Category: Pepys Diary erasure project

(Sunday). To Dr. Hardy’s church, and sat with Mr. Rawlinson and heard a good sermon upon the occasion of the Duke’s death. His text was, “And is there any evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it?”
Home to dinner, having some sport with Wm., who never had been at Common Prayer before.
After dinner I alone to Westminster, where I spent my time walking up and down in Westminster Abbey all sermon time with Ben. Palmer and Fetters the watchmaker, who told me that my Lord of Oxford is also dead of the small-pox; in whom his family dies, after 600 years having that honour in their family and name. From thence to the Park, where I saw how far they had proceeded in the Pell-mell, and in making a river through the Park, which I had never seen before since it was begun. Thence to White Hall garden, where I saw the King in purple mourning for his brother.
So home, and in my way met with Dinah, who spoke to me and told me she had a desire to speak too about some business when I came to Westminster again. Which she spoke in such a manner that I was afraid she might tell me something that I would not hear of our last meeting at my house at Westminster.
Home late, being very dark. A gentleman in the Poultry had a great and dirty fall over a waterpipe that lay along the channel.

Death is walking
up and down
with the watchmaker,
who told me
how a river
I had never seen
was at home in
a great and dirty pipe.

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Sunday 16 September 1660. Thanks to my friend Hg, a Londoner, for the idea.

Met very early at our office this morning to pick out the twenty-five ships which are to be first paid off.
After that to Westminster and dined with Mr. Dalton at his office, where we had one great court dish, but our papers not being done we could [not] make an end of our business till Monday next.
Mr. Dalton and I over the water to our landlord Vanly, with whom we agree as to Dalton becoming a tenant. Back to Westminster, where I met with Dr. Castles, who chidd me for some errors in our Privy- Seal business; among the rest, for letting the fees of the six judges pass unpaid, which I know not what to say to, till I speak to Mr. Moore. I was much troubled, for fear of being forced to pay the money myself. Called at my father’s going home, and bespoke mourning for myself, for the death of the Duke of Gloucester. I found my mother pretty well. So home and to bed.

Twenty-five ships, and we could not
make an end of Monday.
On land, we met with castles.
Our rest was troubled.
I mourn the death of my bed.

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Saturday 15 September 1660.

(Office day). I got 42l. 15s. appointed me by bill for my employment of Secretary to the 4th of this month, it being the last money I shall receive upon that score.
My wife went this afternoon to see my mother, who I hear is very ill, at which my heart is very sad.
In the afternoon Luellin comes to my house, and takes me out to the Mitre in Wood Street, where Mr. Samford, W. Symons and his wife, and Mrs. Scobell, Mr. Mount and Chetwind, where they were very merry, Luellin being drunk, and I being to defend the ladies from his kissing them, I kissed them myself very often with a great deal of mirth. Parted very late, they by coach to Westminster, and I on foot.

I go in secret.
The score I hear is my heart,
is for bell and wind.
Drunk, I defend myself
with a late foot.

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Friday 14 September 1660.

Old East comes to me in the morning with letters, and I did give him a bottle of Northdown ale, which made the poor man almost drunk.
In the afternoon my wife went to the burial of a child of my cozen Scott’s, and it is observable that within this month my Aunt Wight was brought to bed of two girls, my cozen Stradwick of a girl and a boy, and my cozen Scott of a boy, and all died.
I in the afternoon to Westminster, where Mr. Dalton was ready with his money to pay me for my house, but our writings not being drawn it could not be done to-day. I met with Mr. Hawly, who was removing his things from Mr. Bowyer’s, where he has lodged a great while, and I took him and W. Bowyer to the Swan and drank, and Mr. Hawly did give me a little black rattoon, painted and gilt.
Home by water.
This day the Duke of Gloucester died of the small-pox, by the great negligence of the doctors.

Letters made the poor man
almost drunk.
He went to the burial of a child
and was ready with his writing—
could eat a swan.
A black rat, painted and gilt,
died of negligence.

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Thursday 13 September 1660.

