I Read Therefore I Am discussion
Diaries and Journals
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Mr Pepys' Diary daily
message 601:
by
Hilary
(new)
Dec 16, 2013 02:12PM
Sorry Tracey but as they say on Would I Lie To You, it is unfortunately ..... True. Neither of us covered ourselves in glory that day.
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Sunday 16 December 1660
In the morning to church, and then dined at home. In the afternoon I to White Hall, where I was surprised with the news of a plot against the King’s person and my Lord Monk’s; and that since last night there are about forty taken up on suspicion; and, amongst others, it was my lot to meet with Simon Beale, the Trumpeter, who took me and Tom Doling into the Guard in Scotland Yard, and showed us Major-General Overton, where I heard him deny that he is guilty of any such things; but that whereas it is said that he is found to have brought many arms to town, he says it is only to sell them, as he will prove by oath.
From thence with Tom Doling and Boston and D. Vines (whom we met by the way) to Price’s, and there we drank, and in discourse I learnt a pretty trick to try whether a woman be a maid or no, by a string going round her head to meet at the end of her nose, which if she be not will come a great way beyond.
Thence to my Lady’s and staid with her an hour or two talking of the Duke of York and his lady, the Chancellor’s daughter, between whom, she tells me, that all is agreed and he will marry her. But I know not how true yet.
It rained hard, and my Lady would have had me have the coach, but I would not, but to my father’s, where I met my wife, and there supped, and after supper by link home and to bed.
In the morning to church, and then dined at home. In the afternoon I to White Hall, where I was surprised with the news of a plot against the King’s person and my Lord Monk’s; and that since last night there are about forty taken up on suspicion; and, amongst others, it was my lot to meet with Simon Beale, the Trumpeter, who took me and Tom Doling into the Guard in Scotland Yard, and showed us Major-General Overton, where I heard him deny that he is guilty of any such things; but that whereas it is said that he is found to have brought many arms to town, he says it is only to sell them, as he will prove by oath.
From thence with Tom Doling and Boston and D. Vines (whom we met by the way) to Price’s, and there we drank, and in discourse I learnt a pretty trick to try whether a woman be a maid or no, by a string going round her head to meet at the end of her nose, which if she be not will come a great way beyond.
Thence to my Lady’s and staid with her an hour or two talking of the Duke of York and his lady, the Chancellor’s daughter, between whom, she tells me, that all is agreed and he will marry her. But I know not how true yet.
It rained hard, and my Lady would have had me have the coach, but I would not, but to my father’s, where I met my wife, and there supped, and after supper by link home and to bed.
Well! - here's some info a helpful person tracked down about the string test:
The test was accomplished as follows.
A string or ribbon would be wrapped around the head vertically, not horizontally, from the bone crest at the base of the skull above the spine, wrapping up and over the top of the head, coming down the forehead and going to the tip of the nose.
A mark would be put on the string/ribbon at the point where it touched the tip of the nose.
Then -- and this was considered the critical bit -- the string/ribbon would be wound around the young woman's neck. If the ends just met, she was a virgin. If her neck was substantially wider than the string was long, on the other hand, she was not. There is a hint in the later source that some people erroneously thought the same to be true if the string proved substantially overlong, and overlapped itself on being wrapped around the neck, suggesting that depending on where you were and/or who you asked, any deviation from the desired result (the string being *exactly* the right length to go around the neck) would be interpreted as proof of non-virginity.
- a big chance of losing the test then!
The test was accomplished as follows.
A string or ribbon would be wrapped around the head vertically, not horizontally, from the bone crest at the base of the skull above the spine, wrapping up and over the top of the head, coming down the forehead and going to the tip of the nose.
A mark would be put on the string/ribbon at the point where it touched the tip of the nose.
