Tuesday 9 October 1666

Up and to the office, where we sat the first day since the fire, I think. At noon home, and my uncle Thomas was there, and dined with my brother and I (my father and I were gone abroad), and then to the office again in the afternoon, and there close all day long, and did much business. At night to Sir W. Batten, where Sir R. Ford did occasion some discourse of sending a convoy to the Maderas; and this did put us upon some new thoughts of sending our privateer thither on merchants’ accounts, which I have more mind to, the profit being certain and occasion honest withall. So home, and to supper with my father, and then to set my remainder of my books gilt in order with much pleasure, and so late to bed.


11 Annotations

First Reading

Jesse  •  Link

"sending our privateer thither on merchants’ accounts"

Rather a nice vessel to be loaned for free then used as a fireship. I'd think it could be sold or rented as a regular convoy participant, fetching enough money to buy a couple real junkers if fireships be what you need. Maybe it's tainted due to its 'prize' status.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Jesse, evidently the partners in the Flying Greyhound are bonded to the Admiral to guarantee he receives 10% of the profit.

SPOILER: this is an arrangement Pepys will sell to R. Ford in a fortnight (23 October). http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"Up and to the office, where we sat the first day since the fire, I think."

There was on 29 September "A little meeting at the office by Sir W. Batten, Sir W. Pen, and myself, being the first since the fire." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Mary  •  Link

(my father and wife was gone abroad);

is the reading given in L&M.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

News-Letter, relating chiefly to domestic-affairs

Date: 9 October 1666

Shelfmark: MS. Carte 72, fol(s). 105

The writer notices that the King has refused to wear a guady belt laid out for him, because it seems to be of French make; and that at night he made "a solemn declaration" as to the fashion of apparel he resolved to wear for the future.

All the letters from Holland, it is said, express wonder that after the late "ruin of London", all men among us should continue as merry and hearty, as if no such mischief had happened; and the writer adds that this feeling is confirmed by the King having already permitted a comedy to be performed at the Duke's Theatre. ...
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/s…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

A News-Letter, addressed to Sir George Lane
Written from: [Whitehall]

Date: 9 October 1666

Shelfmark: MS. Carte 222, fol(s). 125-126

Upon occurrence of renewed difficulties in matters formal affecting the negotiations for a peace between Spain and Portugal Sir Robert Southwell has proceeded to Madrid to make a last effort for their removal.

Recent proceedings in Parliament are noticed.

The King has refused to wear some apparel that seemed to be of "French work"; and has made, says the writer, - "a solemn and peremptory declaration" of his intended fashions in dress [The purpose was the encouragement of English manufactures and products; and, particularly, the substitution of broadcloth for more costly fabrics], - viz, strait Spanish breeches, to the mid leg; and a loose coat, of the "Muscovite or Polish" style; and with buskins, instead of shoes & stockings: - the sword being girt upon the vest.

A duel has been fought [in London] between Lord Fauconberg and Sir Thomas Osborne, upon a quarrel arising in Yorkshire. ..
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/s…

Second Reading

arby  •  Link

Buskin, "a knee- or calf-length boot", but there's also "bushkin", a half-boot. Same?

Louise Hudson  •  Link

Arby, Probably. It’s just a matter of Pepys’ poor spelling.

Mary K  •  Link

Pepys and his educated contemporaries do not have "poor spelling." They are living at a time when the spelling of individual words in the national lexicon has not yet been "fixed" but remains flexible - though not to the extent that it renders any text incomprehensible. We have to wait for the wider dissemination of authoritative and respected dictionaries for many words to acquire an absolutely 'right' spelling.

Gerald Berg  •  Link

TF

Chuck2 allowing a comedy to be performed reminds me of Gilbert Gottfried recounting his version of The Aristocrats joke shortly after the 9/11 2001 tragedy. Then, it was thought to be too soon for there to be joking.

jimmigee  •  Link

R.I.P. Gilbert Gottfried, this month.

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