Tuesday 3 May 1664

Up, and being ready, went by agreement to Mr. Bland’s and there drank my morning draft in good chocollatte, and slabbering my band sent home for another, and so he and I by water to White Hall, and walked to St. James’s, where met Creed and Vernatty, and by and by Sir W. Rider, and so to Mr. Coventry’s chamber, and there upon my Lord Peterborough’s accounts, where I endeavoured to shew the folly and punish it as much as I could of Mr. Povy; for, of all the men in the world, I never knew any man of his degree so great a coxcomb in such imployments. I see I have lost him forever, but I value it not; for he is a coxcomb, and, I doubt, not over honest, by some things which I see; and yet, for all his folly, he hath the good lucke, now and then, to speak his follies in as good words, and with as good a show, as if it were reason, and to the purpose, which is really one of the wonders of my life.

Thence walked to Westminster Hall; and there, in the Lords’ House, did in a great crowd, from ten o’clock till almost three, hear the cause of Mr. Roberts, my Lord Privy Seal’s son, against Win, who by false ways did get the father of Mr. Roberts’s wife (Mr. Bodvill) to give him the estate and disinherit his daughter. The cause was managed for my Lord Privy Seal by Finch the Solicitor [General]; but I do really think that he is truly a man of as great eloquence as ever I heard, or ever hope to hear in all my life.

Thence, after long staying to speak with my Lord Sandwich, at last he coming out to me and speaking with me about business of my Lord Peterborough, I by coach home to the office, where all the afternoon, only stept home to eat one bit and to the office again, having eaten nothing before to-day. My wife abroad with my aunt Wight and Norbury.

I in the evening to my uncle Wight’s, and not finding them come home, they being gone to the Parke and the Mulberry garden, I went to the ’Change, and there meeting with Mr. Hempson, whom Sir W. Batten has lately turned out of his place, merely because of his coming to me when he came to town before he went to him, and there he told me many rogueries of Sir W. Batten, how he knows and is able to prove that Captain Cox of Chatham did give him 10l. in gold to get him to certify for him at the King’s coming in, and that Tom Newborne did make [the] poor men give him 3l. to get Sir W. Batten to cause them to be entered in the yard, and that Sir W. Batten had oftentimes said: “by God, Tom, you shall get something and I will have some on’t.” His present clerk that is come in Norman’s room has given him something for his place; that they live high and (as Sir Francis Clerk’s lady told his wife) do lack money as well as other people, and have bribes of a piece of sattin and cabinetts and other things from people that deal with him, and that hardly any body goes to see or hath anything done by Sir W. Batten but it comes with a bribe, and that this is publickly true that his wife was a whore, and that he had libells flung within his doors for a cuckold as soon as he was married; that he received 100l. in money and in other things to the value of 50l. more of Hempson, and that he intends to give him back but 50l.; that he hath abused the Chest and hath now some 1000l. by him of it.

I met also upon the ’Change with Mr. Cutler, and he told me how for certain Lawson hath proclaimed warr again with Argier, though they had at his first coming given back the ships which they had taken, and all their men; though they refused afterwards to make him restitution for the goods which they had taken out of them.

Thence to my uncle Wight’s, and he not being at home I went with Mr. Norbury near hand to the Fleece, a mum house —[?? D.W.]— in Leadenhall, and there drunk mum and by and by broke up, it being about 11 o’clock at night, and so leaving them also at home, went home myself and to bed.


40 Annotations

First Reading

Terry F  •  Link

"they being gone to the Parke and the Mulberry garden"

"Although the records of the Mulberry Garden are somewhat scanty, it had certainly a great vogue during the reigns of both Charleses and the Commonwealth, &c or half the dramatists of the Restoration make their characters move in its walks and arbours, and eat its tarts and cakes, and it was of sufficient importance as a place of public resort to give a title to one of Sedley's comedies. There is historical record of the place also. It was quite like Charles the Second to violate his own proclamation against the drinking of toasts during a debauch at the Mulberry Garden.

"Mr. Pepys too was there...."

http://www.gardenhistoryinfo.com/…

"A tea garden occupied the very site of the present underground railway station at King's Cross;" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King's_Cross_railway_station

Mr. Pepys himself will go and take us to the Mulberry garden in 1668.

Terry F  •  Link

Today's "businesses 'pon the 'Change" told in some detail.