Then -- and this was considered the critical bit -- the string/ribbon would be wound around the young woman's neck. If the ends just met, she was a virgin. If her neck was substantially wider than the string was long, on the other hand, she was not. There is a hint in the later source that some people erroneously thought the same to be true if the string proved substantially overlong, and overlapped itself on being wrapped around the neck, suggesting that depending on where you were and/or who you asked, any deviation from the desired result (the string being *exactly* the right length to go around the neck) would be interpreted as proof of non-virginity.
- a big chance of losing the test then!
How many lives were ruined by the string test I wonder! Strange!
It would be interesting to know how seriously it was treated.
Monday 17 December 1660
All day looking after my workmen, only in the afternoon to the office where both Sir Williams were come from Woolwich, and tell us that, contrary to their expectations, the Assurance is got up, without much damage to her body, only to the goods that she hath within her, which argues her to be a strong, good ship.
This day my parlour is gilded, which do please me well.
All day looking after my workmen, only in the afternoon to the office where both Sir Williams were come from Woolwich, and tell us that, contrary to their expectations, the Assurance is got up, without much damage to her body, only to the goods that she hath within her, which argues her to be a strong, good ship.
This day my parlour is gilded, which do please me well.
A gilded parlour, bet that's expensive, no wonder he's keeping an eye on the workmen
Surely he must have decorated his whole house by now - or perhaps hes's gone back to the beginning and started again!
Tuesday 18 December 1660
All day at home, without stirring at all, looking after my workmen.
All day at home, without stirring at all, looking after my workmen.
Those poor workmen - I hope he made them lots of the 1660s version of large mugs of tea.
I think they deserve some of the ale and oysters myself after what they are having to put up with!
Wednesday 19 December 1660
At noon I went and dined with my Lady at Whitehall, and so back again to the office, and after that home to my workmen. This night Mr. Gauden sent me a great chine of beef and half a dozen of tongues.
At noon I went and dined with my Lady at Whitehall, and so back again to the office, and after that home to my workmen. This night Mr. Gauden sent me a great chine of beef and half a dozen of tongues.
The chine of beef would be OK - I'll pass on the tongues as well!
Thursday 20 December 1660
All day at home with my workmen, that I may get all done before Christmas. This day I hear that the Princess Royal has the small pox.
All day at home with my workmen, that I may get all done before Christmas. This day I hear that the Princess Royal has the small pox.
Come on Sam give the workmen and us a break and do something interesting !
Friday 21 December 1660
By water to Whitehall (leaving my wife at Whitefriars going to my father’s to buy her a muff and mantle), there I signed many things at the Privy Seal, and carried 200l. from thence to the Exchequer, and laid it up with Mr. Hales, and afterwards took him and W. Bowyer to the Swan and drank with them. They told me that this is St. Thomas’s [day], and that by an old custom, this day the Exchequer men had formerly, and do intend this night to have a supper; which if I could I promised to come to, but did not.
To my Lady’s, and dined with her: she told me how dangerously ill the Princess Royal is and that this morning she was said to be dead. But she hears that she hath married herself to young Jermyn, which is worse than the Duke of York’s marrying the Chancellor’s daughter, which is now publicly owned.
After dinner to the office all the afternoon. At seven at night I walked through the dirt to Whitehall to see whether my Lord be come to town, and I found him come and at supper, and I supped with him. He tells me that my aunt at Brampton has voided a great stone (the first time that ever I heard she was troubled therewith) and cannot possibly live long, that my uncle is pretty well, but full of pain still.
After supper home and to bed.
By water to Whitehall (leaving my wife at Whitefriars going to my father’s to buy her a muff and mantle), there I signed many things at the Privy Seal, and carried 200l. from thence to the Exchequer, and laid it up with Mr. Hales, and afterwards took him and W. Bowyer to the Swan and drank with them. They told me that this is St. Thomas’s [day], and that by an old custom, this day the Exchequer men had formerly, and do intend this night to have a supper; which if I could I promised to come to, but did not.
To my Lady’s, and dined with her: she told me how dangerously ill the Princess Royal is and that this morning she was said to be dead. But she hears that she hath married herself to young Jermyn, which is worse than the Duke of York’s marrying the Chancellor’s daughter, which is now publicly owned.
