Tuesday 28 August 1666

Up, and in my new closet a good while doing business. Then called on Mrs. Martin and Burroughs of Westminster about business of the former’s husband. Which done, I to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon I, with my wife and Mercer, to Philpott Lane, a great cook’s shop, to the wedding of Mr. Longracke, our purveyor, a good, sober, civil man, and hath married a sober, serious mayde. Here I met much ordinary company, I going thither at his great request; but there was Mr. Madden and his lady, a fine, noble, pretty lady, and he, and a fine gentleman seems to be. We four were most together; but the whole company was very simple and innocent. A good-dinner, and, what was best, good musique. After dinner the young women went to dance; among others Mr. Christopher Pett his daughter, who is a very pretty, modest girle, I am mightily taken with her; and that being done about five o’clock, home, very well pleased with the afternoon’s work. And so we broke up mightily civilly, the bride and bridegroom going to Greenwich (they keeping their dinner here only for my sake) to lie, and we home, where I to the office, and anon am on a sudden called to meet Sir W. Pen and Sir W. Coventry at the Victualling Office, which did put me out of order to be so surprised. But I went, and there Sir William Coventry did read me a letter from the Generalls to the King,1 a most scurvy letter, reflecting most upon Sir W. Coventry, and then upon me for my accounts (not that they are not true, but that we do not consider the expence of the fleete), and then of the whole office, in neglecting them and the King’s service, and this in very plain and sharp and menacing terms. I did give a good account of matters according to our computation of the expence of the fleete. I find Sir W. Coventry willing enough to accept of any thing to confront the Generalls. But a great supply must be made, and shall be in grace of God! But, however, our accounts here will be found the true ones. Having done here, and much work set me, I with greater content home than I thought I should have done, and so to the office a while, and then home, and a while in my new closet, which delights me every day more and more, and so late to bed.


28 Annotations

First Reading

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"...to the wedding of Mr. Longracke, our purveyor, a good, sober, civil man, and hath married a sober, serious mayde."

I translate this to mean in part...Not a Bagwell situation. But with Sam, one can never be sure.

"After dinner the young women went to dance; among others Mr. Christopher Pett his daughter, who is a very pretty, modest girle, I am mightily taken with her..." Seems odd that with a brilliant and important man like Pett present Sam keeps harping on the 'simplicity' and 'innocence' of the company. Should we take this to mean there may have been sophisticated, brilliant, talented, outstanding folks present but nobody big at Court?

"Yes, Bessie (She would be called Muffy in the US 300 years later) there are some very niiiccceee people here but nobody who's really...People, you know."

By the way, Chris?...Get your daughter away from that man...Quick.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"...Sir William Coventry did read me a letter from the Generalls to the King, a most scurvy letter, reflecting most upon Sir W. Coventry, and then upon me for my accounts (not that they are not true, but that we do not consider the expence of the fleete), and then of the whole office, in neglecting them and the King’s service, and this in very plain and sharp and menacing terms."

What to do...What to do?

Ah... There...Sam grabs onto the guide who has led him through many a near-disaster.

"Aubry...For God's sake impart to me some measure of advice...Comfort..." thumbs "Way to Riches..."

Ah...

"Chapter Fifty-five...

"So thou hast had thy first disaster... Note that had thou avoided the offices of Supply in thy profession as related in Chapter Fifty-three, thine burden would be as nothing. Yet here thou sits...Rancor no doubt heaped upon thee by the powerful in thy affairs."

"Oh, Hugh...Too true, too true...Whatever shall I do...?"

"Take heart then, man and do not whine for the Lord's manifold mercy...It behooves thee to find salvation in thine own resources which raised thee to such heights. Above all gird thyself to meet all challengers with open account books (See Chapter Thirty-seven on double entry bookkeeping and the happy land of the Swiss) and..."

Paul Chapin  •  Link

RG, although "Mr. Christopher Pett his daughter" (i.e. Pett's daughter) was present at the wedding party, there's no indication in the entry that Pett himself was there.