Mr. Hempson has been collecting evidence against Sir W. Batten. Pepys may get back to Hempson in the course of the review of the books of the Chatham Chest?

cape henry  •  Link

One could begin just about anywhere in this entry. Throw a dart, win a prize. There is the coincidental discussion of two effective orators - though I wonder if observing the one enhanced the analysis of the other as he wrote. Povy's type we would recognize as the politician and Finch's as the lawyer/sophist.Pepys displays a fair amount of open mindedness in the case of the former by recognizing his skills in spite of obvious distaste for him personally.

Secondly, there is the remarkably flat recital of Batten's roguery (heard at the 'Change no less). And yet, impossible to ignore beneath the words, one senses the steady pounding of kettle drums building as the litany of crimes advances. Bribe! Whore! Libells! Cuckold! Terrific stuff.

Paul Chapin  •  Link

May we all avoid slabbering our bands with chocolate.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"I am shocked Hempson. Shocked!"

"Tis grievous fault of Sir Will's, Mr. Pepys."

"Yes, yes indeed. Say, tell me again how he managed that 1000L ripoff of the Chest?"

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Cut to shot of Sir Will B. alone at his desk, reading Audley's "Way to Riches". Chapter 60, "Dealing With Yon Upstart Ambitious Underling Threatening Ye Rake-in." Heh, heh.

Terry F  •  Link

"the cause of Mr. Roberts, my Lord Privy Seal's son, against Win"

Pepys's account many hours later is better than 'House of Lords Journal Volume 11: 3 May 1664', Journal of the House of Lords: volume 11: 1660-1666, pp. 605-06. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/… Date accessed: 03 May 2007.

Terry F  •  Link

"slabbering my band"

Rock on, Bess, beau Peeps: ignore Sam'l's chocolate mess.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Poor Lady B. Whatever her past, apart from brazen calls to her maid Nan and a tendency to cross swords with Bess over precedence, she seems to have led a fairly circumspect existence since marrying Will Batten.

But then, dear Mingo is so close at hand...

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Gee, was Bess still out with Aunt Wight touring the Mulberry Garden at 11p?

"Sos...Bessie..." an Auntie Wight sloshed on good mulberry wine has let her hair (what she has of it left) down.

"Furst ting..." raises stern if wavering finger... "Dey's all...hic...liars. Alladem...Esphushally my ole fool. No gud at all. No."

"Sam'l ok. Sumtimes. Say, whars he got off to, anyhows. Sam'l!!"

"He's no der. Hey, las' looke shup...Mor' wi'." Aunt Wight bangs mug on table, girl hurrying over with pitcher. "He's off sumwhers...God ony nos...Li' da res'. Ole fool."

"Sam'l!!!" a nervous Bess. "He's jus doin' busness fa da King. Rak' it in for us. He's a reel good provida, ya know."

"Ah...Same as allda res'..." Aunt waves a hand.

"No, no." Bess frowning raises a hand...Whoa, wend I git three mugs?... "He's a lil' stingy sumtimes...Li' wid' da gold las' ni'. Don' let me go out much. Don' lemme give my mum and dad a lil' cash ta help. Tor' up me letta..." she sighs at the memory.

"Wa letta?..."

"Oh, a nice one, Auntie...All meself wrot' it. But he tor' it up."

"Deys allda same, Bessie. And min' ya watch out for dat ole fool."

"Sam'l?"

"Nah. Me ole fool. You watch out for 'im."

"Unca Wight?" Bess chuckles.

Dey I can't handa one li' him's the day I take Sam'l seriously about not givin' money to my parents.

"He's ok..." Bess, somewhat less than firm conviction... "Ya shudda seen the gol' he brung home las'...Ummn."

"Wa' gol'...?" Aunt picks up the scent.

Ummn...

"Dis gold...Pain'ed cup." Bess, carefully as her condition will allow. "No' worth alot but, he brung it home...Gud provida, my Sammy. Sam'l!!!!"

"Bet he's guta girl sumwere...Ole fool."

"What...Girl?" Bess sits upright.

"Who nos...?" shrug. "Deys all no gud."

"Sam'l!!!"

Michael Robinson  •  Link

" ... Mr. Hempson, whom Sir W. Batten has lately turned out of his place ..."