After dinner to the office all the afternoon. At seven at night I walked through the dirt to Whitehall to see whether my Lord be come to town, and I found him come and at supper, and I supped with him. He tells me that my aunt at Brampton has voided a great stone (the first time that ever I heard she was troubled therewith) and cannot possibly live long, that my uncle is pretty well, but full of pain still.
After supper home and to bed.
Thank goodness he's left the workmen in peace !
Bet they're relieved - as must be his Aunt. I wonder if it was a kidney stone or just something else they didn't understand.
It was only a few days ago that his mother showed him a stone that she'd "voided" and thrown into the hearth!!
Yes it sounds very odd "voiding kidney stones". It's not really possible I think so I'm wondering what these stones are.
This is from an introduction to the diaries
"From a young age Samuel Pepys suffered from kidney stones in his urinary tract, a condition from which his mother and brother John also later suffered. He was almost never without pains as well as other symptoms including blood in the urine" ......"In 1657 Pepys took the decision to have surgery, this cannot have been an easy option as the operation was known to be especially painful and hazardous. Nevertheless , Pepys consulted Thomas Hollier, a surgeon and on the 26th March 1658 the operation took place in a bedroom at the house of Pepys' cousin Jane Turner"
The operation was successful and for several years he held a celebration on it's anniversary. However experts think that the operation may well have left him unable to have children and late in life the incision in his bladder broke open again.
Poor Mr Pepys
"From a young age Samuel Pepys suffered from kidney stones in his urinary tract, a condition from which his mother and brother John also later suffered. He was almost never without pains as well as other symptoms including blood in the urine" ......"In 1657 Pepys took the decision to have surgery, this cannot have been an easy option as the operation was known to be especially painful and hazardous. Nevertheless , Pepys consulted Thomas Hollier, a surgeon and on the 26th March 1658 the operation took place in a bedroom at the house of Pepys' cousin Jane Turner"
The operation was successful and for several years he held a celebration on it's anniversary. However experts think that the operation may well have left him unable to have children and late in life the incision in his bladder broke open again.
Poor Mr Pepys
Saturday 22 December 1660
All the morning with my painters, who will make an end of all this day I hope. At noon I went to the Sun tavern; on Fish Street hill, to a dinner of Captn. Teddimans, where was my Lord Inchiquin (who seems to be a very fine person), Sir W. Pen, Captn. Cuttance, and one Mr. Lawrence (a fine gentleman now going to Algiers), and other good company, where we had a very fine dinner, good musique, and a great deal of wine. We staid here very late, at last Sir W. Pen and I home together, he so overcome with wine that he could hardly go; I was forced to lead him through the streets and he was in a very merry and kind mood. I home (found my house clear of the workmen and their work ended), my head troubled with wine, and I very merry went to bed, my head akeing all night.
All the morning with my painters, who will make an end of all this day I hope. At noon I went to the Sun tavern; on Fish Street hill, to a dinner of Captn. Teddimans, where was my Lord Inchiquin (who seems to be a very fine person), Sir W. Pen, Captn. Cuttance, and one Mr. Lawrence (a fine gentleman now going to Algiers), and other good company, where we had a very fine dinner, good musique, and a great deal of wine. We staid here very late, at last Sir W. Pen and I home together, he so overcome with wine that he could hardly go; I was forced to lead him through the streets and he was in a very merry and kind mood. I home (found my house clear of the workmen and their work ended), my head troubled with wine, and I very merry went to bed, my head akeing all night.
Mod
Hope so we're making Mojitos and White Russians this year :0)
Well done mum - I'm on the cava :0)
Sunday 23 December 1660
(Lord’s day). In the morning to Church, where our pew all covered with rosemary and baize. A stranger made a dull sermon.
