Wednesday 7 October 1668

[In this part of the “Diary” no entry occurs for thirteen days, though there are several pages left blank. During the interval Pepys went into the country, as he subsequently mentions his having been at Saxham, in Suffolk, during the king’s visit to Lord Crofts, which took place at this time (see October 23rd, host). He might also probably have gone to Impington to fetch his wife. The pages left blank were never filled up. — B.]

[On this day Pepys is known to have visited the King, who was staying at Little Saxham in Suffolk. — P.G.]


10 Annotations

First Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

This night Pepys joined the King and court at Little Saxham, where Lord Crofts was (L&M)

On 23 October James Pearse, the surgeon, will share many tales of the court with Pepys and will describe scenes at "Saxham" (as the Diary records it) that Pepys did not witness. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Ossory to Ormond
Written from: [Dublin]
Date: 7 October 1668

In the event of the Government of Ireland being put into other hands [ than those of the Duke, his father ] the writer desires that he may "have liberty of retiring, for a year; by which time", he adds, "there may happen such changes, as that those in favour in both Kingdoms may not be so averse to our family as they are at present".

Mentions the rumours communicated to the writer by Sir A. Forbes as to the persons (including the writer himself) who are, it is thought, likely to be put into a Commission for the government of Ireland, under new conditions; a scheme of government, "by plurality of voices", which, as far as the writer is advised of it, is of small promise for the future.

http://www.rsl.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwm…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Exchanging government by one for government by many is fully underway

Ossory "Mentions the rumours communicated to the writer by Sir A. Forbes as to the persons (including the writer himself) who are, it is thought, likely to be put into a Commission for the government of Ireland, under new conditions; a scheme of government, “by plurality of voices”, which, as far as the writer is advised of it, is of small promise for the future."

These past months Pepys has been required to report to committees of various sorts -- the Committee of Accounts (or Brooke House Committee), the post Thomas Wriothesley, Lord Treasurer Treasury Commissioners, etc.

12 August 1668 "Met Captain Cocke, who tells me that he hears for certain the Duke of York will lose the authority of an Admiral, and be governed by a Committee" http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Following the end of Clarendon Ministry in 1667, in a cloud of accusations of incompetence and corruption, the conduct of the government of Charles II fell to a loose coalition of energetic young ministers, the "Cabal". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caba…

Mary  •  Link

A loose coalition in more ways than one, I think.

Second Reading

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

'Entry Book: October 1668', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 2, 1667-1668, ed. William A Shaw (London, 1905), pp. 623-630. British History Online
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

@@@
Oct. 7 1668
The Treasury Lords to Mr. Wadlow and his partners,
to furnish the Treasurer of the Navy with
10,000l. this week,
10,000l. next week and
5,000l. weekly thenceforward.
Treasury Miscellanea Warrants Early XL. p. 19.

---
25,000/. is a drop in the bucket for the Navy Board, as we have seen.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

'Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 5, 1661-1668, ed. W Noel Sainsbury (London, 1880), pp. 615-622. British History Online

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

October 1668

@@@
[Oct. 7.] 1668
Barbados?
#1852. Petition of Edward Bradbourne, merchant, to Charles II and Council.

About five years past petitioner commenced a suit in Barbados against one James Beake for account of the produce of his plantation called Hilcotts, of which Beake had been for two years bailiff;
but petitioner being sick and unable to attend the court, the auditors took Beake's account ex parte, and reported the plantation to be debtor to Beake in 297,752 lbs. of sugar, on which Beake has obtained judgment.

Prays for a mandamus to Lord Willoughby to set aside the judgment, and appoint indifferent auditors, before whom a fair account may be made and judgment given.

Indorsed, Recd. 7, read in Council, Oct. 9, 1668.
1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXIII., No. 61.]
---
William, Lord WILLOUGHBY, 6th Baron of Parham MP (1616 – 1673), Gov, Barbados (1666 – 1673)

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

SAXHAM (Little), a parish in Thingoe district, Suffolk;
3½ W of Bury, St. Edmunds.
Post-town, Bury, St. Edmunds.
Acres, 1, 381.
Real property, £1, 979. Pop., 171. Houses, 38.
The manor belonged to the Lucases, passed to the Crofts, ...

According to Google maps it is 11.8 miles from Little Saxham to Newmarket. AH-HA!

[The Lucases were the parents of Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle. Her brother died at the Siege of Colchester, 1648.]

William Crofts was the courtier initially entrusted with the education of James Scot, now the Duke of Monmouth.
http://www.manfamily.org/about/ot…
https://www.visionofbritain.org.u…

The Crofts were related to the Bennets (Lord Arlington).
Which member of the family lived at Little Saxham at this time I have not figured out:
https://www.historyofparliamenton…

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

The volume of Domestic State Papers covering correspondence from Oct. 1668 to Dec. 1669 is at
https://play.google.com/books/rea…

@@@
Oct. 7 1668.
Milford
Jo. Powell to Hickes.

A ship has arrived for Bristol, laden with tallow and hides;
also one with sugar and cotton from the Barbados, bound for London.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 118.]

@@@
Oct. 7 1668.
Lyme
Anth. Thorold to Hickes.

The Windsor of Lyme has arrived from Morlaix, and reports that the sickness still keeps in Rouen, and that 30 or 40 die weekly, but that it has not spread much further in the country;
the inhabitants keep up a good correspondence with the English, and hope their Ambassador will draw them to a nearer union.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 122.]

@@@
Oct. 17.] 1668
Wettmere
J. Aldrich to his uncle, Rob. Francis.

We apologize for brevity. Having this morning heard the nothingness of a long-winded Presbyterian, it has put us quite out of conceit of long sentences, so I have only to beg you to convey a letter enclosed, and to acquaint my father that we defer writing, having no business.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 123.]

@@@
Oct. 7 1668.
Bury
[Lord Arlington] to Williamson.

I have just come hither.
I could not speak to the King at Saxham, nor until today, by reason of the uncertainity of his motions;
I shall wait upon him early tomorrow, and receive his pleasure upon all the letters sent, and afterwards follow him to Audley End, where he means to sleep tomorrow night.

I have written a large letter to Sir J. Trevor in answer to his.
I send some papers.

P.S. 8 Oct. I have got the King to sign the enclosed papers, but have not time to answer Lord Ashley, who has his Majesty's leave to go into the country.
[1] pages. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 124.]

Log in to post an annotation.

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