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Saturday 20 December 1662

Up and had 100l. brought me by Prior of Brampton in full of his purchase money for Barton’s house and some land. So to the office, and thence with Mr. Coventry in his coach to St. James’s, with great content and pride to see him treat me so friendly; and dined with him, and so to White Hall together; where we met upon the Tangier Commission, and discoursed many things thereon; but little will be done before my Lord Rutherford comes there, as to the fortification or Mole. That done, my Lord Sandwich and I walked together a good while in the Matted Gallery, he acquainting me with his late enquiries into the Wardrobe business to his content; and tells me how things stand. And that the first year was worth about 3000l. to him, and the next about as much; so that at this day, if he were paid, it will be worth about 7000l. to him. But it contents me above all things to see him trust me as his confidant: so I bid him good night, he being to go into the country, to keep his Christmas, on Monday next. So by coach home and to my office, being post night, and then home and to bed.

Sunday 21 December 1662Friday 19 December 1662

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  • N Australian Susan on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 12:38am. Flag this

    First mention of Christmas!!

  • N Robert Gertz on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 03:02am. Flag this

    “…if he were paid…”

    “Jamie, look. Sandwich sends holiday greetings and his request to be paid for two years at the Wardrobe.”

    “And I take it you are going to honor this debt to our dear benefactor in full, Charles. Where we would be without our favorite turncoat?”

    “In full of course, certainly.”

    The boys eye each other…Hmmmphf…Ha, ha, ha! Charles tossing the note, then kicking it off into the nearby fireplace.

  • N in Aqua Scripto on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 03:30am. Flag this

    Final Payment? “…Up and had 100l. brought me by Prior of Brampton in full of his purchase money for Barton’s house and some land….” Prior[ http://www.pepysdiary.com/p/3195.php ]
    Barton :[ http://www.pepysdiary.com/p/3196.php ]
    Interesting reread of this transaction, starts on Oct 61 paying other monies, legal matters and paper work. Would make a nice seperate chapter.

  • N in Aqua Scripto on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 03:36am. Flag this

    “…if he were paid, it will be worth about 7000l…” and how much doth you owe ‘me’ lord to thy creditors. Is there not some other problem with those monies that ye brought with thee from Lisbonne?

  • N Todd Bernhardt on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 03:00pm. Flag this

    “So by coach home and to my office, being post night…”

    What is “post night”?

    Also, “Monday next” — is Sandwich celebrating Xmas on the 22nd or 29th? (Why not the 25th?)

  • N Peter on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 03:13pm. Flag this

    Todd, I took it to mean that there was going to be a collection of post that evening…. Presumably he needed to prepare some letters in time for the collection.

  • N JonTom Kittredge on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 03:15pm. Flag this

    “Monday next”
    I think he means that Lord Sandwich is *leaving* on the coming Monday, the 22nd, to spend Christmas at Hinchingbroke.

  • N Lynn on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 03:18pm. Flag this

    I read it as “…. he being to go into the country on Monday next, to keep his Christmas.”

  • N Todd Bernhardt on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 03:19pm. Flag this

    Ah, both things are now clearer. Thanks, Peter, JonTom, and Lynn.

  • N jeannine on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 05:11pm. Flag this

    Question about Sam’s “usual” Christmas celebration with Elizabeth—for the past 2 years I couldn’t find any mention of his giving a gift to Elizabeth - any idea what would be the norm for them (or other couples) in this area???

  • N Stolzi on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 06:52pm. Flag this

    A proper English Christmas in those days should last for twelve days - until “Twelfth Night,” the eve of the Epiphany, celebrated Jan. 6.

    You want to be wary of a Wardrobe - it might have a Lion in it! (little seasonal/topical note, there)

  • N in Aqua Scripto on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 07:26pm. Flag this

    “post night” Each day except Sunday]the [Royal? at least Palmer gets her upkeep ?] mail will leave from differring Post Houses on differing days for the Post road of choice, it be like how thee would say market day, it be depending on the Town ye be talking about. So “Post night” be the night of handing over mail for “X” town. That be my version of the reading.

  • N in Aqua Scripto on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 07:36pm. Flag this

    “…I walked together a good while in the Matted Gallery…”, so called because it be matted [not dull] with reeds, along with sweet smelling fragranced brushes from the country side along withe scrubs of wormwood for killing of the lice [ escapees from passers bye]. A titbit lifted from E.Picard Elizabeths London. [Then everything be recycled]

  • N celtcahill on Wed 21 Dec 2005, 09:34pm. Flag this

    ” Up and had 100 L. brought me by Prior of Brampton in full of his purchase money for Barton’s house and some land. So to the office….”

    THAT was easy. Around here it’d take the rest of the day to sign and initial the forms….

  • N in Aqua Scripto on Thu 22 Dec 2005, 01:28am. Flag this

    Celtcahil. The “in full’ final monies, [already has received somw monies], took a few entries of negotiation, over a year, this be the last signature.

  • N celtcahill on Thu 22 Dec 2005, 01:45pm. Flag this

    Ah! I wondered. I didn’t think the beaurocracy that generated Domesday would have fallen down on the job.

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Sunday 21 December 1662Friday 19 December 1662