"It appears that it was not only Sir William Batten who was dissatisfied with Hempson. The following note is among the State Papers: 'Jan. 21 1664. Commissioner Peter Pett to Sam. Pepys. Has sent Capt. Taylor's bills. The price of Nath. London's timber is too great. Fears Mr. Hempson is lost to the service; is not in the King's interest to give such busy officers so great a liberty [of absence]' (Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1663-64, p. 449.)"
Wheatley ed. note May 3rd. 1664

MissAnn  •  Link

So Sam started the day with chocolate and finished up drinking mum (or as I like to think of it Mumm - mmm champagne). Not a bad life if you ask me.

I'm off for the weekend to get rid of this flu, have a good weekend one and all.

Michael Robinson  •  Link

"and there upon my Lord Peterborough's accounts where I endeavoured to shew the folly and punish it of Mr. Povy; ... .... Thence, after long staying to speak with my Lord Sandwich, at last he coming out to me and speaking with me about business of my Lord Peterborough, "

The business of Povy's 'folly' is a little more complex, see:-

" ... and then by coach to my Lord Sandwich, with whom I spoke, walking a good while with him in his garden, which and the house is very fine, talking of my Lord Peterborough's accounts, wherein he is concerned both for the foolery as also inconvenience which may happen upon my Lord Peterborough's ill-stating of his matters, so as to have his gaine discovered unnecessarily. We did talk long and freely that I hope the worst is past and all will be well."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Looks as if the righteous Pepys, in high auditing dudgeon, is actually Sandwich's boy acting to hide and obscure Peterborough's ill-gotten gains; Pepys the 'fixer' is having to act because Povy's folly is to be transparent or, perhaps, honest. Note also Pepys has been using Coventry (unwittingly I would think given his stand against fees etc. and his reputation for being financially 'clean') to support him in this piece of work; note also the care taken, there is no open public contact Pepys/Peterborough, which gives insulation and 'denyability' if SP ever decides to tattle or his maneuvering is uncovered.

In this context the rant about Batten's 'rogueries' is fascinating; Pepys has done very much the same in the past six months, even last night " twenty pieces of new gold, a pleasant sight. It cheered my heart; ..."

Michael Robinson  •  Link

Coventry as cover

This is quite splendidly devious; he is well known to be not of Sandwich's clique and thought by many to be actively anti-Sandwich. For his prior active involvement:-

" .... Rider and I to St. James's, and there with Mr. Coventry did proceed strictly upon some fooleries of Mr. Povy's in my Lord Peterborough's accounts, which will touch him home, and I am glad of it, for he is the most troublesome impertinent man that ever I met with. ..."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Pedro  •  Link

the Fleece, a mum house --[?? D.W.]--

Could be Mug House or too late for Sam?...

Mug-house An ale-house was so called in the eighteenth century. Some hundred persons assembled in a large tap-room to drink, sing, and spout. One of the number was made chairman. Ale was served to the guests in their own mugs, and the place where the mug was to stand was chalked on the table. (Brewers Phrase and Fable)

LONDON MUG-HOUSES AND THE MUG-HOUSE RIOTS

Amongst the various clubs which existed in London at the commencement of the eighteenth century, there was not one in greater favour than the Mug-house Club, which met in a great hall in Long Acre, every Wednesday and Saturday, during the winter. The house had got its name from the simple circumstance, that each member drank his ale (the only liquor used) out of a separate mug.

Half way down...
http://www.thebookofdays.com/mont…

deepfatfriar  •  Link

From www.m-w.com:

Main Entry: 3mum
Function: noun
Etymology: German Mumme
Date: 1640
: a strong ale or beer

Robert Gertz  •  Link

I dunno Michael. Much as I side with Tomalin on poor ole Povy, I don't think Sam would be so willing to proclaim Povy's accounting errors so blatantly if he were up to something with Peterborough and Sandwich. Certainly Sandwich (and Sam) would not be adverse to getting a cut as the accounts pass and Povy's poor work jeopardizing that is likely part of Sam's wrath against him but to expose the accounts' flaws surely does no good to some underhanded deal. Still, it is an intriguing notion.

jeannine  •  Link

"there drank my morning draft in good chocollatte, and slabbering my band"
When my daughter was very young, my mother brought her chocolate ice cream, which she divinely enjoyed, but also managed to get all over herself (and every inch of clothing that she was wearing). I learned that chocolate stains really don't come out that easily, so we would always save the ice cream treat until just before bath time and then we'd feed her (wearing only her diaper). We'd practically draw straws to see who was stuck picking her up when she was done and the short straw would pick her up holding her arms length away and plop her into the tub. The long straw wasn't so blessed with as that person had to clean up the kitchen mess.