Jesse  •  Link

"...upon me for my accounts (not that they are not true, but that we do not consider the expence of the fleete), and then of the whole office, in neglecting them and the King’s service"

Seems like Pepys is caught between the proverbial rock of finances being what they are and a hard place of the "Generalls" viz. their "scurvy letter." Frustrating no doubt but Pepys, really having nothing to hide, and with growing confidence in his position, is willing to lay his cards on the table ("our accounts here will be found the true ones") and let the chips fall where they may.

language hat  •  Link

"among others Mr. Christopher Pett his daughter"

This is standard usage of the time for "Mr. Christopher Pett's daughter" (based on a mistaken idea about the origin of the possessive suffix). I don't know if they actually said "his" when speaking or if it was just a fancy way of writing.

language hat  •  Link

The more I think of it the more likely I think it is that nobody actually said "his" when speaking, that it was purely a graphic flourish.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Even a Pett daughter if Chris hasn't shown is still a prominent citizen...My question is what are Sam's criteria for what constitutes "good society" now? I'm suspicious that while Evelyn would make the cut...Greatorex and even Hooke might not.

jeannine  •  Link

Sam and Rupert

Spolier. Sam already had a dislike for Rupert in the Diary to date and it's not clear where that actually came from (before the Diary perhaps?). Up until now Rupert probably hasn't really had any interactions with Sam to cause him to actually 'take note' of him in a serious fashion. Rupert is NOT one to be crossed.

Rupert is a dedicated 'soldier' and Sam is a dedicated 'administrator'. Both are trying to do the best that they can with the limits that they have (bad seamen, lack of provisions, funds, etc). To Jesse's point above, as Sam starts to lay his cards on the table he will find himself at greater odds with Rupert, which will be interesting to see unfold.

Louise H  •  Link

"not that they are not true, but that we do not consider the expence of the fleete"

I'm not sure I understand the nature of the dispute with Rupert. Rupert's saying Coventry and Pepys haven't sent enough supplies for the fleet. Pepys is confident their accounts will show they have. It this a dispute about how much the fleet really needs? I.e., is this about how much food & drink is needed per sailor (which was standardized I believe) or about how many sailors needed provisioning? Alternatively, do they agree on those things, and Rupert is accusing Coventry of sending less than is agreed, and Pepys is saying he's confident he can show that all that is agreed was sent? Or something else?

Andrew Hamilton  •  Link

"Want provisions according to their own computation, not Sir Wm. Coventry’s, to last to the end of October”

I take it the generals disagree with Pepys (via Coventry)on the adequacy of the total supply, which could be due either to taking on larger numbers of men than the standard factors allow, or to the allowance per man.

Evidence from the diary suggests the generals took on more men than allowed for in the Navy Office's supply factors. Here is Sir William Coventry two days before the St. James's Day battle of July 25, commenting on the condition of the fleet:

"takes notice, which is worth notice, that the fleete hath lane now near fourteen days without any demand for a farthingworth of any thing of any kind, but only to get men. He also observes, that with this excesse of men, nevertheless, they have thought fit to leave behind them sixteen ships, which they have robbed of their men, which certainly might have been manned, and they been serviceable in the fight, and yet the fleete well-manned, according to the excesse of supernumeraries, which we hear they have."

http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

cgs  •  Link

Anyone that has been in the supply business can tell you that there is big 'lossage' between paper pushers issuing requirements and the actuall arrival of supplies at required point of usage. Underestimating of actual versus perceived, deliveries starting out on the journey and ending up in another market, [be it one of the dull colors], losses in the holding depot vanishing out of a side door, spoilage, breakage.
What we are reading is the normal tale of "your department never mine" when in reality everyone contributes to the lack of supplies for the Tar on the ropes hawling sail.
The main reason is "doreme" or the poverty of Kings purse.
It sounds so simple 100 tars, 1 biscuit , 1 oz of cheese per day: 30 days x 100 x 1 oz of cheese gives 187.5 lbs of best Dubliner.

Then there is spoilage, how many mice are there etc.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

I remember that Sam noted delays and problems with victualing earlier, to such an extent he feared losing Coventry's good opinion and that on a couple of occasions the victualing vessels had missed their tide or not gone out in time to reach the fleet. I wonder if Sam's records will confirm that port warehouses and supply ships were properly manned as of the present but the real truth is that supplies failed to reach the fleet in time and are often rotting away at port. Along of course with the likely wastage others have noted. Sam and Rupert are likely both in the right. The supplies were gathered and eventually sent out but much did not reach the fleet. Sounds like there's a job at sea for our administrator in sorting this all out. I'm surprised Coventry and the Duke or Sam himself haven't insisted Sam or someone go out to the fleet with some of the supply vessels and check on loss in transit long before this.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"...called on Mrs. Martin and Burroughs of Westminster about business of the former’s husband."

Hmmn...Called on the favorite mistress and the widow he's been 'assisting' in exchange for 'favors'. Now why would Mrs. Burroughs be involved in Betty Martin's husband's business? Interesting too that Sam seems utterly unconcerned that these two should know each other. While it could be Sam's way of throwing Mrs. Burroughs a share in what business he gives the Martins, it could suggest that Betty M is fully aware that her friend sees other women and is quite comfortable about it; same being true of the widowed Mrs. B. I can't imagine they just smiled at each other and never discussed their good and prominent friend, the grand CoA, Pepys.

