Sir John Skelton was a page to Charles II in exile before the Restoration.
Sir John's son, William, was taken by Capt. Louis de la Roche in February 1668, along with a couple of hundred soldiers, and nearly shipped off to France, except for the intervention of Admiral Allin.
Possibly there were two Bevil Skeltons? In another place his wife as of 1670 is named as Simona Carew, Maid-of-Honor to Queen Catherine from 1663-1670, and a Lady-of-the-Privy Chamber from 1673. Or perhaps he had more than one wife? Finding out about his career in Plymouth seems to entail downloading a book ...
'Charles II: February 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 204-261. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
I should add that James, Duke of York was the official Governor of Portsmouth, so the title of Lt. Governor means Col. Sir Philip Honywood was actually in charge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lis…
1662 March - Sir Charles Berkeley was appointed Lieut.-Governor of Portsmouth. He was killed at the battle of 3 June, 1665, when his brother, Sir William Berkeley succeeded him as Lieut. Governor of Portsmouth. Twelve mouths later, on 1 June, 1666, Sir William Berkeley was killed in a naval engagement, and on 14 June, 1666 Sir Philip Honywood, who had been Commander-in-Chief of the garrison under Sir Charles Berkeley, was appointed Lieut.-Governor. http://historyinportsmouth.co.uk/…
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Jan. 14. 1668 Portsmouth. Hugh Salesbury to Williamson. Sir Philip Honywood and his lady arrived on Saturday evening, and were heartily welcomed, he having altered his condition by marriage. The Constant Warwick and Eagle are ready for service when required. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 232, No. 116.]
The party was for Lt. Governor of Portsmouth, Sir Philip Honywood's new bride. I have yet to find her name.
'Charles II: January 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 262-320. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
March 12. 1668 Exeter House. Lord Ashley to Lord Arlington. The prize money having come to an end, shall not be able to pay one more warrant but that which the King spoke of in the Council Chamber; begs that no more warrants may be charged upon him. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 236, No. 89.]
"... in titleing of my books for the present year ..."
I'm rethinking this: Pepys clearly says they are for the present year. Maybe it's the word BOOKS that has me puzzled.
Perhaps these were boxes, and the filing would be placed in them by subject in chron order. When the box was full, Pepys would take it to his bookbinder who would stitch the pages into a permanent book.
Letter #64 in The Letters of Samuel Pepys was written today.
Pepys had heard that Sandwich had landed in Portsmouth. It's long without saying very much. Most important it enclosed a bill of exchange for 500/. drawn upon a Mr. Salisbury to assist Sandwich with his travel expenses.
Court news including the swearing in of Sir John Trevor as Secretary of State in place of Mr. William Morice (purchased for 8,000/.). Also Prince Rupert had paid 3,500/. to be made Constable of Windsor Castle.
Tonight the King and Queen are having supper with the Carterets. Tomorrow the King and the Duke of York are leaving for a month's progress towards Norfolk and Suffolk.
Pepys also says he has asked Anthony Deane to wait upon His Lordship to assist with anything he needs.
Pepys then explains that his eyes are giving him a lot of trouble, and that he apologizes for not writing the letter himself. (I.E. He dictated it to a clerk.)
THE LETTERS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 1656 - 1703 Edited by Guy De La Bedoyere Boydell & Brewer ISSN 1 84383 197 X Pages 70-71
Thanks Stephane for bringing in this important letter to our chronological record.
I wonder what Lady Batten thought about finding her husband was an embezzler.
In my copy of The Letters of Samuel Pepys, this is number 63. Sadly it is one of the letters "dropped" on line, probably as an incentive to make us buy the book (or at least that's what happened to me this morning).
How odd that this new potential bombshell to the Committee of Accounts isn't mentioned by Pepys in the Diary. He must have been very confident that the Navy Board was sufficiently removed from the crime so this was an insignificant personal event ... or it gives us an idea of how many pertinent facts he left out of his narrative.
