The Diary by Samuel Pepys (children's ebooks online TXT) π
Description
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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Evertsen. There were two admirals of this name, John and Cornelius. β©
Captain John Golding and nine of his men were killed. β©
A comedy, on the authority of Downes (p. 26) attributed to a Mr. Holden, and probably never printed. ββ B. β©
John, Lord Robartes, Lord Privy Seal, 1661β ββ 73; created Earl of Radnor, 1679. Died July 17th, 1685. β©
Sara Bodville, wife of Robert Robartes. See note 2152. β©
βSir Robert Moray presented the Society from the King with a phial of Florentine poison sent for by his Majesty from Florence, on purpose to have those experiments related of the efficacy thereof, tried by the Society.β The poison had little effect upon the kitten (Birchβs History, vol. ii, p. 31). β©
Dr. Hueffer wrote respecting this passage:
βIf one may at this day decide such a question it would appear that Mr. Pepys had decidedly the best of the argument. We all know that the courante is a lively dance in 3:4 or 3:2 time, beginning with a short note at the end of the bar, and expressing, as Mattheson, writing a good many years after Pepys, discovered, βsweet hope, and in fact a combination of confidence, desire, and joy.β But neither the Italian corrente of Corelli, nor yet the French courante as developed by Couperin and the great Bach, seems to bear out the law laid down by Captain Taylor.β
Italian and Other Studies, p. 252β©
An obsolete proverb, signifying to lose oneβs hopes, a cake coming out of the oven in a state of dough being considered spoiled.
βMy cake is dough; but Iβll in among the rest;
Out of hope of all, but my share in the feast.β
ββ M. B. β©
Among the State Papers are lists of watermen impressed and put on board the victualling ships. Attached to one of these is a βnote of their unfitness and refractory conduct; also that many go ashore to sleep, and are discontent that they, as masters of families, are pressed, while single men are excused on giving money to the pressmenβ (Calendar, Domestic, 1664β ββ 65, p. 323). β©
At Wricklesmarsh, in the parish of Charlton, which belonged in 1617 to Edward Blount, whose family alienated it towards the end of the seventeenth century. The old mansion was pulled down by Sir Gregory Page, Bart., who erected a magnificent stone structure on the site; which, devolving to his great-nephew, Sir Gregory Page Turner, shared the same fate as the former house, having been sold in lots in 1784. The site of Colonel Blountβs house is now covered with villas, and is called Blackheath Park. ββ B.
βCol. Blount produced another model of a chariot with four springs, esteemed by him very easy both to the rider and horse, and at the same time cheap. It was ordered that the committee formerly appointed, viz., the President, Sir Robert Moray, Sir William Petty, Dr. Wilkins, Col. Blount, and Mr. Hooke, should be desired to meet at Col. Blountβs house at Writlemarsh, about this matter, on the Monday following, and give an account of what they had done there at the next meeting of the Society.β On May 3rd Hooke reported (Birchβs History, vol. ii, pp. 41, 45). β©
Sayes Court, the well-known residence of John Evelyn. β©
βMr. Daniel Coxe read an account of the effects of tobacco-oil distilled in a retort, by one drop of which given at the mouth he had killed a lusty cat, which being opened, smelled strongly of the oil, and the blood of the heart more strongly than the rest.β ββ β¦ One drop of the Florentine oglio di tobacco being again given to a dog, it proved stupefying and vomitive, as before.β
Birchβs History of the Royal Society, vol. ii, pp. 42, 43β©
Sir Robert Hyde, cousin of the Earl of Clarendon, appointed Chief Justice of the Kingβs Bench, October 10th, 1663. Born 1595, died May 1st, 1665. He was buried in Salisbury Cathedral. β©
Christopher Pett wrote to Pepys from Woolwich on April 22nd, 1665, and begged for βallowance for two divers employed when the estimate for the mast dock at Blackwall was madeβ (Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1664β ββ 65, p. 324). β©
Alexander Browne, a printseller, who taught drawing, and practised it with success. He published in 1669, Ars Pictoria, or an Academy treating of Drawing, Painting, Limning and Etching. β©
The Gunfleet Sand off the Essex coast. β©
I.e. the watch. β©
Thomas Pepys, of Hatcham Barnes, Surrey, Master of the Jewel House to Charles II and James II. β©
For note on Sir Robert Brooke, Lord of the Manor of Wanstead, see note 24. β©
Loves Maistresse, or the Queenβs Masque, by Thomas Heywood, printed 1636, 1640. β©
Formosa = handsome (Italian). β©
Captain Edward Nixon, of the Elizabeth, and
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