I'm curious how the servants in Sam's day managed to get the stains out of Sam's bands.

JWB  •  Link

Would you drink "wheat beer" in a Pub called 'the Fleese";and, impair your senses @ 11 PM on Leadenhall St. where the hanged Turner did business?

Dave  •  Link

In answer to Jeannines' question about stains,I seem to remember reading somewhere that ash from a fire mixed with stale urine made a very good stain remover, the question then arises, what do you use to rid your clothes of the smell of pungent urine?

Decisions Decisions, chocolate stains or pee?

Robert Gertz  •  Link

I remember there was a funny episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" where table salt was used as a stain remover.

Pedro  •  Link

"met also upon the 'Change with Mr. Cutler, and he told me how for certain Lawson hath proclaimed warr again with Argier, though they had at his first coming given back the ships which they had taken, and all their men; though they refused afterwards to make him restitution for the goods which they had taken out of them."

The peace was mentioned by Sam on the 30 November 1662, and for the treaty see...

http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/…

jeannine  •  Link

"the question then arises, what do you use to rid your clothes of the smell of pungent urine?

Decisions Decisions, chocolate stains or pee?"

Those chocolate stains are looking pretty good to me!

Australian Susan  •  Link

Regarding naughty speculation about Lady Batten and Mingo;
I am reading a book called Music and Silence by Rose Tremain which largely takes place in the Danish Court of King Christian IV in the early 17th century. At one point (and I don't know if this is true or fantasy) the wife of the King (never made Queen), Kirsten, receives as a present two identical black slave boys called Samuel and Emmanuel a present from King Charles I, nephew to King Christian. Kirsten is portrayed in the book (don't know if this accords with history) as obsessed with sex. It is not long bewfore she has the boys undress that she might feast her eyes (and that's all) on their naked bodies. She is fascinated.
The book also has a minor character have the same operation as Sam did, being cut for the stone - and he survives too.
Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Music-Silen…

Australian Susan  •  Link

"...sent home for another..."
Now when Sam had His Boy, he used him for such errands and we have assumed that Wayneman used to accompany Sam everywhere. So, who is he using here? Local hanging about messenger?

Stains

Salt is awfully good on red wine. (yes, yes, I've had plenty of experience.....)
And, speaking as a mother, I agree with Jeannine - chocolate is very, very difficult to get out. (I have the Easter Day photos to prove it....) (something to bring out at 21sts and weddings.....)

Michael Robinson  •  Link

to expose the accounts' flaws surely does no good to some underhanded deal.

Robert, perhaps the game goes as follows -- expose such substantial flaws in Povy's and his general methods so that attention is drawn very far away from the particular accounting difficulty to be massaged, Peterborough's gain; if by mischance any attention is drawn to that, just gloss over saying a statement by Povy is inherently unreliable we have just shown so etc., etc.

cumsalisgrano  •  Link

Where money flows there be c[r]ookery on the boil:

Povey be not the only one that cannot keep his left hand column informed that should be in the right Hand .

Loyal Officers.
Upon Information given to the House, That one Mr. Cooper, and Major Bayly, and others, did detain, in their Hands, several Sums of Money by them received, for the Use of the indigent loyal Officers;

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee to which the Petition of the loyal indigent Officers was referred, to summon Mr. Cooper, Major Bayly, or any other Persons of whom they shall have Information to detain any Money in their Hands, belonging to the loyal indigent Officers; and to examine the Matter which shall be objected against them; and what Monies they have received, and what is resting in any of their Hands; and to report the Matter, with their Opinions therein, to the House: And the Committee is hereby revived; and they are to sit To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Place formerly appointed.

Upon Information, on the Behalf of the Countess of Pembrooke, That she had long since caused the Money, by her received for the loyal indigent Officers, to be paid into the Hands of Major Bayley; and hath

Acquittances for her Discharge; yet, by Mr. Bayley's Omission to make Entries, in his Books of Accompts, of the Monies, she is like to be again charged with Payment of it;

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee to which the Petition of the indigent loyal Officers was committed, to examine the Matter touching the

Countess of Pembrooke, in relation to the Money by her paid in to Major Bayly, in full; and to certify the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House

From: 'House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 3 May 1664', Journal of the House of Commons: volume 8: 1660-1667 (1802), pp. 555-56. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…. Date accessed: 07 May 2007.

