Monday 11 March 1666/67

Up, and with my cold still upon me and hoarseness, but I was forced to rise and to the office, where all the morning busy, and among other things Sir W. Warren come to me, to whom of late I have been very strange, partly from my indifference how more than heretofore to get money, but most from my finding that he is become great with my Lord Bruncker, and so I dare not trust him as I used to do, for I will not be inward with him that is open to another. By and by comes Sir H. Cholmly to me about Tangier business, and then talking of news he tells me how yesterday the King did publiquely talk of the King of France’s dealing with all the Princes of Christendome. As to the States of Holland, he [the King of France] hath advised them, on good grounds, to refuse to treat with us at the Hague, because of having opportunity of spies, by reason of our interest in the House of Orange; and then, it being a town in one particular province, it would not be fit to have it, but in a town wherein the provinces have equal interest, as at Mastricht, and other places named. That he advises them to offer no terms, nor accept of any, without his privity and consent, according to agreement; and tells them, if not so, he hath in his power to be even with them, the King of England being come to offer him any terms he pleases; and that my Lord St. Albans is now at Paris, Plenipotentiary, to make what peace he pleases; and so he can make it, and exclude them, the Dutch, if he sees fit. A copy of this letter of the King of France’s the Spanish Ambassador here gets, and comes and tells all to our King; which our King denies, and says the King of France only uses his power of saying anything. At the same time, the King of France writes to the Emperor, that he is resolved to do all things to express affection to the Emperor, having it now in his power to make what peace he pleases between the King of England and him, and the States of the United Provinces; and, therefore, that he would not have him to concern himself in a friendship with us; and assures him that, on that regard, he will not offer anything to his disturbance, in his interest in Flanders, or elsewhere. He writes, at the same time, to Spayne, to tell him that he wonders to hear of a league almost ended between the Crown of Spayne and England, by my Lord Sandwich, and all without his privity, while he was making a peace upon what terms he pleased with England: that he is a great lover of the Crown of Spayne, and would take the King and his affairs, during his minority, into his protection, nor would offer to set his foot in Flanders, or any where else, to disturb him; and, therefore, would not have him to trouble himself to make peace with any body; only he hath a desire to offer an exchange, which he thinks may be of moment to both sides: that is, that he [France] will enstate the King of Spayne in the kingdom of Portugall, and he and the Dutch will put him into possession of Lisbon; and, that being done, he [France] may have Flanders: and this, they say; do mightily take in Spayne, which is sensible of the fruitless expence Flanders, so far off, gives them; and how much better it would be for them to be master of Portugall; and the King of France offers, for security herein, that the King of England shall be bond for him, and that he will countersecure the King of England with Amsterdam; and, it seems, hath assured our King, that if he will make a league with him, he will make a peace exclusive to the Hollander. These things are almost romantique, but yet true, as Sir H. Cholmly tells me the King himself did relate it all yesterday; and it seems as if the King of France did think other princes fit for nothing but to make sport for him: but simple princes they are, that are forced to suffer this from him. So at noon with Sir W. Pen by coach to the Sun in Leadenhall Streete, where Sir R. Ford, Sir W. Batten, and Commissioner Taylor (whose feast it was) were, and we dined and had a very good dinner. Among other discourses Sir R. Ford did tell me that he do verily believe that the city will in few years be built again in all the greatest streets, and answered the objections I did give to it. Here we had the proclamation this day come out against the Duke of Buckingham, commanding him to come in to one of the Secretaries, or to the Lieutenant of the Tower. A silly, vain man to bring himself to this: and there be many hard circumstances in the proclamation of the causes of this proceeding of the King’s, which speak great displeasure of the King’s, and crimes of his.

Then to discourse of the business of the day, that is, to see Commissioner Taylor’s accounts for his ship he built, The Loyall London, and it is pretty to see how dully this old fellow makes his demands, and yet plaguy wise sayings will come from the man sometimes, and also how Sir R. Ford and [Sir] W. Batten did with seeming reliance advise him what to do, and how to come prepared to answer objections to the Common Council.

