San Diego Sarah

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San Diego Sarah has posted 9,899 annotations/comments since 6 August 2015.

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Third Reading

About Hypocras

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

A recipe for Eppocras, a spiced wine drink
Date: 1600–1660
This recipe isn’t specifically for Christmas, as people in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period drank spiced wine throughout the year, but it is similar to the modern festive drink of mulled wine.

The recipe calls for a gallon of claret wine, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. All of the ingredients are put together, then the recipe instructs the cook to ‘sett itt a steepinge’.

The drink would have been served hot or cold, and was a way to use up older wine. The name ‘Eppocras’ (often spelt Hippocras in other recipes) comes from the method of filtering a liquid through a linen bag to remove the solids, which was invented by the 5th-century Greek physician Hippocrates.

This document ended up in The National Archives when its owner was involved in a court case in the Court of Wards and Liveries. It was mixed up in their other papers and presented to the court as evidence.

Catalogue reference: View the recordWARD 2/29/96A/25 in the catalogue
View record details
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov…

About Sandwich, Kent

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

To the King's ... Majesty, the humble Petition and Remonstrance of the Knights and Gentlemen living in East Kent; together with the Mayor, Aldermen, & Inhabitants of the Town of Sandwich
Date: Undated [1661?]
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 74, fol(s). 485-486
Document type: Copy?

Recite that by the growth of a great sand-bank between the Goodwin and the Isle of Thanet the currents of the ancient river of Sandwich have been altered and in great measure choked up;
Allege that a new River & Haven might be formed between Sandwich and the great Downs;
that Andrews Burrell, a person well experienced in such works, and under whose direction the sum of £136,000 was expended by Francis, Earl of Bedford in the drainage of the Great Level of the Fens, estimates that such new River and Haven might be formed at the cost of about £100,000; and pray relief ...

FROM: Carte Calendar Volume 32, June - December 1661
https://wayback.archive-it.org/or…

About Tuesday 19 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

A Statement of the Case of Samuel Pepys [as legatee of his father, Richard Pepys, late Chief Justice of Ireland]
Date: [1661?]
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 68, fol(s). 629
Document type: Copy

A Statement of the Case of Samuel Pepys [as legatee of his father, Richard Pepys, late Chief Justice of Ireland] purchaser from Major Dudley Philips, concerning his claim to certain arrears of military pay for services in Ireland, under the terms of his Majesty's late 'Declaration' for the Settlement of that Kingdom.

FROM: Carte Calendar Volume 32, June - December 1661
https://wayback.archive-it.org/or…

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Maybe this statement was why cousin Samuel had ventured to London at this time? James Butler, Duke of Ormonde, is going to be the new Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to implement The Declaration for the Settlement of Ireland, issued by Charles II a year ago:
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

About Thursday 12 December 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"What's odd is that this was not a regular police matter, but -- presumably because Sir Solomon Swayle raised the point of privilege -- an illustration of the reach of parliamentary jurisdiction."

And what police force would that be, Terry?
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

Parliament was privileged to have sergents at arms who would enforce their rulings. The duties of the Serjeant at Arms are partly ceremonial. The Serjeant at Arms carries the mace during the opening of Parliament and is also responsible for maintaining order during debates in the House of Commons, escorting members out of the chamber if ordered to do so by the Speaker.
In rare cases, the Serjeant at Arms may be called upon to enforce the warrants of the Speaker in summoning a witness to testify before a select committee of the house.
The Serjeant at Arms wears traditional court dress and carries a sword, and is traditionally the only person allowed to be armed (with sword or mace) inside the chamber of the House of Commons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ser…

An example of this, from the adventures of the 2nd Duke of Buckingham:
"... my Lord Duke of Buckingham’s being sent for last night, by a Serjeant at Armes, to the Tower, for treasonable practices, and that the King is infinitely angry with him, and declared him no longer one of his Council."
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

