"I heard the Duke say that he was going to wear a perriwigg; and they say the King also will. I never till this day observed that the King is mighty gray."
L&M : The Duke first wore one on 15 February 1664, and Pepys first saw the King in one on the following 18 April. The King was now 33.
"and thence to the Temple, where meeting Greatorex, he and we to Hercules Pillars, there to show me the manner of his going about of draining of fenns,"
L&M: Nothing appears to be known of any work by Greatorex in fen drainage. In July b1663 the draining of the Bedford Level had been entrusted to a newly-appointed corporation (15 Car. ii c. 17), and Greatorex may have been consulted by them, or may have offered his advice. He had in 1660 devised a machine for raising water: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
" find at Court, that either the King is doubtfull of some disturbance, or else would seem so (and I have reason to hope it is no worse), by his commanding all commanders of castles, &c., to repair to their charges"
"The next was, Mr. Chr. Pett and Deane were summoned to give an account of some knees "
L&M: Timbers cut from the intersection if large branches with the trunk, and used in shipbuilding to attach the beams supporting the decks to the ribs of the vessel. There were 'standing', 'hanging' and 'lodging' knees -- all made from timbers whose grain ran with the shape required. See G. P. R. Naish in C. Singer et al,. Hist. Technol., iii. 487 (fig. 301), 488; Ehrmann, pp. 38-9, Illustr. in R. G. Albion, Forests and sea power, opp. pp. 8,9. They were obtained usually from hedgerow oaks. Because of their scarcity, contractors were often required to deliver a specified number of knees and other curved pieces ('compass-timber') with each load of straight timber. Anthony Deane for the same reason later substituted iron dogs: Bryant, ii. 54.
"and so to bed, in some pain below, through cold got."
L&M: The entries for 5-13 October constitute one of the best-documented attacks of flatulence in history. Flatulence was fashionable then, as now, as an explanation of symptoms which it has nothing to do with. Burton gave over 50 remedies to 'expel' or 'resolve' wind or 'flatuous melancholy': Anat. of melancholy (ed. Shilletto), ii. 300-2. Pepys was particularly subject to it, and in 1677 when he wrote a survey of his health he put it second only to his eye-trouble. 'From the furthermost of of my memory backward,' he then wrote, '(both before I [was] cutt [of] the stone and since) to this day I have been Subject upon all Cold, especially taken in my feet on an empty Stomach to have the same paines in my Bowels and Bladder and stoppage of Urine, and almost in the same degree, as what the stone itselfe gave me. And this soe certaine, and orderly, that I never have a fitt thereof but I can assigne the time and occasion of it, as alsoe of its Cure, namely; soe soone (and not before) as I can breake wind behind in a plentiful degree . . . . The preventions which I use ... are the keeping of my feet warme and my stomach full.[']: Rawl. A 185, f.210rv; printed Bryant, ii. 409-10.
"(Lord’s day). Lay chatting with my wife a good while, then up and got me ready and to church, without my man William, whom I have not seen to-day, nor care, but would be glad to have him put himself far enough out of my favour that he may not wonder to have me put him away{
L&M: Hewer appears to have been 'corrupting the maids by his idle talk and carriage': https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… Jane Birch in particular made complaints about him: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… On 14 November he left for lodgings of his own and never returned to live in the Pepys household during the diary period. Good relations with his master were soon, however, resumed.
"a fine gallery built for him in the church, but now all in the Bishop of Ely’s hands."
L&M: The town had built the gallery for Thurloe's use at the s. end of the church; it was taken down in 1856. Thurloe had bought the manor (originally belonging to the bishops of Ely) and c. 1658 had replaced the late 15th-century palace built by Bishop Morton by a house probably designed by Peter Mills :H. M. Colvin, Dict. Engl. Architects, p. 391; illust. in VCH, Cambs. lv. opp;. p. 251. This had now reverted to the bishop, but later was let to tenants, and demolished in 1816. It stood in the grounds of the castle, not the church. [anon.], Hist. Wisbach (Wisbech, 1833), p. 163.
"to Wisbeach, a pretty town, and a fine church and library, where sundry very old abbey manuscripts;"
L&M: The library (founded c. 1654, and housed in a room over the church poty) was one of a fairly large number of parochial libraries formed at about this time from private gifts and subscriptions. Thurloe (Cromwell's Secretary of State) fad contributed 81 volumes; in 1718 there were 697: lists in HMC, Rep., 9/293-4; A catalogue of books i the library at Wisbech (1718). The MSS (from Bury and Ramsey) included some from the 13th century. In the 19th century the collection was moved to the town hall and later to the museum, where it now remains.
