The Diary by Samuel Pepys (children's ebooks online TXT) 📕
Description
Pepys’ 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 Pepys’ 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 “a few passages which cannot possibly be printed.” The rich collection of endnotes serve to further illustrate the lives of the people Pepys meets and the state of England’s internal politics and international relations at the time.
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- Author: Samuel Pepys
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Edward Reynolds, Preacher of Lincoln’s Inn, was appointed Dean of Oxford in 1648, but ejected in 1650. He was restored March 13th, 1659–60, but was forced to quit soon afterwards. He was consecrated Bishop of Norwich, January 13th, 1660–61. He died July 28th, 1676, aged seventy-six. ↩
Ann Pett, writing to Pepys from Woolwich, March 26th, 1668, says:
“My husband died last Sunday, and has left me in a mean condition, having spent by losses and sickness my own estate and his, and I have four children and am £300 in debt. His sickness has cost, since he came to Woolwich, £700, besides what is now to pay. I entreat you to assist me in obtaining £500 due to my husband, as also money owing in the yard, and to stand my friend to the Navy Commissioners, that I may continue in my house some time longer; my husband always attended to his majesty’s service, and never looked after his own concerns.”
Calendar of State Papers, 1667–68, p. 308↩
It was customary for the apprentices of the metropolis to avail themselves of their holidays, especially on Shrove Tuesday, to search after women of ill fame, and to confine them during the season of Lent. See a Satyre Against Separatists, 1642.
“Stand forth, Shrove Tuesday, one a’ the silenc’st bricklayers;
’Tis in your charge to pull down bawdyhouses.”
↩
The Clerkenwell Bridewell, although built in 1615, was long known as the New Prison; it stood on the site afterwards occupied by the House of Detention in Clerkenwell Close. ↩
Now, as being the father of Lady Hinchingbrooke, connected with Pepys. —B. ↩
Sir W. Davenant’s last play, a comedy published in 1669. The plot is taken from two plays of Scarron—Jodelet, ou le Maître Valet, and L’Héritière Ridicule. The scene is laid in Madrid. ↩
Sandford.
“This comedy in general was very well perform’d, especially the Master by Mr. Harris; the man by Mr. Underbill. Mr. Harris and Mr. Sandford singing the epilogue like two street Ballad-singers.”
Downes, p. 30↩
Sir Thomas Adams was born at Wem, in Shropshire, in 1586, and after being educated at Cambridge, carried on business as a draper in London. Sheriff, 1639; Lord Mayor, 1645. He was kept in the Tower for some time on account of his loyalty to the king. He was one of the deputies sent by the City to the Hague to attend on Charles II on his return from Breda to London, and was there knighted. He was created a baronet, June 13th, 1660. He founded the free school at Wem, as well as the Arabic Lecture at Cambridge. He died February 24th, 1667–68. The shock caused by a fall from his coach displaced the stone mentioned by Pepys, and led to fatal consequences (Dict. of Nat. Biog.). The stone was exhibited at the Royal Society (March 26th, 1668), the exact weight being 22⅜ oz. Troy (Birch’s History, vol. ii, p. 260). ↩
Samuel Cooper (1609–1672) was living in Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, in 1645, and he was still there when Pepys visited him. ↩
Duchess of Richmond. ↩
Sir Francis Pemberton and Sir Dudley North. ↩
Jane, his second wife, daughter of Cheney Selherst, of Tenterden, and relict of Edward Austen. ↩
“March 30, 1668. The King to the Duke of York. The French fleet, under the Duke de Beaufort, is come to sea, and intends to cruise in the Channel; you are to order Sir Thos. Allin, admiral of the westward squadron, if he find the French fleet at sea, and much exceeding him in strength, to repair to the Downs with his own squadron and Sir Edw. Spragg’s, leaving 2 vessels to give advice, and to inform him if the French fleet sails up the Channel. If it be at sea, and not too strong for him, he is to pursue his former instructions.”
Calendar of State Papers, 1667–68, p. 314↩
The Ring in Hyde Park. ↩
The Origin of Forms and Qualities, According to the Corpuscular Philosophy, by the Hon. Robert Boyle. Oxford, 1666, 4to. ↩
At Deptford. ↩
A box to hold bottles.
“Run for the cellar of strong waters quickly.”
Ben Jonson, Magnetic Lady, act iii, sc. 1↩
The Royal Society at this time was very persistent in its attempts to get money. At a meeting of the council on April 13th, Lord Berkeley and the Bishop of Salisbury were desired to ask in the House of Peers the bishops of the society for contributions. The president and Henry Howard, of Norfolk, were desired to speak to the temporal lords of the society for the same purpose. “Henry Howard, of Norfolk, accordingly took a list of several lords and gentlemen in order to solicit their contributions” (Birch’s History of the Royal Society, vol. ii, p. 265). ↩
At this meeting (April 2), “Mr. Hooke produced a glass receiver for the improvement of hearing. Being tried by holding the neck of it to the ear, it was found that a stronger sound was conveyed by it, than would have been without it. It was ordered, that at the next meeting there should be brought a better and larger receiver for hearing” (Birch, vol. ii, p. 261). ↩
Otacousticon, an instrument to facilitate hearing, or ear-trumpet.
Ronca Sir, this is called an autocousticon. Pandolfo Autocousticon! Why, ’tis a pair of ass’s ears, and large ones. Albumazar, i 3↩
Marin Mersenne (1588–1648) published in 1637 (in two volumes folio) his work entitled,
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