Sergeant at Arms [presumably to the Commons] during the Stuart century:
1610–: Edward Grimeston
Edward Dendy Senior
c.1645: Edward Dendy Junior
1648–1660: Edward Birkhead
1660–1675: Sir James Norfolk
John Barcroft (Serjeant-at-Arms to the Lords) in 1667
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
1675–1693: William Bishop
1693–1709: Samuel Powell
1709–1717: Thomas Wybergh[

About Friday 6 December 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Sir George Carteret, Treasurer to the Navy, to Sandwich
Written from: Whitehall
Date: 6 December 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 223, fol(s). 242
Document type: Holograph

The Bill of Exchange for £3,000 came to the writer's hands, "at a time when Money was very scarce"; yet my Lord Treasurer did what possibly he could, towards paying it, to the satisfaction of the merchants ...

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FROM:
Carte Calendar Volume 32, June - December 1661
https://wayback.archive-it.org/or…
THANK YOU, WAYBACK MACHINE!

About Thursday 5 December 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

From the same source:

Henry Moore to Sandwich
Written from: Wardrobe
Date: 5 December 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 73, fol(s). 639
Document type: Holograph. With seal of arms.

Mentions the despatch to his Lordship of a previous account of the proceedings of Lord Manchester, Lord Crewe, and Mr George Montagu "concerning the warrant of £4,000 per annum;" and also the receipt from Townsend of about £700, for discharged bills yet unpaid.
His Lordship's robes have been duly examined by the robemaker.

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Earl of Oxford to Sandwich
Written from: [London]
Date: [5 December] 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 223, fol(s). 244
Document type: Holograph

Accredits the bearer, not herein named, to assure his Lordship of the writer's readiness to do him service.
Gives this commission after a fruitless endeavour to see Mr. Montagu before his departure ...

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Oh great! Sandwich will be so happy to hear from The Right Honorable Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl of Oxford, KG, PC that Ned Montagu also PROBABLY owes him money as well. Ned clearly couldn't handle life at Court, and his trip to Portugal has removed him from the scene of his crimes.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

As to the sum of 4,000l. the only reference I can find to that amount was Sandwich's request last May to Parliament for back pay. I suspect this is some other transaction.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

About Wednesday 4 December 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

John Maitland, 2nd Earl of Lauderdale to Sandwich
Written from: Whitehall
Date: 4 December 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 223, fol(s). 238
Document type: Holograph

Has been a daily witness of (and sharer in) the King's impatience to see the Fleet [for bringing over the Queen-Consort] dispatched.
The bearer, Captain Strachan, was, the King says, "Chambermaid to the Queen my mother, in her passage from Holland;" and his Majesty "intends for him the same employment to our Queen".

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Henry Bennet to Sandwich
Written from: Whitehall
Date: 4 December 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 223, fol(s). 240
Document type: Holograph

Mr. Montagu will communicate some news which will be pleasing to the Earl, the temper, namely, shewn by the Parliament in establishing the King's authority & revenue.

What is still needed for the national happiness is looked for from his Lordship.

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FROM:
Carte Calendar Volume 32, June - December 1661
For more information on the Carte manuscripts and calendar, see the Carte Calendar Project homepage.
https://wayback.archive-it.org/or…
THANK YOU, WAYBACK MACHINE!

Sir Henry Bennet MP -- On his return to England in 1661 he was made keeper of the privy purse, and became the prime favourite. https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
Secretary of State for Scotland, John Maitland, 2nd Earl of Lauderdale
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
Captain Strachan -- I wonder if the spelling is stopping me from identifying him? Ideas ...?

About Thursday 5 December 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

FROM:
Carte Calendar Volume 32, June - December 1661
For more information on the Carte manuscripts and calendar, see the Carte Calendar Project homepage.
https://wayback.archive-it.org/or…
THANK YOU, WAYBACK MACHINE!