" I in Mrs. Turner’s coach to Mr. Povy’s, who being not within, we went in and there shewed Mrs. Turner his perspective and volary, and the fine things that he is building of now,"
"....at home my brother and I fell upon Des Cartes, and I perceive he has studied him well"
L&M: The Discourse de la méthode the Géométrie were now studied at Cambridge. Henry More of Christ's (John Pepys's college) defended Descartes against charges of atheism and strongly urged universities to encourage the study of his works as the best means of knowing the 'mechanical powers of matter'. See esp. The immortality of the soul, (Preface, p. 13.) In a coll. of several philosophical writings (1662). Cf. his correspondence in M. H. Nicholson (ed.), Conway Letters, passim. Newton read the Géométrie in 1661 at Trinity, according to his diary (qu. W. W. Rouse Ball, Hist. Trin. Coll., p. 77). See also R. North, Life of...John North (1744), pp. 261, 165-6. Cf. J. B. Mullinger, Cambridge characteristics in 17th cent., pp. 108-22; M. H. Curtis, Oxford and Cambridge, 1558-1642, p. 387&n. The introduction of Descartes's work marked the beginning of the decline of Aristotelian science in Cambridge.
"But that which is a great wonder I find his little daughter Betty, that was in hanging sleeves but a month or two ago, and is a very little young child; married, and to whom, but to young Scott, son to Madam Catharine Scott, that was so long in law, and at whose triall I was with her husband; he pleading that it was unlawfully got and would not own it, she, it seems, being brought to bed of it, if not got by somebody else at Oxford, but it seems a little before his death he did own the child, and hath left him his estate, not long since."
L&M: Edward Scott of Scot's Hall had married Catherine, daughter of Lord Goring (later Earl of Norwich), c. 1632, but had lived with his wife for only about two years. In the civil war he had served in the parliamentary army, while she had lived at Oxford, where she was suspected of adultery with Rupert. Both at Oxford and elsewhere she had had children whom her husband had disowned. He brought an action for separation in the ecclesiastical courts, and she an action for alimony in Chancery, but Pepys was probably a witness to some part of the parliamentary proceedings in the case which followed the husband's petition to Parliament in December 1656. The divorce was never obtained and Edward Scott, who died in May 1663, acknowledged Thomas Scott as his son and heir. T. Burton, Diary (1828), i. 204-6, 334-7; Evelyn, 19 July 1663[ Jams R. Scott, Memorials of Family of Scott of Scot Hall, po. 231+; ib., App., pp;. xxxiv-xli.
"Creed and I resolved to go to Clapham, to Mr. Gauden’s, who had sent his coach to their place for me because I was to have my horse of him to go to the race. So I went thither by coach and my Will by horse with me; Mr. Creed he went over back again to Westminster to fetch his horse. When I came to Mr. Gauden’s one first thing was to show me his house, which is almost built, wherein he and his family live. I find it very regular and finely contrived, and the gardens and offices about it as convenient and as full of good variety as ever I saw in my life. It is true he hath been censured for laying out so much money; but he tells me that he built it for his brother, who is since dead (the Bishop), who when he should come to be Bishop of Winchester, which he was promised (to which bishoprick at present there is no house), he did intend to dwell here."
L&M: Dr John Gauden (brother of Denis Gauden, the navy victualler), Bishop of Exeter since 1660, was translated to Worcester in June 1662. He died in the following September. from chagrin (it was said) at not getting Winchester: John Toland. Amyntor (1669), pp. 90-1. Winchester House, Southward (close by the foot of the London Bridge), had been sold by Parliament in 1649, and though now restored to the bishop was let out to tenants in 1662. George Morley (Bishop of Winchester, 1662-84) replaced it by a house (Winchester House) at Chelsea. The 17th-century diocese of Winchester extended to the s. bank of the Thames at Southwark. VCH, Surrey, ii. 14; ib., iv. 146-8; LCC, Survey of London (Bankside), 22/45+; HMC, rep., 11/2/16-17.
"This day I hear the judges, according to order yesterday, did bring into the Lords’ House their reasons of their judgment in the business between my Lord Bristoll and the Chancellor; and the Lords do concur with the Judges that the articles are not treason, nor regularly brought into the House, and so voted that a Committee should be chosen to examine them; but nothing to be done therein till the next sitting of this Parliament (which is like to be adjourned in a day or two), and in the mean time the two Lords to, remain without prejudice done to either of them."
