Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
If you would like to write a summary for this topic, email phil [at] gyford [dot] com
Annotations
-
Pepys hired John Burr to be his clerk on 14 March 1659/60, preparatory to going to sea. But Burr abruptly does not show up at embarkation time (5 April), and causes Pepys much consternation again by going ashore without permission (19 April). Nonetheless, later in the year Burr sends Elizabeth “a pair of fine Turtle-doves” (27 August).
[From thence he drops from “The Shorter Pepys,” and is not mentioned in Tomalin or the Companion.]
-
Amendment:
March 23rd 1659/60: Burr indeed is on hand with Pepys when Montagu and company initially get underway; it is only later that he goes AWOL.
This sketch will be re-cast at a later date. -
27 April 1660: Burr is absent in the morning, but seems to have returned before close of day in order to conduct business with Creed, round trip. The chain of command is interesting: though hired by Pepys, does Burr fall under the Purser’s jurisdiction once aboard ship, rather than Pepys dealing with Burr directly about his absences? While Pepys does not shy from confrontations, he seems as lief to avoid them.