A Certificate of the Officers of the Board of Greencloth, concerning persons admitted into his Majesty's service
Written from: Whitehall
Date: 5 December 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 59, fol(s). 108
Document type: Copy; attested by the Lord Steward. [Addressed to the Duke of Ormonde, Lord Steward of the Household.]

[With so many prominent people taking to the ocean in December to visit Portugal, some new appointments must have been necessary - SDS]

James Butler, Duke of Ormonde, retained the title of Lord Steward of the Royal Household, while being reappointed as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to implement Charles II's instructions of 30 November, 1660:
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

About Sunday 1 December 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

George Montagu MP to Sandwich
Written from: Westminster
Date: 1 December 1661
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 73, fol(s). 635-636
Document type: Holograph

The writer's brother has thought Lord Sandwich's sons too young, as yet, to be entered in Du Plessis' academy at Paris, but has for a year put them under a tuition in that city, which will prepare them to enter therein with advantage presently.
In relation to another matter due attention has been paid to his Lordship's commands, but the writer perceives there is [at Court] an intention to reserve performance till his Lordship's return.
Asks Lord Sandwich to speak for him to the Queen [Consort] at Lisbon for obtainment, before other suit be made, of the Government of St. Katherine's Hospital near the Tower, in reversion to one of the writer's sons.

Carte Calendar Volume 32, June - December 1661
https://wayback.archive-it.org/or…

George Montagu: bap. 28 July 1622, 5th son of Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester, by 3rd wife Margaret, da. of John Crouch of Corneybury, Layston, Herts., wid. of Allen Elvine, Leather-seller, and John Hare, clerk of the court of wards.
Educ. Amersham (Dr Charles Croke); Christ’s, Camb. 1639; M. Temple 1640.
Married 21 May 1645, Elizabeth, da. of Sir Anthony Irby of Whaplode, Lincs. 7s. (2 d.v.p.), 4 daughters.
Mar. 1660; custos rot. Westminster Mar.-July 1660;
freeman, Dover Aug. 1660; ...
master of St. Katharine’s hospital, London 1661-d.; ...
Half-brother to the parliamentary general, and returned under age to the Long Parliament for the family borough of Huntingdon, George Montagu was a passive supporter of the cause until Pride’s Purge.
According to Edmund Ludlow, he refused to resume his seat with the secluded Members in 1660, and at the general election the Bernard interest in the borough was too strong for him.
When cousin Edward Montagu MP was created the Earl of Sandwich, George took his seat at Dover on the Admiralty interest.
As a member of the Convention, he was appointed to 2 committees and 5 private bills.
https://www.historyofparliamenton…

Lord Sandwich's sons currently in Paris:
Edward, Viscount Hinchingbrooke and his younger brother, Sidney
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

"In relation to another matter due attention has been paid to his Lordship's commands, but the writer perceives there is [at Court] an intention to reserve performance till his Lordship's return." -- My guess is there was a property under dispute in Ireland. The Duke of Ormonde has been reappointed as the Lord Lieutenant to implement Charles II's instructions of 30 November, 1660:
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

As noted above, Queen Catherine made George Montagu the Governor of St. Katherine's Hospital.

About Tuesday 10 December 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... finding Mons. Eschar to be gone, I sent my letters by a porter to the posthouse in Southwark to be sent by despatch to the Downs."

My guess is that by sending the post across the Thames to Southwark, Pepys saved his letter from about a day of sorting and transportation around London. This was almost as efficient as giving it to Mons. Eschar, but more expensive and slower at the Downs end, obviously. The postmaster at Deal occupied a crucial position, and was one of Joseph Williamson's intelligencers (if not more):
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

About Tuesday 10 December 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

You're right, Charles Miller. Last Sunday the Rev. Ralph said: "... winter not yet come in a manner, ..." and next Sunday he says "... the winter yet open" so I'm thinking it was a mild December.