L&M: According to the judges' view, reported in the Lords on 13 July, no charge of high treason could be brought by one peer against another without the previous consent of the House: LJ, xi. 559.
"and Mrs. Allen, the clerk of the Rope-yard’s wife with us, desiring her passage, and it being a most pleasant and warm day, we got by four o’clock home. In our way she telling us in what condition Becky Allen is married against all expectation a fellow that proves to be a coxcomb and worth little if any thing at all, and yet are entered into a way of living above their condition that will ruin them presently, for which, for the lady’s sake, I am much troubled."
L&M: Rebecca Allen, then about 18, had in August 1662 married Henry Jowles of Chatham, aged about 24. Her sister had married rather better -- her husband later this year succeeded his father-in-law as Clerk of the Ropeyard at Chatham.
"after dining done to the Dock by coach, it raining hard, to see “The Prince” launched, which hath lain in the Dock in repairing these three years."
L&M: Papys had had muc h correspondence with Commissioner Pett about the progress of the repairs and the date of the launch: CSPD 1663-4, p. 168 etc. Twenty horses had been required to carry her rudder across the yard: ib., p. 184.
" I found my bill against Tom Trice dismissed, which troubles me, it being through my neglect, and will put me to charges. "
L&M: On this day Pepys swore an affidavit alleging that the defendant had not given proper notice to the plaintiffs, anbd deposing that he had further witnesses in Huntingdonshire to examine: Whitear, p. 160.
Comments
Second Reading
About Monday 2 November 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"I heard the Duke say that he was going to wear a perriwigg; and they say the King also will. I never till this day observed that the King is mighty gray."
L&M : The Duke first wore one on 15 February 1664, and Pepys first saw the King in one on the following 18 April. The King was now 33.
About Thursday 29 October 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"and thence to the Temple, where meeting Greatorex, he and we to Hercules Pillars, there to show me the manner of his going about of draining of fenns,"
L&M: Nothing appears to be known of any work by Greatorex in fen drainage. In July b1663 the draining of the Bedford Level had been entrusted to a newly-appointed corporation (15 Car. ii c. 17), and Greatorex may have been consulted by them, or may have offered his advice. He had in 1660 devised a machine for raising water: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Thursday 29 October 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
San Diego Sarah asks: If "it did not appear very satisfactory" why would Pepys "doubt he will faile in it"?
"doubt" often = FEAR.
About Tuesday 13 October 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
" find at Court, that either the King is doubtfull of some disturbance, or else would seem so (and I have reason to hope it is no worse), by his commanding all commanders of castles, &c., to repair to their charges"
L&M: The alarm was caused by reports of an imminent rising in the North: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
CSPD 1663-4, pp. 291+.
About Tuesday 6 October 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"The next was, Mr. Chr. Pett and Deane were summoned to give an account of some knees "
L&M: Timbers cut from the intersection if large branches with the trunk, and used in shipbuilding to attach the beams supporting the decks to the ribs of the vessel. There were 'standing', 'hanging' and 'lodging' knees -- all made from timbers whose grain ran with the shape required. See G. P. R. Naish in C. Singer et al,. Hist. Technol., iii. 487 (fig. 301), 488; Ehrmann, pp. 38-9, Illustr. in R. G. Albion, Forests and sea power, opp. pp. 8,9. They were obtained usually from hedgerow oaks. Because of their scarcity, contractors were often required to deliver a specified number of knees and other curved pieces ('compass-timber') with each load of straight timber. Anthony Deane for the same reason later substituted iron dogs: Bryant, ii. 54.
About Sunday 4 October 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"and so to bed, in some pain below, through cold got."
L&M: The entries for 5-13 October constitute one of the best-documented attacks of flatulence in history. Flatulence was fashionable then, as now, as an explanation of symptoms which it has nothing to do with. Burton gave over 50 remedies to 'expel' or 'resolve' wind or 'flatuous melancholy': Anat. of melancholy (ed. Shilletto), ii. 300-2. Pepys was particularly subject to it, and in 1677 when he wrote a survey of his health he put it second only to his eye-trouble. 'From the furthermost of of my memory backward,' he then wrote, '(both before I [was] cutt [of] the stone and since) to this day I have been Subject upon all Cold, especially taken in my feet on an empty Stomach to have the same paines in my Bowels and Bladder and stoppage of Urine, and almost in the same degree, as what the stone itselfe gave me. And this soe certaine, and orderly, that I never have a fitt thereof but I can assigne the time and occasion of it, as alsoe of its Cure, namely; soe soone (and not before) as I can breake wind behind in a plentiful degree . . . . The preventions which I use ... are the keeping of my feet warme and my stomach full.[']: Rawl. A 185, f.210rv; printed Bryant, ii. 409-10.