Of course it could all have been utterly innocent...

"Mrs. Martin...Mrs. Burroughs, of whose tragic recent loss I told you."

"Oh, yes...My poor lamb..."

"I was hoping Mrs. Martin that perhaps you and Mrs. Burrough, being in similar lines of trade, could work together to supply our sailors in some of the cloth and linen we so badly need."

"Oh, Mr. P..."

"And of course I thought your husband Mr. Martin would be just the man to coordinate such work..."

"He's such a grand man, Mr. P. is...Isn't he?"

"Oh, yes..." Mrs. Burroughs, fondly. "No man kinder to a lady in distress." Beaming smile to a beaming, avuncular Sam.

Uh-huh...Betty stares.

I thought so...

***

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Then again, perhaps less so...

"Well..." a blinking Betty M stares after the hurrying Pepys... "Must press on, ladies. Many...Thanks..." faint call, dying on the breeze of his rushed pace. "...that was so fast I'd bet we don't even get it into the Diary."

"Hardly worth it, anyways." Betty B notes with grin...Pulling up dress. "Though he got did get a two-fer today...And a decent discount, considering what he offered in trade."

"Aye...Well, he's a good soul in heart, love. Though as to the flesh...Perhaps a bit weak."

"He's probably off to his actress that Betty Knipp or that surgeon's wife, Mrs. Pierce...And I happen to know he's been at the home of a certain Betty Bagwell a bit too often for easy explanation."

"He's got his sights on that Mitchell girl now, I hear tell...Young Betty, the spirits' shopowner's wife. Does seem a bit hard on that pretty girl he's got at home." Martin shakes head.

"Well, that's it then..." Mrs Burroughs grins. "He clearly can't tell his Bettys apart. To our profit, anyway..."

"Well...He has been complaining about his eyes..." Martin smiles.

"Ha, ha, ha..."

***

Glyn  •  Link

Speaking personally, if I was criticised out of the blue by such people, then I know that my first reaction would be panic even if it was completely untrue. I doubt if I would be able to make a good response.

So I do admire Sam's coolness, and thick skin, when under fire.

cgs  •  Link

oh!!! my eye!! Betty Martin????? comes to mind

Alec  •  Link

I have just noticed that closet is spelt with two Ts in yesterday's missive. Is this an error by Sammy's scribe, Master Gyford - who, judging by Sammy's approach towards misbehaving servants, will soon get a sore whipping - or was Sammy inconsistent with his spelling?

alta fossa  •  Link

Samuell would 'emphazise' his points by written enunciation,e.g. fishin' as in fishing etc.
he rote as he tort, not having to 'relie' on spell checker and OED. Thus he was trying very hard to make sure we do not Google 'is thorts.

samples OED
Also 4-7 closett, 5-6 -ette, 6 claus(s)et, Sc. closat, 6-7 closset, 7 clossett. [a. OF. closet, dim. of clos:{em}L. clausum: see CLOSE n.1 and -ET1. In later Fr. applied exclusively to a small enclosure in the open air.]

1. a. A room for privacy or retirement; a private room; an inner chamber; formerly often = BOWER 2, 2b; in later use always a small room: see 4.
?1370 Robt. Cicyle 57 A slepe hym toke In hys closet.
-------
wc
7. Short for ‘Closet of ease,’ ‘water-closet’.
1662 GERBIER Princ. 27 A Closet of ease.

-----
1666 PEPYS Diary (1879) III. 422 Tom Cheffins..the king's *closett-keeper.

photo editing service  •  Link

I had read that the diaries were to be published and I am glad to have found them!

Claire L  •  Link

language hat: "This is standard usage of the time for “Mr. Christopher Pett’s daughter” (based on a mistaken idea about the origin of the possessive suffix)."

I thought this WAS the origin of the possessive suffix and was delighted to see it in action. ("Mr. Christopher Pett his daughter.") Can you please elucidate?

language hat  •  Link

The suffix goes back to Old English (e.g., scip 'ship,' genitive scipes) and has nothing to do with the possessive pronoun, but during the Renaissance they got it into their heads that it did (along with many other historically wrong ideas, like adding an -h- to "author") and so started writing it that way.

language hat  •  Link

Don't feel bad -- I thought the same thing until I started taking linguistics classes!

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

From a post about the Generals' complaint of two days ago:

"we are to attend the King at White Hall this afternoon, and that it is about a complaint from the Generalls against us."