Cactus Wren  •  Link

If I tasted chocolate as infrequently as it seems Sam does, I might drool on myself too.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Hmmn...I dunno, Michael. Sam seems geniunely annoyed at Povy's slipshod work. Why fake such an attitude in the Diary, after all? I think Sam honestly finds the accounting poorly done...He's not against taking a kickback for work honestly performed and his contortions as to what can be considered legit gain and profit can be remarkable but I really believe he's sincere in wanting everything properly accounted for and the work well done. Perhaps the truth is he can't do anything about (Lord) Peterborough riping off the King and Country but he can hit at Povy, who perhaps is more tool than fool.

Michael Robinson  •  Link

Robert, my comment was not clear: apologies.

I don't think Povy necessarily competent, or Pepys' indignation at him faked -- just that Pepys is puling a fast one for Sandwich/Peterborough and knowingly massaging that 'gain' through, while hacking at the Tangier accounts in other places and trying to tidy them up in general 'for the King' and to help salvage his own conscience.

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"the cause of Mr. Roberts, my Lord Privy Seal’s son, against Win, who by false ways did get the father of Mr. Roberts’s wife (Mr. Bodvill) to give him the estate and disinherit his daughter."

Robert Robartes, son and heir apparent of Lord Robartes, Lord Privy Seal, had married Sarah, daughter of John Bodville, who had bequeathed to his daughter and her son Charles an estate in Wales, in return for which Lord Robartes had settled £1000 p.a. on his son and daughter-in-law. A later will in favour of Thomas Wynn had been adjudged fraudulent by a Chancery decree of 21 January 1664, but the court had declared its inability to provide relief in this case and gave Robartes a year's time in which to seek relief elsewhere. On 21 March he had addressed a petition to the House of Lords, thew upshot of which was the hearing which Pepys here describes, and an order of 28 November to the Chancellor 'to make speedy decree...according to Equity and Justice'.

See: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
And: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

(Per L&M footnote)

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"Lawson hath proclaimed warr again with Argier, though they had at his first coming given back the ships which they had taken, and all their men; though they refused afterwards to make him restitution for the goods which they had taken out of them"

Eighteen ships were involved. This led to the imposition of another treaty on Algiers: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… , but there was no formal declaration of war: cf. CSPD Add. 1660-83, p.503. (L&M note)

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... sent home for another ..." -- Now when Sam had His Boy, he used him for such errands and we have assumed that Wayneman used to accompany Sam everywhere. So, who is he using here?

Reminder: Pepys was up late last night receiving 20 new gold coins from John Bland. He must have been invited over for what passed as breakfast today. So Pepys would use one of Mr. Bland's boys for the errand ... or go out in the street and hire an urchin.

What interests me more is what John Bland and Pepys discussed over breakfast. No doubt we will find out soon enough.

I miss Wayneman.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

William Hempson -- Clerk of the Survey at Chatham -- But on February 2, 1664: "This evening Mr. Hempson came and told me how Sir W. Batten his master will not hear of continuing him in his employment as Clerk of the Survey at Chatham, from whence of a sudden he has removed him without any new or extraordinary cause, and I believe (as he himself do in part write, and J. Norman do confess) for nothing but for that he was twice with me the other day and did not wait upon him." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

I'm thinking this Countess of Pembroke must be that superb money-manager, Anne Clifford Sackville Herbert, Countess of Montgomery and Pembroke??? I wish they would spell it out ... I have so much trouble figuring out who's who!

Tonyel  •  Link

re Povy et al:

From past experience (don't ask) if you are going to fiddle the books, it's much easier if the books are in good order. Accounts full of obvious errors invite questions which may, in turn, expose other 'errors'. I suspect that several people may want to have their hands in this particular till.

Chris Squire UK  •  Link

Re: ’ . . slabbering my band sent home for another . . ‘

‘slabber, v. < Low German . . Now chiefly dial.
1. trans. To wet or befoul with saliva; to beslaver or beslobber.
. .1650 A. Weldon Court & Char. King James i. 102 The K[ing] hung about his neck, slabboring his cheeks.
1668 S. Pepys Diary 26 Mar. (1976) IX. 134 Eating of sack-posset and slabbering themselves . . ‘ (OED)

Mary K  •  Link

I cannot be the only wife for whom this little vignette recalls memories of the many times one has had to take a gravy- or sauce-besplattered tie to the dry cleaners. At least Sam's bands won't have been made of silk.

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