About Sunday 27 September 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"(Lord’s day). Lay chatting with my wife a good while, then up and got me ready and to church, without my man William, whom I have not seen to-day, nor care, but would be glad to have him put himself far enough out of my favour that he may not wonder to have me put him away{
L&M: Hewer appears to have been 'corrupting the maids by his idle talk and carriage': https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… Jane Birch in particular made complaints about him: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… On 14 November he left for lodgings of his own and never returned to live in the Pepys household during the diary period. Good relations with his master were soon, however, resumed.
About Friday 18 September 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"a fine gallery built for him in the church, but now all in the Bishop of Ely’s hands."
L&M: The town had built the gallery for Thurloe's use at the s. end of the church; it was taken down in 1856. Thurloe had bought the manor (originally belonging to the bishops of Ely) and c. 1658 had replaced the late 15th-century palace built by Bishop Morton by a house probably designed by Peter Mills :H. M. Colvin, Dict. Engl. Architects, p. 391; illust. in VCH, Cambs. lv. opp;. p. 251. This had now reverted to the bishop, but later was let to tenants, and demolished in 1816. It stood in the grounds of the castle, not the church. [anon.], Hist. Wisbach (Wisbech, 1833), p. 163.
About Friday 18 September 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"to Wisbeach, a pretty town, and a fine church and library, where sundry very old abbey manuscripts;"
L&M: The library (founded c. 1654, and housed in a room over the church poty) was one of a fairly large number of parochial libraries formed at about this time from private gifts and subscriptions. Thurloe (Cromwell's Secretary of State) fad contributed 81 volumes; in 1718 there were 697: lists in HMC, Rep., 9/293-4; A catalogue of books i the library at Wisbech (1718). The MSS (from Bury and Ramsey) included some from the 13th century. In the 19th century the collection was moved to the town hall and later to the museum, where it now remains.
About Tuesday 11 August 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
" I in Mrs. Turner’s coach to Mr. Povy’s, who being not within, we went in and there shewed Mrs. Turner his perspective and volary, and the fine things that he is building of now,"
L&M: Povey's house was in Lincoln's Inn Fields. For the perspective, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
The volary was a large bird-cage in which the birds could fly about.
About Judith and Holofernes
Terry Foreman • Link
Judith beheading Holofernes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jud…
About Wednesday 5 August 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"....at home my brother and I fell upon Des Cartes, and I perceive he has studied him well"
L&M: The Discourse de la méthode the Géométrie were now studied at Cambridge. Henry More of Christ's (John Pepys's college) defended Descartes against charges of atheism and strongly urged universities to encourage the study of his works as the best means of knowing the 'mechanical powers of matter'. See esp. The immortality of the soul, (Preface, p. 13.) In a coll. of several philosophical writings (1662). Cf. his correspondence in M. H. Nicholson (ed.), Conway Letters, passim. Newton read the Géométrie in 1661 at Trinity, according to his diary (qu. W. W. Rouse Ball, Hist. Trin. Coll., p. 77). See also R. North, Life of...John North (1744), pp. 261, 165-6. Cf. J. B. Mullinger, Cambridge characteristics in 17th cent., pp. 108-22; M. H. Curtis, Oxford and Cambridge, 1558-1642, p. 387&n. The introduction of Descartes's work marked the beginning of the decline of Aristotelian science in Cambridge.
About Thursday 30 July 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"But that which is a great wonder I find his little daughter Betty, that was in hanging sleeves but a month or two ago, and is a very little young child; married, and to whom, but to young Scott, son to Madam Catharine Scott, that was so long in law, and at whose triall I was with her husband; he pleading that it was unlawfully got and would not own it, she, it seems, being brought to bed of it, if not got by somebody else at Oxford, but it seems a little before his death he did own the child, and hath left him his estate, not long since."