Home and found my wife and maid with much ado had made shift to spit a great turkey sent me this week from Charles Carter, my old colleague, now minister in Huntingdonshire, but not at all roasted, and so I was fain to stay till two o’clock, and after that to church with my wife, and a good sermon there was, and so home.
All the evening at my book, and so to supper and to bed.
(Lord’s day). In the morning to Church, where our pew all covered with rosemary and baize. A stranger made a dull sermon.
Home and found my wife and maid with much ado had made shift to spit a great turkey sent me this week from Charles Carter, my old colleague, now minister in Huntingdonshire, but not at all roasted, and so I was fain to stay till two o’clock, and after that to church with my wife, and a good sermon there was, and so home.
All the evening at my book, and so to supper and to bed.
Some traditions never change do they?
Monday 24 December 1660
In the morning to the office and Commissioner Pett (who seldom comes there) told me that he had lately presented a piece of plate (being a couple of flaggons) to Mr. Coventry, but he did not receive them, which also put me upon doing the same too; and so after dinner I went and chose a payre of candlesticks to be made ready for me at Alderman Backwell’s. To the office again in the afternoon till night, and so home, and with the painters till 10 at night, making an end of my house and the arch before my door, and so this night I was rid of them and all other work, and my house was made ready against to-morrow being Christmas day. This day the Princess Royal died at Whitehall.
In the morning to the office and Commissioner Pett (who seldom comes there) told me that he had lately presented a piece of plate (being a couple of flaggons) to Mr. Coventry, but he did not receive them, which also put me upon doing the same too; and so after dinner I went and chose a payre of candlesticks to be made ready for me at Alderman Backwell’s. To the office again in the afternoon till night, and so home, and with the painters till 10 at night, making an end of my house and the arch before my door, and so this night I was rid of them and all other work, and my house was made ready against to-morrow being Christmas day. This day the Princess Royal died at Whitehall.
Typical of our Sam - he hears that a particular influential person is likely to refuse presents and so buys him something costly - secure in the knowledge that he'll be able to take it back home with him!!!!
Tuesday 25 December 1660
(Christmas day). In the morning very much pleased to see my house once more clear of workmen and to be clean, and indeed it is so, far better than it was that I do not repent of my trouble that I have been at.
In the morning to church, where Mr. Mills made a very good sermon. After that home to dinner, where my wife and I and my brother Tom (who this morning came to see my wife’s new mantle put on, which do please me very well), to a good shoulder of mutton and a chicken. After dinner to church again, my wife and I, where we had a dull sermon of a stranger, which made me sleep, and so home, and I, before and after supper, to my lute and Fuller’s History, at which I staid all alone in my chamber till 12 at night, and so to bed.
(Christmas day). In the morning very much pleased to see my house once more clear of workmen and to be clean, and indeed it is so, far better than it was that I do not repent of my trouble that I have been at.
In the morning to church, where Mr. Mills made a very good sermon. After that home to dinner, where my wife and I and my brother Tom (who this morning came to see my wife’s new mantle put on, which do please me very well), to a good shoulder of mutton and a chicken. After dinner to church again, my wife and I, where we had a dull sermon of a stranger, which made me sleep, and so home, and I, before and after supper, to my lute and Fuller’s History, at which I staid all alone in my chamber till 12 at night, and so to bed.
Not a very exciting Christmas Day - I guess it was only recently that Christmas celebrations were banned altogether.
Hopefully Sam has more fun next year.
By the way, if anyone fancies a Readalong with Sam you can download Fuller's Church history of Britain here
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=AW...
Hopefully Sam has more fun next year.
By the way, if anyone fancies a Readalong with Sam you can download Fuller's Church history of Britain here
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=AW...
Yes. Have to admit I was expecting something a little more interesting. And what happened to his turkey!
If I'm right and a mantle was a sort of Cape - why did his brother come to see it put on and why was he pleased?
Sam's dad is a tailor so perhaps he made said mantle, and perhaps Tom works for his dad and so wanted to make sure that it fitted and looked generally lovely???