L&M: Pepys's victualling organisation had suffered in the last three weeks from lack of cash, bad weather, desertion, and above all from the failure of some victualling ships to rendezvous with the fleet. He had been forced to use colliers to carry victuals to the fleet. [The victualer] Gauden blamed the press-gangs who tool sailors from the victualling ships.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

cgs is right, methinks:

What we are reading is the normal tale of "your department never mine" when in reality everyone contributes to the lack of supplies for the Tar on the ropes hawling sail.

Peach  •  Link

Poor Sam; I've seen his pain. When I was in the Navy there were often clashes between lower enlisted that were capable and competent, and officers who were demanding either the impossible or the illegal. It always helped to have a bulldog senior enlisted (or prior-enlisted senior officer) willing to go to the mat and force the officer's hand, and done well it resulted in some bruised ego for the upper eschelons but a much relieved sailor who would go gratefully back to his job. Looks like Sam has the benefit of a bulldog on his side AND the confidence in his own work to stand on.

It's interesting to see the natal version of what would become the modern Navy. I wonder at what point we lost the "gentlemen officer" and switched to a purely professional force. I wonder if Sam would be impressed or horrified at how we do things now. I bet, either way, he'd have some suggestions...

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Being an officer made you a gentleman

In the Regency era [1811 – 1820], social status was closely related to career and wealth. An Army officer or Navy officer was considered a gentleman. Thus a man could gain an element of “respectability” that they might not hold by virtue of their birth. Moreover an officer’s status was considered higher than that of other gentlemanly professions: the church, the law and medicine.
https://randombitsoffascination.c…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Modern sensibilities tend to be uncomfortable with the concept of buying a commission. In the Regency era, the system was viewed differently. They believed that since men had to pay for their rank, men of fortune and character that had a real interest in the fate of the nation would be drawn to the military.

Moreover, since they ‘owned’ their commission, they would be more responsible with their ‘property’ than someone with nothing to lose. Private ownership of rank also led to perception that since officers did not owe their rank to the King, they would be less likely to be used by the King against the people. https://randombitsoffascination.c…

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"I wonder at what point we lost the "gentlemen officer" and switched to a purely professional force."

According to Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His…:

"The Navy grew considerably during the global struggle with France that started in 1690 and culminated in the Napoleonic Wars, a time when the practice of fighting under sail was developed to its highest point."

The moment Britain had a full-time navy with purpose-built ships, then training, exams, formalized ranks etc. came along. The Navy became a career; by the end of the century the swapping of ranks as we've seen between the Gentlemen Captains during this war no longer happen.

"At the start of the Restoration, Parliament listed 40 ships of the Royal Navy with a complement of 3,695 sailors.

"The administration of the navy was greatly improved by Sir William Coventry and Samuel Pepys, both of whom began their service in 1660 with the Restoration. While it was Pepys' diary that made him famous, his nearly 30 years of administration were crucial in replacing the ad hoc processes of years past with regular programs of supply, construction, pay, etc.

"In 1664 the English captured New Amsterdam resulting in the Second Dutch War. In 1666 the Four Days Battle was a defeat for the English but the Dutch fleet was crushed a month later off Orfordness. In 1667 the Dutch mounted the Raid on the Medway, which resulted in the most humiliating defeat in the Royal Navy's history. The English were also defeated at Solebay in 1672.

"The experience of large-scale battle was instructive to the Navy; the Articles of War regularizing the conduct of officers and seaman, and the "Fighting Instructions" establishing the line of battle, both date from this period.

"Pepys was responsible for introducing the "Navy List" which fixed the order of promotion. In 1683 the "Victualling Board" was organized the ration scales. The reforms of Pepys under both Charles II and James II, were important in the professionalization of the Royal Navy.

"The Glorious Revolution of 1688 rearranged the political map of Europe, and led to wars with France that lasted for over a century. This was the age of sail. The ships evolved in minor ways, but technique and tactics were honed to a high degree. The battles of the Napoleonic Wars entailed feats impossible for 17th century fleets.

"The landing of William III and the Glorious Revolution was a gigantic effort involving 100 warships and 400 transports carrying 11,000 infantry and 4,000 horses.

"Louis XIV declared war days later, a conflict known as the War of the Grand Alliance. The English defeat at the Battle of Beachy Head of 1690 led to an improved version of the Fighting Instructions, and subsequent operations against French ports proved more successful, leading to decisive victory at La Hougue in 1692.

But by then Pepys was out of it. He and William were not friends.

Log in to post an annotation.

If you don't have an account, then register here.