Thence away to the office, where late busy, and then home to supper, mightily pleased with my wife’s trill, and so to bed.

This night Mr. Carcasse did come to me again to desire favour, and that I would mediate that he might be restored, but I did give him no kind answer at all, but was very angry, and I confess a good deal of it from my Lord Bruncker’s simplicity and passion.


15 Annotations

First Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Arlington to Sandwich
Written from: Whitehall
Date: 11 March 1667

Upon consideration of Lord Sandwich's letters of the 5th and 13th of February, the King has determined that the Treaty of Portugal shall be pressed conditionally; that of Commerce positively. To the latter, a private article should be added, engaging the contracting parties not to assist one another's enemies. The Portugal treaty will be recommended to that Court from hence. Adds that "the Baron d'Isola is troubled ... at Spain's refusal of the title of King to Portugal."

http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/s…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Portuguese Restoration War and its end

"By 1662, Spain had committed itself to a major effort to end the rebellion. John of Austria the Younger, Philip IV's illegitimate son, led 14,000 men into Alentejo, and, the following year, they succeeded in taking Évora, the major city of the region. The Portuguese, under António Luís de Meneses, 1st Marquess of Marialva and the German soldier of fortune, Friedrich Hermann von Schönberg, the duke of Schomberg, who had been contracted, along with other foreign officers, to bolster the leadership of Portuguese forces, were able to turn the tide. They defeated the Spanish in a major engagement at Ameixial on 8 June 1663, and this forced John of Austria to abandon Évora and retreat across the border.

"The Portuguese now had some 30,000 troops in the Alentejo-Extremadura theater, but they could not draw the Spanish into a major engagement until June 1665, when a new Spanish commander, the marquis of Caracena, took over Vila Viçosa with about 23,000 men, including recruits from Germany and Italy. The Portuguese relief column under António Luís de Meneses and Schomberg met them at Montes Claros on 17 June 1665. The Portuguese infantry and gun emplacements broke the Spanish cavalry, and the Spanish force lost over 10,000 men, including casualties and prisoners. Shortly thereafter, the Portuguese retook Vila Viçosa. These were the last major engagements of the war.

"Both sides returned to skirmishing campaigns. Portugal, with the intercession of its English ally, had sought a truce, but after the Portuguese victory at Montes Claros and with the signing of a Franco-Portuguese treaty in 1667, Spain finally agreed to recognize Portugal's independence on 13 February 1668." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port…

cape henry  •  Link

I must say, TF, you never cease to amaze and enlighten.
Thanks.

cum salis grano  •  Link

Cape: I dothe agree, Mr Foreman and Mr Robinson dothe add such wonderful material so that we can have insight to living in the City of post Cromwell.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"...partly from my indifference how more than heretofore to get money..."

Cough, cough...Excuse me?

Carl in Boston  •  Link

it seems as if the King of France did think other princes fit for nothing but to make sport for him: but simple princes they are, that are forced to suffer this from him.
Such high and imposing expressions on matters of great pitch and moment. I say, to be a fly on the wall at this time. Yay, Sam. Nowadays secretaries and salesmen on the road have Blackberries and are pestered day and night over matters of nothing.

arby  •  Link

"Plaguy"? A search gets me "annoying", but that doesn't seem to work in this context.
My thanks too for all the illumination, Terry and all. I needed it today, a particularly thick entry for my thick skull. Thanks, rb

cum salis grano  •  Link

I'd had guess without checking, that he was annoying like a damn gnat
"...and yet plaguy wise sayings will come from the man sometimes, ..."