Maybe he had forgotten his sword? Maybe he had a hole in his boots? Maybe he was having a satisfying discussion in Latin with Will Hewer? Maybe he was reviewing papers or had too much to carry to hoof it? We can but wonder.

About Monday 9 December 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

ERROR -- that was a report of the Commons, not the Lords! My apologies.

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But today the Lords discussed one of the more thorny issues of the day:

Bill to illegitimate the E. of Banbury.
Hodie 1a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act declaring Nicholas, called Earl of Banbury, to be illegitimate."

BACKSTORY: Before DNA testing, no one could be sure who was a child's father. Children legally belonged to the husband, even if they had been out of town and/or paternity was impossible to establish.

One example of the legal confusion this led to is the story of William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury, whose wife, Elizabeth Howard, was nearly 40 years his junior. Improbably she was the mother of two sons, Edward (1627–1645) and Nicholas (1631–1674), whose paternity gave rise to much dispute since they resembled her ex-fiance, Edward Vaux, 4th Lord Vaux, in whose house they were born.

Neither son was mentioned in the earl's will.

The widowed Elizabeth Howard Knollys, Countess of Banbury quickly married Lord Vaux after her bereavement.

In 1641 the law courts ruled that Edward Knollys was the 2nd Earl of Banbury. When he was killed in June 1645 his brother Nicholas Knollys took the title.

In the Convention Parliament of 1660 objection was taken to Nicholas Knollys, 3rd Earl of Banbury sitting in the House of Lords, and in 1661 he was not summoned to parliament.

If you follow the Lords archives, you'll be hearing more about this.

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Bill to prevent the melting of Silver Coin.
Hodie 2a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act to prevent the Inconvenience that doth arise by melting the Silver Coin of this Realm."

Understandably Charles II wanted to take Commonwealth money out of circulation, and my guess is they had removed every mention of Kings James I and Charles I from the currency as well -- but there was a shortage of coinage, as we have discussed before, so the Lords wanted to slow down that change.

About Monday 9 December 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Amidst discussion of Supply, fens drainage, and the restoration of lands and titles amongst themselves, the Lords received a fairly unusual notification:

Privilege - A Member put under restraint by the King.
Mr. Speaker informing this House, That the King's Majesty was pleased to send a Message to him, that he had restrained Mr. Lovelace, one of the Members of this House, who was going to fight a Duel;

Resolved, That those Members of this House, who are of his Majesty's honourable Privy Council, do return to his Majesty the humble Thanks of this House, for his Grace and Favour, in being so tender of the Privileges of this House, as to acquaint Mr. Speaker therewith.

Resolved, That the Serjeant attending this House, or his Deputy, do repair unto the Officer in whose Custody Mr. Lovelace, one of the Members of this House, now is, to demand the said Mr. Lovelace: And the said Officer, in whose Custody he is, is accordingly to deliver the said Mr. Lovelace to the Serjeant of this House, or his Deputy; who is to bring him to this House To-morrow Morning.

Confusingly there are 2 Lovelaces sitting as MPs in 1661, and they don't appear to be related. Neither bio mentions this event so I can't speculate who the duel was to be with:
Francis LOVELACE (1594-1664) of Canterbury, Kent and Gray's Inn at 67 seems a bit long in the tooth for dueling;
https://www.historyofparliamenton… and
Hon. John LOVELACE (c.1642-93), of Water Eaton, Oxon. and Hurley, Berks., is a much better candidate at 20. His election for Berkshire in 1661 under age was presumably a tribute to his father. He sat for 9 years in the Lower House of the Cavalier Parliament, but he was not active, serving on no more than 34 committees, ..." "‘A man of good natural parts, but of very ill and very loose principles’, Lovelace had already shown signs of inheriting his father’s alcoholic tendencies, ..." but the excitement of the 1670s, James II and the "Glorious" Revolution made him an active Whig and a member of the Green Ribbon Club. If only the Diary had continued!
https://www.historyofparliamenton…

About Tuesday 10 December 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

The Commons worked hard today on Supply -- for once the details are recorded -- but the Lords seem to have goofed off (perhaps there were many committees meeting?).