L&M: Edward Scott of Scot's Hall had married Catherine, daughter of Lord Goring (later Earl of Norwich), c. 1632, but had lived with his wife for only about two years. In the civil war he had served in the parliamentary army, while she had lived at Oxford, where she was suspected of adultery with Rupert. Both at Oxford and elsewhere she had had children whom her husband had disowned. He brought an action for separation in the ecclesiastical courts, and she an action for alimony in Chancery, but Pepys was probably a witness to some part of the parliamentary proceedings in the case which followed the husband's petition to Parliament in December 1656. The divorce was never obtained and Edward Scott, who died in May 1663, acknowledged Thomas Scott as his son and heir. T. Burton, Diary (1828), i. 204-6, 334-7; Evelyn, 19 July 1663[ Jams R. Scott, Memorials of Family of Scott of Scot Hall, po. 231+; ib., App., pp;. xxxiv-xli.
About Saturday 25 July 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"Creed and I resolved to go to Clapham, to Mr. Gauden’s, who had sent his coach to their place for me because I was to have my horse of him to go to the race. So I went thither by coach and my Will by horse with me; Mr. Creed he went over back again to Westminster to fetch his horse. When I came to Mr. Gauden’s one first thing was to show me his house, which is almost built, wherein he and his family live. I find it very regular and finely contrived, and the gardens and offices about it as convenient and as full of good variety as ever I saw in my life. It is true he hath been censured for laying out so much money; but he tells me that he built it for his brother, who is since dead (the Bishop), who when he should come to be Bishop of Winchester, which he was promised (to which bishoprick at present there is no house), he did intend to dwell here."
L&M: Dr John Gauden (brother of Denis Gauden, the navy victualler), Bishop of Exeter since 1660, was translated to Worcester in June 1662. He died in the following September. from chagrin (it was said) at not getting Winchester: John Toland. Amyntor (1669), pp. 90-1. Winchester House, Southward (close by the foot of the London Bridge), had been sold by Parliament in 1649, and though now restored to the bishop was let out to tenants in 1662. George Morley (Bishop of Winchester, 1662-84) replaced it by a house (Winchester House) at Chelsea. The 17th-century diocese of Winchester extended to the s. bank of the Thames at Southwark. VCH, Surrey, ii. 14; ib., iv. 146-8; LCC, Survey of London (Bankside), 22/45+; HMC, rep., 11/2/16-17.
About Tuesday 14 July 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"This day I hear the judges, according to order yesterday, did bring into the Lords’ House their reasons of their judgment in the business between my Lord Bristoll and the Chancellor; and the Lords do concur with the Judges that the articles are not treason, nor regularly brought into the House, and so voted that a Committee should be chosen to examine them; but nothing to be done therein till the next sitting of this Parliament (which is like to be adjourned in a day or two), and in the mean time the two Lords to, remain without prejudice done to either of them."
L&M: According to the judges' view, reported in the Lords on 13 July, no charge of high treason could be brought by one peer against another without the previous consent of the House: LJ, xi. 559.
About Monday 13 July 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"and Mrs. Allen, the clerk of the Rope-yard’s wife with us, desiring her passage, and it being a most pleasant and warm day, we got by four o’clock home. In our way she telling us in what condition Becky Allen is married against all expectation a fellow that proves to be a coxcomb and worth little if any thing at all, and yet are entered into a way of living above their condition that will ruin them presently, for which, for the lady’s sake, I am much troubled."
L&M: Rebecca Allen, then about 18, had in August 1662 married Henry Jowles of Chatham, aged about 24. Her sister had married rather better -- her husband later this year succeeded his father-in-law as Clerk of the Ropeyard at Chatham.
About Sunday 12 July 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
'Commissioner Pett showed me alone his bodys as a secrett,
L&M: Shipwrights usually kept secret their sectional drawings ('bodys') of ships. See G. P. B. Naish in C. Singer et al, Hist. Technol., iii. 489.
About Sunday 12 July 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
'Commissioner Pett showed me alone his bodys as a secrett,
L&M:.Shipwrights usually kept secret their sectional drawings ('bodys') of ships. See G. P. B. Naish in C. Singer et al, Hist. Technol., iii. 489.
About Saturday 11 July 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
"after dining done to the Dock by coach, it raining hard, to see “The Prince” launched, which hath lain in the Dock in repairing these three years."
L&M: Papys had had muc h correspondence with Commissioner Pett about the progress of the repairs and the date of the launch: CSPD 1663-4, p. 168 etc. Twenty horses had been required to carry her rudder across the yard: ib., p. 184.
About Thursday 9 July 1663
Terry Foreman • Link
" I found my bill against Tom Trice dismissed, which troubles me, it being through my neglect, and will put me to charges. "
L&M: On this day Pepys swore an affidavit alleging that the defendant had not given proper notice to the plaintiffs, anbd deposing that he had further witnesses in Huntingdonshire to examine: Whitear, p. 160.