OED:


plaguey, adj. and adv. A. adj.
Forms: 15-16 plagie, 15-16 plaguie, 15-16 plagy, 15- plaguy, 16- plaguey.
1. Now arch. and rare.

a. Of the nature of or relating to bubonic plague or any other plague-like disease; pestiferous, pestilential, pernicious. Also fig.
1574..
1653 DUCHESS OF NEWCASTLE Poems & Fancies 62 Corrupts me, makes me full of plaguy soares, which Putrefaction on mens Bodies poures.
1668 DUCHESS OF NEWCASTLE Grounds Nat. Philos. X. ii. 132-3 And whereas other sorts of Gangren's begin outwardly, and pierce inwardly; the Plaguy Gangrene begins inwardly, and pierces outwardly.

b. That affects like a plague; that causes severe affliction, damage, or distress, or is seen as a punishment or judgement. Obs.
1595.....
1663 S. BUTLER Hudibras I. iii. 163 What plaguy mischiefs and mishaps Do dog him still. 1690
2. In weakened use: troublesome, annoying, vexatious, tiresome, disagreeable; (colloq., as an intensifier) confounded, cursed, damnable, excessive, inordinate.
1594

c. Infected or afflicted with the plague; plague-stricken.

1603 T. DEKKER Wonderfull Yeare sig. E4v, Let vs see what doings the Sexton of Stepney hath: whose ware-houses being all full of dead commodities, sauing one: that one he left open a whole night..knowing ye theeues this yeare were too honest to break into such cellers. Besides those that were left there, had such plaguy pates, that none durst meddle with them for their liues.
604 T. WRIGHT Passions of Minde (new ed.) IV. ii. §7. 139 Many physitians will scarce aduenture to deale with plaguie patients.

1613 T. JACKSON Eternall Truth Scriptures II. vii. §4 To make no question whether he should meete his friend in a plaguie house.
1686 J. GOAD Astro-meteorologica III. i. 389 New Diseases..which have broke out..into this Plaguy Age.

1696 J. PECHEY tr. T. Sydenham Whole Wks. II. ii. 66 The reception of the Infection, either immediately by accompanying some plaguey person, or mediately transmitted by a Fomes from some other place.

2. In weakened use: troublesome, annoying, vexatious, tiresome, disagreeable; (colloq., as an intensifier) confounded, cursed, damnable, excessive, inordinate.

. 1681 A. BEHN 2nd Pt. Rover I. i. 7 Nay, Nay, Ned, the World knows I am a plaguy fellow at your secrets.

1694 P. A. MOTTEUX tr. Rabelais Wks. IV. lxiv. 254 Women that have a plaguy deal of Religion.

language hat  •  Link

In other words, Sam is using it simply as an intensifier, as we might say "damned wise."

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"he [the King of France] hath advised them, on good grounds, to refuse to treat with us at the Hague, because of having opportunity of spies, by reason of our interest in the House of Orange;"

For the Orangists L&M remind us to see http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"my Lord St. Albans is now at Paris, Plenipotentiary, to make what peace he pleases; and so he can make it, and exclude them, the Dutch, if he sees fit"

L&M scoff: This story about St Albans's power was false, but was widely believed in many parts of Europe (as it was intended to be). Sent as envoy to Paris on 28 January, St Albans was not empowered even to sign preliminaries.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"As to the States of Holland, he [the King of France] hath advised them, on good grounds, to refuse to treat with us at the Hague, because of having opportunity of spies, by reason of our interest in the House of Orange; "

L&M: Maastricht and the other towns canvassed in this connection were in the frontier area near to the Spanish Netherlands held in common ownership by the seven united provinces and known as the 'Lands of the Generality'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gen…

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Anyone know what this was about: 'Adds that "the Baron d'Isola is troubled ... at Spain's refusal of the title of King to Portugal."'?

The only thing I found was a mention of the Baron in Clarendon's memoirs as being an ambassador from the Holy Roman Emperor to the Peace Treaty:

"At the same Time, the Baron De Isola, who was Envoy from the Emperor, and a much more dexterous Man than the Spanish Ambassador, and so more relied upon in Madrid as well as Vienna, in those Affairs which concerned their joint Interest, pretended to have received Letters from Holland, by the Consent and with the Privity of ‘De Witt, that they had there a great Mind to Peace; and that if De JWitt (who was looked upon as the only Man that opposed it) might receive any Assurance of the Goodwill and Protection of the King, he would be willing to negotiate the Peace, whether France should be willing to it or no; and the Baron (who had nothing more to sollicit on the Emperor's behalf) offered immediately to take his leave and return to Brussels, and from thence he would go incognito to The Hague and confer with ‘De Witt, and would thereupon give his Majesty Advertisement what he might depend upon."
https://books.google.com/books?pg…

I thought Portugal had finally kicked Spain out (with England's help). So maybe this means that Spain is resisting accepting the inevitable?