One man is reported to have gone to extraordinary lengths to thwart the Commons: "John Browne, who, by Order of the 13th of July last, was to be taken into Custody by the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for his Abuse of Mr. Phillips, a Member of this House, had, merely to defeat the said Order, procured a colourable Execution to be taken out against him; whereupon he hath rendered himself a Prisoner in Ivelchester Gaol, on Purpose that he may not be brought up to answer his said Misdemeanor at the Bar of this House.

"Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, or his Deputy, do bring up the said Browne in Custody, to answer the said Misdemeanor: And the Officer, in whose Custody he is, is to deliver the said Browne unto the Serjeant attending this House, or his Deputy; together with the Writ, or Warrant, whereby he is committed: And the said Browne is to bring with him the Execution upon which he hath caused himself to be so committed."

Wiki suggests that Ivelchester could be Ilchester (a village and civil parish, situated on the River Yeo or Ivel, 5 miles [8 kilometres] north of Yeovil, Somerset).

About Southwark

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

L&M: Thomas Barlow, the postmaster at Southwark, was paid for many postal services to the Navy Board.

SDS thought: By taking the mail across the Thames to Southwark directly, the Navy Board must have saved time: having it processed in London with so much other mail probably would have delayed it by a day????

About History resources

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

CONCLUSION:

Firearms: an Illustrated History. New York: DK, 2014. 9781465416056
Reader who don’t know much about firearms in their chosen era will find an excellent introduction in this book. It offers worldwide coverage, and provides excellent color photographs of examples of weapons over the centuries

The first section covers up to 1650, with examples like the Mons Meg bombard at Edinburgh castle, harquebuses, and accessories like musket rests. Descriptions explain whether the weapon was a breech- or muzzle-loader, date if known, and dimensions.
It covers issues like problems with matchlock guns: the burning match cord gave awat one’s position, and the weapon was difficult to use on horseback.

The more modern sections of the book cover cannons, field artillery, pistols, naval weapons, hunting and police weapons, machine guns, and weapons used by spies.

It also has spreads on how powder cartridges evolved, the history of ammunition in general, and features on noted gun inventors and manufacturers.
Also useful for are side by side comparison photos of how matchlock, wheellock, and flintlock firearms worked.

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Weapons: a Pictorial History, written and illustrated by Edwin Tunis. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing Company, 1954.
This book, older than the others, fits the theme as a source novelists can consult about historical weapons. Tunis’ illustrations are black-and-white drawings, but they are clear and educational.

Tunis concentrates on Western weapons, starting with prehistoric stones and slings, through the hydrogen bomb.

He covers issues like castle features that aid or act as weapons, trebuchets, stance of a longbowman, pole arms, helmets, and other accessories.
Because of its publication date, the book doesn’t go beyond the mid-20th century.
This is one of several books Tunis wrote for children and young adults, and so provides a good introduction.

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The Story of Time, by Kristen Lippincott, with Umberto Eco, E.H. Gombrich and others. London: Merrell Holberton in association with National Maritime Museum, 1999.
This book was written to accompany an exhibition held at the Queen’s House in Greenwich in 2000.
It looks at how the concept of time has been measured over the centuries ... There are essays on concepts of time in various countries and cultures, early means of time measurement in Europe, how time is depicted in art, etc.

Probably the most useful part of the book to historical novelists will be the many illustrations of early clocks and watches. Photos are accompanied by extensive descriptions giving context to the objects.