(Office day). This noon I expected to have had my cousin Snow and my father come to dine with me, but it being very rainy they did not come.
My brother Tom came to my house with a letter from my brother John, wherein he desires some books: Barthol. Anatom., Rosin. Rom. Antiq., and Gassend. Astronom., the last of which I did give him, and an angel against my father buying of the others.
At home all the afternoon looking after my workmen in my house, whose laziness do much trouble me.
This day the Parliament adjourned.

My cousin snow and my father rain
come with a letter from
my brother the angel:
Buy others a home, look after workmen,
trouble the parliament.

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Wednesday 12 September 1660.

At Sir W. Batten’s with Sir W. Pen we drank our morning draft, and from thence for an hour in the office and dispatch a little business.
Dined at Sir W. Batten’s, and by this time I see that we are like to have a very good correspondence and neighbourhood, but chargeable. All the afternoon at home looking over my carpenters. At night I called Thos. Hater out of the office to my house to sit and talk with me. After he was gone I caused the girl to wash the wainscot of our parlour, which she did very well, which caused my wife and I good sport. Up to my chamber to read a little, and wrote my Diary for three or four days past.
The Duke of York did go to-day by break of day to the Downs. The Duke of Gloucester ill. The House of Parliament was to adjourn to-day. I know not yet whether it be done or no.
To bed.

A rank morning.
I batten on ash—my wife—
and rot—my diary,
break down the day.

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Tuesday 11 September 1660.

(Office day). News brought us of the Duke’s intention to go tomorrow to the fleet for a day or two to meet his sister. Col. Slingsby and I to Whitehall, thinking to proffer our service to the Duke to wait upon him, but meeting with Sir G. Carteret he sent us in all haste back again to hire two Catches for the present use of the Duke. So we returned and landed at the Bear at the Bridge foot, where we saw Southwark Fair (I having not at all seen Bartholomew Fair), and so to the Tower wharf, where we did hire two catches. So to the office and found Sir W. Batten at dinner with some friends upon a good chine of beef, on which I ate heartily, I being very hungry.
Home, where Mr. Snow (whom afterwards we called one another cozen) came to me to see me, and with him and one Shelston, a simple fellow that looks after an employment (that was with me just upon my going to sea last), to a tavern, where till late with them. So home, having drunk too much, and so to bed.

A white bear
catches dinner, very hungry:
snow at sea.

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Monday 10 September 1660.

(Sunday). In the morning with Sir W. Pen to church, and a very good sermon of Mr. Mills.
Home to dinner, and Sir W. Pen with me to such as I had, and it was very handsome, it being the first time that he ever saw my wife or house since we came hither.
Afternoon to church with my wife, and after that home, and there walked with Major Hart, who came to see me, in the garden, who tells me that we are all like to be speedily disbanded; and then I lose the benefit of a muster. After supper to bed.

I go home to din and wit
as sin to church.
Here, walk with me.
Tell me we all like to lose.

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Sunday 9 September 1660.

All day also at home. At night sent for by Sir W. Pen, with whom I sat late drinking a glass of wine and discoursing, and I find him to be a very sociable man, and an able man, and very cunning.

A pen with ink, a lass, wine:
O to be able and cunning!

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Saturday 8 September 1660.

These extra-short diary entries are the most challenging, and therefore the most entertaining, to find poems in. Thanks to Rachel (via IM) for helping me to select the best among the seven alternatives I came up with for this entry. Another one I liked was a pure sound poem…

en in in in an
in an in an an
an an an un in

…which may not rise to the level of true poetry, but certainly highlights the poetic quality hidden in ordinary, semi-repetitive prose.

An office day, and in the afternoon at home all the day, it being the first that I have been at home all day since I came hither.
Putting my papers, books and other things in order, and writing of letters. This day my Lord set sail from the Downs for Holland.

An off day, an in day,
a be-at-home day.
I am my things.
I let this day down.

~or~

An office day, and in the afternoon at home all the day, it being the first that I have been at home all day since I came hither.
Putting my papers, books and other things in order, and writing of letters. This day my Lord set sail from the Downs for Holland.

Ice in the fir
came paper-thin—
a sail from Holland.

Erasure poems derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Friday 7 September 1660.