Tales of Sam and Bess, 1660-1700
Tales suggesting famed 17th century diarist/naval adminstrator Samuel Pepys and his lady had more going on than even his famed daily diary let us know...
Note: The best way to know Mr. Pepys is through his magnificent nine year daily Diary...Which is now available on-line on a day-to-day basis at pepysdiary courtesy of the wonderful Phil Gyford.
I would also recommend "The Unequaled Self", a new biography by Claire Tomlin...Just terrific and fills in the gaps the diary leaves...
…
"Pepysianstein, The True Story…"
Summary: Now you know the real reason Sam had trouble with Mary Skinner's family…
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Gresham College, home to the Royal Society...1666...
"You may murmur if you will..."
Murmur, murmur, murmur...
"Right..." Mr. King, bold natural philosophy pioneer/mad quack, fumes but continues as he stands at table next to newly blood transfused dog ... "But I foresee a day when
this experiment in the transfusion of blood will be followed by
others."
"Others..." his assistant, Mr. Coxe echoes, nodding.
Good doggie…Pats rather stunned dog.
What's a little blood in and out, right?
"Til one day the brains of the right people will be kept alive by
transfusion into the bodies of the little people..." King continues.
Murmur, murmur...
Say...Several take pause...
Would be nice to live another fifty in some dumb young footman.
Still...Some one is sure to...
"Unholy!...Papist!...Out with them!" cry is raised.
Hmmn...Somehow...Hooke thinks, motioning for King and Coxe to exit,
stage left, post-haste with surprisingly frisky spaniel...
That juxtaposition just doesn't...
"This is not over!" King shakes fist at crowd at edge of platform.
(Spoiler...Halt now or like Dr. Praetorius of "Bride of Frankenstein"
risk knowing too much...)
November 1669...
A drunken, broke King is grabbed by two men as he stumbles back to his
lodgings...
And finds himself covered in hood, dragged to coach, and after a
rather short ride, dragged into a building and sat in a chair. His
hood jerked off to reveal a short, bug-eyed man in periwig looking
anxious and jotting notes.
"Mr. King? I apologize for having you brought here under such
circumstances but time was of the essence."
"Sir?"
"Best not to identify myself just now Mr. King...Wouldn't want to have
to have you deposited into the Thames for my safety should you refuse
my request...The request, Mr. King, of a desperate, desperate man.
And a loving husband..."
"Hic...Sir?"
"Water!" Bucket thrown at King...
"Sorry, Mr. King...Time as I said. Mr. King, I learnt of your
transfusion experiments in '66 and have followed your work since. I
understand you have continued your efforts, though without proper
support. Though you have achieved such results as might astound...Or
horrify...The world were they to be known?"
"Hic...Have me at a disad..hic..vantage, sir."
"Mr. King...You once said you dreamed of transfusing the human brain.
And I understand that you have worked in secret to make that dream a
reality. Without sanction, I should say."
"Sir?" King snaps alert at the implied threat.
"Not to worry, Mr. King. In fact...I have a subject for you."
Sam waves to servant who reluctantly pulls curtain...
"Whoa…" King stares.