Culture, General Things, Valentine's Day

The Life and Death of Mary Queen of Scots Volume 2. Her Majesty had established a practice with her ladies to pray to God in the evening in her chamber when all her servants had withdrawn. Very often, they would read from the book of the lives of the saints, and each of them would choose a saint when opening the book, whom they called their "Valentine." Every day, they would say the prayer of that saint before going to bed. It seems that they changed saints every week. One day, she commanded Jane Kennedy to find in the said book the life of a saint who had been a great sinner. After considering several, she settled on the good thief, saying in humility, "He was a great sinner, not as great as myself. I choose him in memory of our Lord's Passion, and I pray to have remembrance and mercy on me, as He had on him at the hour of his death." She had a handkerchief prepared to blindfold her, choosing one of the most beautiful, adorned with gold embroidery.

Sa Majesté avoit pris un ordre avec ses filles de prier Dieu le soir dedans sa chambre, quand tous ses serviteurs estoient retirez, & bien souvent lisoient dedans le livre de la legende des saincts, & chacune d'entre elles prenoit un sainct à l'ouverture du livre qu'elle appelloit son Valentin, duquel tous les jours elle disoit l'oraison avant se coucher, se pense qu'ils changeoient toutes les sepmaines, de la vint que elle commanda à Janne Kenedey, de chercher dedans ledit livre la vie d'un saint qui auroit esté grand pecheur, & apres avoir fait choix entre plusieurs, s'arresta au bon larron, disant en humilité, Il a esté grand pecheur, non pas si grand que moy, je le veux pour la memoire de la passion de nostre Seigneur, que ie prie avoir souvenance & mercy de moy, comme il eut de luy à l'heure de sa mort. Se fit apprester un mouchoir pour luy bander les yeux, en choisit un des plus beaux, bandé d'ouvrage d'or.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 14th February 1660. Tuesday. Called out in the morning by Mr. Moore, whose voice my wife hearing in my dressing-chamber with me, got herself ready, and came down and challenged him for her valentine¹, this being the day.

Note 1. The practice of choosing valentines was very general at this time, but some of the best examples of the custom are found in this Diary.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 13th February 1661. At the office all the morning; dined at home, and poor Mr. Wood with me, who after dinner would have borrowed money of me, but I would lend none. Then to Whitehall by coach with Sir W. Pen (age 39), where we did very little business, and so back to Mr. Rawlinson's (age 47), where I took him and gave him a cup of wine, he having formerly known Mr. Rawlinson, and here I met my uncle Wight, and he drank with us, and with him to Sir W. Batten's (age 60), whither I sent for my wife, and we chose Valentines against to-morrow¹, my wife chose me, which did much please me; my Lady Batten Sir W. Pen, &c. Here we sat late, and so home to bed, having got my Lady Batten to give me a spoonful of honey for my cold.

Note 1. The observation of St. Valentine's day is very ancient in this country. Shakespeare makes Ophelia sing "To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window To be your Valentine". Hamlet, act iv. sc. 5.-M. B.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 14th February 1661. Valentine's Day. Up early and to Sir W. Batten's (age 60), but would not go in till I asked whether they that opened the door was a man or a woman, and Mingo, who was there, answered a woman, which, with his tone, made me laugh; so up I went and took Mrs. Martha for my Valentine (which I do only for complacency), and Sir W. Batten he go in the same manner to my wife, and so we were very merry.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 14th February 1662. Valentine's Day. I did this day purposely shun to be seen at Sir W. Batten's (age 61), because I would not have his daughter to be my Valentine, as she was the last year, there being no great friendship between us now, as formerly.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 14th February 1666. St. Valentine's Day. This morning called up by Mr. Hill (age 36), who, my wife thought, had been come to be her Valentine; she, it seems, having drawne him last night, but it proved not. However, calling him up to our bed-side, my wife challenged him. I up, and made myself ready, and so with him by coach to my Lord Sandwich's (age 40) by appointment to deliver Mr. Howe's accounts to my Lord. Which done, my Lord did give me hearty and large studied thanks for all my kindnesse to him and care of him and his business. I after profession of all duty to his Lordship took occasion to bemoane myself that I should fall into such a difficulty about Sir G. Carteret (age 56), as not to be for him, but I must be against Sir W. Coventry (age 38), and therefore desired to be neutrall, which my Lord approved and confessed reasonable, but desired me to befriend him privately.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 14th February 1668. Valentine's Day. Up, being called up by Mercer, who come to be my Valentine, and so I rose and my wife, and were merry a little, I staying to talk, and did give her a Guinny in gold for her Valentine's gift. There comes also my cozen Roger Pepys (age 50) betimes, and comes to my wife, for her to be his Valentine, whose Valentine I was also, by agreement to be so to her every year; and this year I find it is likely to cost £4 or £5 in a ring for her, which she desires. Cozen Roger did come also to speak with Sir W. Pen (age 46), who was quoted, it seems, yesterday by Sir Fr. Hollis (age 25) to have said that if my Lord Sandwich (age 42) had done so and so, we might have taken all the Dutch prizes at the time when he staid and let them go. But Sir W. Pen did tell us he should say nothing in it but what would do my Lord honour, and he is a knave I am able to prove if he do otherwise. He gone, I to my Office, to perfect my Narrative about prize-goods; and did carry it to the Commissioners of Accounts, who did receive it with great kindness, and express great value of, and respect to me: and my heart is at rest that it is lodged there, in so full truth and plainness, though it may hereafter prove some loss to me. But here I do see they are entered into many enquiries about prizes, by the great attendance of commanders and others before them, which is a work I am not sorry for.

The Diary of George Price Boyce 1858. 15th February 1858. February 15. Miss Varley sat to me. Discovered Burges had sent on to me the Valentine she had sent to him, followed by another. I enclosed them both again in an envelope for her to post to him. Went to a dancing and musical "shine" at Clayton & Bells', 24a Cardington St. Jovial and unceremonious. Some very good singing and playing.