Thursday 1 February 1665/66
Up and to the office, where all the morning till late, and Mr. Coventry with us, the first time since before the plague, then hearing my wife was gone abroad to buy things and see her mother and father, whom she hath not seen since before the plague, and no dinner provided for me ready, I walked to Captain Cocke’s, knowing my Lord Bruncker dined there, and there very merry, and a good dinner. Thence my Lord and his mistresse, Madam Williams, set me down at the Exchange, and I to Alderman Backewell’s to set all my reckonings straight there, which I did, and took up all my notes. So evened to this day, and thence to Sir Robert Viner’s, where I did the like, leaving clear in his hands just 2000l. of my owne money, to be called for when I pleased. Having done all this I home, and there to the office, did my business there by the post and so home, and spent till one in the morning in my chamber to set right all my money matters, and so to bed.
11 Annotations
First Reading
Lawrence • Link
I wonder what Mr Pepys is worth at this time? thank goodness that Elizabeth's parents have so far survived the plague!
Ruben • Link
"to Alderman Backewell’s to set all my reckonings straight there, which I did, and took up all my notes. So evened to this day, and thence to Sir Robert Viner’s, where I did the like, leaving clear in his hands just 2000l. of my owne money, to be called for when I pleased"
A primitive and rudimentary kind of banking and capitalizing, based on trust and political stability. Das Kapital was here to stay and grow and grow.
cgs • Link
Sir R will loan it out to the credit Worthies like the King?? and other betters [ who will hand over paper deeds well sealed for the pleasure] a few quid on hand in-case some one wants some coin for walk around???
{ no derivatives and mortgages to sell piece meal to the provide income for the retirement mob}
Samuell ---you do know ?? the king will borrow it for making payments available for keeping ships afloat.
So Samuell how much interest will ye receive for being so flushed.
How life has changed for thee these past few years, when thee needed food for the table ye hocked thy musical instrument.
A. Hamilton • Link
So Samuell how much interest will ye receive
Good question. Do we know what the equivalent was in those days to the London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR)? Could Sam make 10% - L200 a year -- in this game?
Bryan M • Link
Do we know what the equivalent was in those days to the London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR)?
A History of Interest Rates by S Homer and R Sylla provides some 17th century English interest rates on pp 125-126. The legal rate from 1651 to 1714 was 6% but this did not apply to Crown loans. Interest rates for goldsmiths' loans to the Crown during Charles II's reign varied from 8% for well-secured loans to a maximum of 30%.
Goldsmiths paid 4 to 6% on short-term deposits.
http://books.google.com.au/books?…
cgs • Link
Samuell must have been awake when heard his Preacher speak of Matthew 25 14-30 and not day dreaming of the wench in pew 4
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"So evened to this day, and thence to Sir Robert Viner’s, where I did the like, leaving clear in his hands just 2000l. of my owne money, to be called for when I pleased."
L&M: For Pepys's banking methods, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
David G • Link
The diary is full of days like this where Sam goes off with friends and has dinner elsewhere. I don't recall a diary entry in which he mentions that he left a note for his wife to let her know that he's going to be out and won't be back until late. Is there one?
JayW • Link
David G , the servants would have been aware that Sam had been in. That’s probably how he discovered that Bess had gone to see her parent. As no dinner had been made ready, it wa to be expected that he would seek food elsewhere. It doesn’t seem as if people expected to know where everyone was then in the same way we do now.
San Diego Sarah • Link
As Pepys is so specific about the missing lunch, I suspect there was an unusual miscommunication today. The five staff need to eat, so Elizabeth being out does not necessarily cancel cooking. Pepys has eaten alone in his dining room before, but does not like to do so. Since reading was not a given, sending the boy with a message about lunch was probably more usual than leaving/sending a note. The boy could bring back information. All these options appear to have failed today.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... and no dinner provided for me ready ..." The operative word is READY. i.e. 'come back in an hour and you can have dinner at home.'
'But I'm hungry now.'
'Can't be helped -- the chicken was delivered late.'
'Okay ... I'm going out for dinner at Capt. Cocke's.'
'Good idea. I'll let Mrs. Pepys know what happened when she gets home."