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Saturday 10 November 1660

Up early. Sir Wm. Batten and I to make up an account of the wages of the officers and mariners at sea, ready to present to the Committee of Parliament this afternoon. Afterwards came the Treasurer and Comptroller, and sat all the morning with us till the business was done. So we broke up, leaving the thing to be wrote over fair and carried to Trinity House for Sir Wm. Batten’s hand. When staying very long I found (as appointed) the Treasurer and Comptroller at Whitehall, and so we went with a foul copy to the Parliament house, where we met with Sir Thos. Clarges and Mr. Spry, and after we had given them good satisfaction we parted. The Comptroller and I to the coffee-house, where he shewed me the state of his case; how the King did owe him about 6000l.. But I do not see great likelihood for them to be paid, since they begin already in Parliament to dispute the paying of the just sea-debts, which were already promised to be paid, and will be the undoing of thousands if they be not paid. So to Whitehall to look but could not find Mr. Fox, and then to Mr. Moore at Mr. Crew’s, but missed of him also. So to Paul’s Churchyard, and there bought Montelion, which this year do not prove so good as the last was; so after reading it I burnt it. After reading of that and the comedy of the Rump, which is also very silly, I went to bed. This night going home, Will and I bought a goose.

Sunday 11 November 1660Friday 9 November 1660

6°C / 43°F
(monthly average for November 1660) About

Parliament on this day

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  • N Bullus Hutton on Mon 10 Nov 2003, 11:59pm

    A rare insight into the actual workings of Sam’s day (apart from networking, gambling and drinking) he spends all this morning doing some heavy duty number-crunching with a couple of high-level bean-counters, assists with the formalities of presentation-quality accounts, but makes sure a rough copy gets over to the Parliament buildings, where there is a need to know the bottom line figure as quickly as possible.
    His work done, and any explanations completed to the clients satisfaction, he can relax in a coffee-house (presumably chosen by the Comptroller, who is unwilling to muddle his accounting brain with strong ale) and indulge in phlosopical discussion as to the ramifications of the king’s failure to pay the required 6,000l.
    Business having been taken care of, it’s off to the bookstore for some entertaining reading!

  • N James Cridland on Tue 11 Nov 2003, 12:15am

    Montelion appears to be entertaining reading, certainly.

    It’s mentioned here: http://35.1911encyclopedia.org/P/PH/PHILLIPS_EDWARD.htm
    …I can’t work out whether John Phillips is supposed to the author of this book, or whether, more likely, it is a 1660 annual equivalent of Private Eye. It seems to be “full of co(a)rse royalist wit”, and the 1661 and 1662 editions are not by the same author.

  • N language hat on Tue 11 Nov 2003, 12:30am

    “and there bought Montelion”:
    From the 1911 Britannica:
    JOHN PHILLIPS (1631

  • N Eric Walla on Tue 11 Nov 2003, 02:10am

    Just a reminder about the rise of coffee, which had just percolated up into England within the previous ten years. If you haven’t read them, the posts on coffee are particularly stimulating:

    http://www.pepysdiary.com/p/361.php

    Even if you don’t care beans about the subject I would suggest imbibing.

  • N vincent on Tue 11 Nov 2003, 03:06am

    Promises promises until the deed is done
    “…since they begin already in Parliament to dispute the paying of the just sea-debts, which were already promised to be paid, and will be the undoing of thousands if they be not paid….” Always get the money up Front. ” Remember the great cheering by the Tars.
    SP is right, there could be great undoing if that bunch get loose in London town and no Ale money, forget the perculator, the bung could be go sky high, there being no Militia around to help out the night watchmen. There is nothing worse than unsatisfied old Salts that cannot get a mouth on a pint of ale and and arm around a wench.

  • N Peter on Wed 12 Nov 2003, 07:47pm

    The Comptroller’s

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Sunday 11 November 1660Friday 9 November 1660