if the arm of the law could reach them.’ -- The Great Plague, Lloyd and Dorothy Moote, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004, pages 115-116.
TODAY: "Ordered, That Sir John Heath, Lord Gorge, and Mr. Trevor, be added to the Committee to which the Bill for preventing the Spreading of the Plague is committed." -- so it's just more talk.
'Parliament is to get laws to prevent the embezzling of prize silks and other goodies.' -- The lengthy list of MP's to consider how to prevent the embezzlement of prize goods includes a Mr. Forde and Colonel Reames ... but I didn't recognize anyone else besides a Winston Churchill, but he's not the one I remember of course. They scheduled a hearing and requested all paperwork and regulations. The premise leads me to believe Sandwich's letters explaining his actions have been in vain.
see H of C: https://www.british-history.ac.uk…
San Diego Sarah • Link
'Neighborhood beadles and constables had gone through the streets at the end of June telling householders to kill “all their dogs of what sort or kind soever before Thursday next at ye furthest."'
Yes, they did kill dogs during outbreaks of plague. In the 17th century the "experts" still looked to classical philosophers and doctors as the most knowledgeable and reliable sources of medical information.
The Roman author Titus Lucretius Carus, in his account of the sources and effects of their pestilences, wrote in his poem "De Rerum Natura" that dogs caught the pestilences as well as people:
"... above all faithful dogs would lie stretched in all the streets and yield up breath with a struggle; for the power of disease would wrench life from their frame."
The Greek historian Thucydides also said dogs perished besides humans during the great plague at Athens. A popular translation of the Thucydides “by Thomas Nicolls Citezeine and Goldesmyth of London” was published in 1550:
"And aboue all othere beastes, the dogges gaue mooste knowlayge of thys infectyonne for that, that they mooste accustomedde to haunte the people."
That Thucydides’ original was as cryptic on the reasons as Nicholls translation only made the relationship between dogs and the plague more mysterious and therefore suspect.
In the accounts of the 1603 plague outbreak in Winchester, there is a payment to a professional dog-killer:
"Item, paid to Robert Wells the 19th of June, 1603, for killing of fore-score dogs, 6s. 8d."
Sadly, in Early Modern plague times, human corpses ended up lying in the streets and being devoured by stray dogs. Also, weak and sickly frightened people probably emboldened packs of dogs to defend what they saw as their territory. Fangs were probably bared in bad times with much greater frequency than in good times so, unpleasant as it is to think about it, killing the dogs did marginally help break the chain of infection, and made the streets generally safer.
Experts today agree that the dogs did not catch the Early Modern plague. As to what ailed the Athenians and Romans, who knows.
Sources:
De Rerum Natura Libri Sex. (H. A. J. Munro tr.) (1891), III.182.
The hystory writtone by Thucidides the Athenyan of the warre, whiche was betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenyans, translated oute of Frenche into the En∣glysh language by Thomas Nicolls Citezeine and Goldesmyth of London.
Simpson, W. J. A Treatise on Plague (1905), 342. The plague order of 35 Henry VIII (1543) reads: “That all persons having any dogs in their houses other than hounds, spaniels or mastiffs, necessary for the custody or safe keeping of their houses, should forthwith convey them out of the city, or cause them to be killed and carried out of the city and buried at the common laystall …”
“Churchwardens Accompts of St. Margaret’s, Winchester.” Nichols, John: Illustrations of the Manners and Expences of Antient Times in England.
jimmigee • Link
Fortunately, there is no campaign to kill dogs (or cats) during the current COVID19 pandemic. Actually sales and adoptions of dogs have soared as we cope with lockdowns and being cooped up in our homes.