The Diary by Samuel Pepys (children's ebooks online TXT) π
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Pepysβ Diary is an incredibly frank decade-long snapshot of the life of an up and coming naval administrator in mid-17th century London. In it he describes everything from battles against the Dutch and the intrigues of court, down to the plays he saw, his marital infidelities, and the quality of the meat provided for his supper. His observations have proved invaluable in establishing an accurate record of the daily life of the people of London of that period.
Pepys eventually stopped writing his diary due to progressively worse eyesight, a condition he feared. He did consider employing an amanuensis to transcribe future entries for him, but worried that the content he wanted written would be too personal. Luckily for Pepys, his eyesight difficulties never progressed to blindness and he was able to go on to become both a Member of Parliament and the President of the Royal Society.
After Pepysβ death he left his large library of books and manuscripts first to his nephew, which was then passed on to Magdalene College, Cambridge, where it survives to this day. The diary, originally written in a shorthand, was included in this trove and was eventually deciphered in the early 19th century, and published by Lord Baybrooke in 1825. This early release censored large amounts of the text, and it was only in the 1970s that an uncensored version was published. Presented here is the 1893 edition, which restores the majority of the originally censored content but omits βa few passages which cannot possibly be printed.β The rich collection of endnotes serve to further illustrate the lives of the people Pepys meets and the state of Englandβs internal politics and international relations at the time.
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- Author: Samuel Pepys
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Pepys refers to the passage in Troylus and Cryseyde (book iii, stanza ccii, lines 1408β ββ 1414):
βAllas! what hath this lovers the agylte?
Dispitous Day, thyn be the pyne of Helle!
For many a lover hastow slayn, and wilt;
Thi pourynge in wol nowher lat hem dwelle:
What? profrestow thi light here for to selle?
Go selle it hem that smale seles grave,
We wol the nought, as nedeth no day have.β
β©
The General Post Office was originally in Cloak Lane, Dowgate Hill, but was subsequently removed to the Black Swan, Bishopsgate. The latter place was destroyed in the Fire of London in 1666. There is no notice of these music meetings in the records of the Post Office. β©
Lord Viscount Brouncker was the first president of the Royal Society after the charter had been obtained, but Sir Robert Moray had been appointed president when the society was first founded, and it was in his honour as a Scotsman that the anniversary meeting was fixed to take place annually on St. Andrewβs Day (November 30th). β©
Portuguese has frequently been treated as a plural, and a false singular, Portuguee, formed from it. See an interesting paper by Mr. Danby P. Fry, βOn the words Chinee, Maltee, Portuguee, Yankee, Pea, Cherry, Sherry, and Shayβ (Philological Societyβs Transactions, 1873β ββ 74, p. 253). β©
An optical instrument used to enable objects to be seen in the dark. The name is derived from the Greek words ΟΞΊΟΟΞΏΟ and ΟΞΊΞΏΟαΌΟ. β©
King Henry was acted by Harris and Owen Tudor by Betterton. Downes says that the βplay was splendidly clothβd. The King in the Duke of Yorkβs coronation suit, Owen Tudor in King Charlesβs, Duke of Burgundy (Smith) in the Lord of Oxfordβs, and the rest all new.β Mrs. Betterton (Ianthe) acted as Princess Katharine. Mrs. Long was the Queen of France, and Mrs. Davis, Anne of Burgundy. β©
Experimental Philosophy in Three Books, Containing New Experiments, Microscopical, Mercurial, Magnetical; London, 1664, by Henry Power (sm. 4to, pp. 192). Mr. F. C. S. Roper, who printed privately in 1865 a Catalogue of Works on the Microscope, described this as the earliest work on the microscope in the English language which he had met with. β©
Servant = lover. β©
Among the State Papers is a letter from Edward Montagu to Secretary Bennet, dated August 29th, 1664, in which he writes, βIf his last proposal do not succeed, will rather choose what is worst for himself than trouble his friends any longer; and if unable to serve him another way, will do it by ridding him of his importunityβ (Calendar, Domestic, 1663β ββ 64, p. 675). β©
A tragicomedy by James Shirley, βwritten when the stage was interdicted,β and first performed after the Restoration. Before the publication of this notice in Pepys, Langbaineβs statement was the only evidence that it had ever been acted. ββ B. β©
Pepys notices Sir W. Pennβs feast on the anniversary of his wedding-day, when he had been married eighteen years (January 6th, 1661β ββ 62). See vol. ii, p. 165. β©
The fourth edition of Samuel Danielβs Collection of the History of England was published in 1650, and the fifth edition in 1685. The first part was originally published in 1612. β©
Sir Anthony Bateman. β©
Elizabeth Falkener, wife of John Falkener, announced to Pepys the death of βher dear and loving husbandβ in a letter dated July 19th, 1664 βbegs interest that she may be in something considered by the person succeeding her husband in his employment, which has occasioned great expenses.β (Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1663β ββ 64, p. 646) β©
Sturbridge Fair, which is still held, is of great antiquity. The first trace of it is to be found in a charter granted about 1211 by King John to the Lepers of the Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen at Sturbridge by Cambridge. The fair was to be held in the close of the hospital on the vigil and feast of the Holy Cross. The name is derived from the little river of Stere or Sture, flowing into the Cam near Cambridge. β©
Gardenerβs Lane, Westminster, between King Street and Duke Street. β©
James Huysman (1656β ββ 96). In Walpoleβs Anecdotes of Painting he is said to have βrivalled Lely, and with reason.β β©
In the Royal Collection.
βThe dress is that of a cavalier about the time of the Civil War, buff with blue ribands.β
Walpoleβs Anecdotes of Painting, ed. Dallaway, vol. ii, p. 122, noteβ©
Huysman is said by Walpole to have been himself most partial to his picture of Queen Catherine. βHe created himself the queenβs painter, and to justify it, made her sit for every Madonna or Venus that he drew.β β©
William Penn, afterwards the famous Quaker. P. Gibson, writing to him in March, 1711β ββ 12, says: βI remember your honour very well, when you newly came out of France and wore pantaloon breeches.β β©
Tom Edwards made love to Mrs. Pepysβs chambermaid Jane (see February 11th, 1667β ββ 68), and Jane had a fit of jealousy on August 19th, 1668, but the two were married on March 26th, 1669. There is some confusion in the Diary between the Pepysβs chambermaids named Jane, for reference is made to Jane Wayneman and to Jane Gentleman, but it appears from the marriage licence that Tomβs wife was Jane Birch. The licence is as follows: βThomas Edwards, of St. Olave, Hart Street, London, gent., bachelor, about 25, and Jane Birch, of same, spinster,
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