Writers wondering what kind of timepiece should be put into the hands or onto the fireplace mantle of their characters can find valuable ideas here.

https://historicalnovelsociety.or…

About History resources

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Historical dress, lifestyles, weapons, and time – some resources:

Online:

Fancy Dresses Described, by Ardern Holt. 3rd edition, greatly enlarged. Debenham & Freebody, [n.d., but likely ca. 1882].
The third edition of this originally printed book is available as an e-book as part of the University of Southampton’s Libraries Digital Collections.

The book was written to give advice to 19th-century British society ladies on costume ideas for fancy dress balls. So if you are writing a historical romance where your Victorian characters attend a fancy dress ball, this work will give you ideas.

Holt provides descriptions of colors and types of fabric to be used, and hairdressing suggestions for an alphabetical list of historical characters. Suggestions are also given for appropriate costumes for children, elderly women, sisters wanting to coordinate, and also advice on hosting such a ball. Men’s costumes are not included.

There are 16 color plates and some black-and-white drawings.

Holt says this “does not purport to be an authority in the matter of costume, for, as a rule, the historical dresses worn on such occasions are lamentably incorrect.”
It is not a resource for historical costume, but Victorian society’s concept of it.
A reference in prefatory material to the book’s illustrations by “Miss Greenaway” might refer to the illustrator Kate Greenaway?

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Books

Eyewear: a Visual History, 1491-Today, by Moss Lipow. Koln: Taschen, 2011. 9783836525657
If you need to research what kind of eyewear your character would wear during his or her era, this book will be valuable. It seems to be as much a book about design as eyewear history.
For historians’ needs, the first chapter shows examples of eyeglasses before 1900, starting with bone eye shields carved by Inuits, illustrations from medieval art showing people wearing spectacles, and photographs of early glasses in museums.

The author states: “Every effort has been made to represent the eyewear true to scale,” so the researcher will have a good idea of the size of the eyewear depicted.
The English text is repeated in German and French in many chapters, but the illustration captions are in English. ...
All specimens are given at least an approximate date. ...

About Seething Lane

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

In 1588 Sir Francis Walsingham helped save England by wielding a pen rather than a sword. A lawyer and politician by trade, the 56-year-old Walsingham was Queen Elizabeth’s principal secretary and key advisor.

He also functioned as her spymaster, overseeing an international espionage network out of his house on London’s Seething Lane. He employed a cadre of street operatives, code breakers, and informants at home and abroad to gather intelligence and neutralize threats to the realm.

As secretary of state, Walsingham advocated for a strong navy and supported commerce raiding against Spanish interests. His spies (such as Jan Wychegerde and Nicholas Oseley) provided detailed reports of Spanish military preparations in Flanders and Lisbon.

Walsingham’s penetration of Spanish diplomatic communications informed him when Philip II gave the order for the Armada to sail, so the English navy had time to concentrate along the axis of invasion.

Because of his efforts, the Armada was met by the might of the English navy when it arrived off English shores.
https://armadainvincible.com
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

About Samuel Pepys and Slaves

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

CONCLUSION:

Although this declaration created a judicial decision against the institution of slavery in England, the parameters Mansfield had set greatly narrowed the impact of Somerset’s release. The precedent set by this case was that the actions of Stewart to detain Somerset against his will to deport and sell him into slavery were not supported by English law.
However, this did not outlaw the existence of slavery in the colonies, or the existence of domestic servitude. Rather it stipulated that the level of dominion over another which Stewart had tried to enforce – the forced deportation of an individual for the purpose of selling them as a slave – was unlawful in England.

Despite Mansfield later stating in 1785 that his decision went ‘no further than that the master cannot by force compel him [the slave] to go out of the Kingdom’, this judgment was seen by many as a boon to the emerging abolitionist campaign, posing the question, if slavery in its fullest extent could not be legal in England, why was it still legal in the colonies?

With the anti-slavery rhetoric gaining traction, the West India Interest saw for the first time there was unified opposition to the status quo.
New tactics were needed to counter fears that Somerset v Stewart could eventually destabilise the practice of colonial slavery.

https://historyofparliament.com/2…