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Later on Hyde's memoires say [I've started a new paragraph where Hyde uses a period.]:

"The first News we heard from Paris and The Hague, after the Earl of St. Albans being arrived there, and the Baron ‘De Isola at Brussels, was a great Complaint, that the King had sent the Baron De Isola privately to The Hague with Overtures of Peace; but especially with design to divide Holland from France, and to perswade them to break their Alliance with them; in which there were some particular Expressions which his Majesty had in truth used to the Baron De Isola, and many others which he had never used.

"The King had reason to conclude from hence, that ‘De JWitt was never to be treated withal privately; and that the Baron De Isola was not to be trusted, he having persuaded and prevailed with his Majesty to give him leave to speak with ‘De JWitt upon some Letters he had shewed the King from Monsieur Friquett, the Emperor's Envoy at The Hague, a Gentleman not unknown to his Majesty, and of a very clear Reputation; wherein there was mention of a Discourse made by De JWitt to him, which might very well encourage the King to give that in Charge to the Baron which his Majesty had in truth commended to him: Nor in truth had it been material, if he had said no more than his Majesty gave him leave to do; which yet he promised not to mention, except he clearly discerned the other to be very willing to deal as freely with his Majesty; but it plainly appeared that the Baron had far exceeded his Commission, and said many Things for which he had not any Power, and which in truth had never passed in Discourse between the King and him.

"And as the King of France had always expressed the greatest Prejudice, and the most bitter Jealousy, from the Time that the Baron was designed for England, as a Person who delighted in nothing so much as in puzzling and perplexing, and creating Intricacies in all Treatics in which he had ever been engaged, which had been many in several Courts of Christendom; so indeed his Parts were most proportioned for embroiling and for preventing any Conclusion, in which he gave himself leave to say and do any thing which he thought would contribute to his End, without the least Consideration of Ingenuity or Sincerity in the Matter; though otherwise it cannot be denied that he was a Man of great Parts, and of a universal Understanding in the Affairs of Christendom.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"At the same time the King of France complained of the Authority given by his Majesty to the Baron De Isola, we found in the Dutch printed Gazette the Copy of a Letter written then by the King of France himself to the States; in which he informed them of the Earl of St. Albans being newly come to him with Propositions from the King of England in order to Peace; and that he had a Plenipotentiary Commission to treat and conclude, mentioning some of the Conditions he had offered; and therefore desired that they would arm their Ambassadors in France to join in the Treaty.

"This gave his Majesty great Offence, and just cause to suspect that whatever Pretences France had made, it did not at all desire the Peace; and he had the more reason to complain of this Injury, because there was not the least Colour or Ground of Truth in the relation, the Earl of St. Albans having not any thing like a Commission; nor as he protested upon this Occasion (whereof he had likewise taken Notice at Paris, and complained before he could have any Advertisement from England), had he ever pretended to have the least Power from his Majesty; nor had he ever mentioned any of those Particulars to any Person which were so formally inserted in that King's Letter to the States: And his Majesty was the more confirmed in his Belief that France would not contribute to the Peace, because they did at this very Time, with equal Passion to ‘De Wit himself, oppose the Treaty at The Hague; against which they could have no reason to except, if they had a mind to the Peace, unless they hoped by the Trick that is mentioned before, to have got the Treaty to Paris by a Commission to the Earl of St. Albans, which they had tried all the ways they could to obtain, and his Mojo: as positively refused to grant, and then resolved to insist on The Hague, or upon some Place in Flanders, let the Success be what it would."

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