Stephane, I'm guessing Camphere Downs is Camperduin on the North Holland coast ... site of the 18th century Battle of Camperdown. Mynheer Quack's ship almost made it home sans crew. He had been in England negotiating improved postal arrangements made necessary by the war/peace.
"... my wife not being well, I did lie below stairs in our great chamber, where I slept well."
So he and Elizabeth usually sleep in the second-best chamber? Maybe the room is warmer? Below stairs usually means the servants' quarters, which were usually warmer, by why would their 'great chamber' be there? We need a floor plan again.
"... in titleing of my books for the present year ..."
How did they do that? You can't glue something on. If it was a leather cover, you couldn't write on it. I don't think they had cardboard covers. There was no pocket to tuck a card into. Tie on a label????????????
"I wonder how much Elizabeth is aware of the Committee for Accounts."
My guess is quite a lot ... in a couple of days she'll probably get a nice Valentine's Day gift from Pepys to quietly hide away in her vanity next to her pearls and watch.
Feb. 29. 1668 Whitehall. Robert Yard to F. Royley. I am very sensible of your kindness. I have had an express from Sir. Thos. Allin of what passed between him and De la Roche off Spithead; that he had taken 100 men from him, which were being transported under Mr. Skelton for France, and landed them at Portsmouth, and also the Mary and 4 others of Ostend, but all was done with great civility and fairness.
The forts at Sheerness are to be fortified with all diligence.
The Marquis of Castel Rodrigo has declared to Sir Wm. Temple that he accepts the alternative, and a suspension of arms until March, which is what France offered; so now the ambassadors there, having received that notice, are to press the French King to a peremptory declaration of himself. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 123.]
I have no idea is the last paragraph has anything to do with De La Roche or not.
Feb. 27. 1668 Portsmouth Dockyard. Sir Thos. Allin to the Navy Commissioners. Is at Spithead with 5 ships. Intreats orders to the victualer to supply provisions mentioned to complete 5 months' stores, having hastened away as ordered without some portion. Wants small nails. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 101.]
Sounds like the caper with Monsieur De la Roche has been successfully resolved, with the return of English seamen and ships.
@@@
My guess is these intrusions were approved of by Louis XIV ... or was De la Roche an Ostender or a Dutch mercenary? What made him different from all the other warships dodging the storms in the Channel in February 1668 is that he captured ships in English harbors and our soldiers. Either way, someone was probing to find out if England, in her chaos and penury, was still capable of mounting a defense. Google is no help.
Feb. 27. 1668 Portsmouth. ——— to Williamson. Mons. De la Roche with his consort, after having left Sir Thos. Allin 2 hours, was forced back by the weather, and then Sir Thomas, having received orders, stopped him, and took from him a small Ostender, which he had taken out of one of our harbors, and also 103 (sic) Englishmen, together with Lieut.-Col. Skelton. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 98.]
Feb. 27. 1668 Portsmouth. Hugh Salesbury to Williamson. Sir Thos. Allin has appeared in sight from the Downs with 4 ships named. He met Capt. De la Roche with another French man-of-war, and commanded him aboard, where he now remains; he is stayed for having Capt. [Wm.] Skelton and 200 or 300 English sailors aboard him. Sir Thomas and the French ships are riding at anchor at Spithead. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 97.]
Feb. 25. 1668 Portsmouth. ——— to Williamson. The Emsworth frigate has arrived from the Downs. Mons. De La Roche with his consort has gone for the coast of France, but met with Sir Thos. Allin's squadron of 5 frigates Saw some guns fired, and they have lain this hour muzzled together. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 77.]
Feb. 24. 1668 WHITEHALL Duke of York to [Sir Thos. Allin]. Conveys to him Charles II's instructions as detailed, in reference to the violences committed by French ships under the Sieur De la Roche. [1½ pages. See No. 55 supra. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 62.]
Monsieur De la Roche continues at Cowes with his man-of-war.
The master of the Priscilla yacht of London, laden with wine from Bordeaux, has been driven in by contrary winds, and reports that two Dutch and two French men-of-war were sitting there when he came away, and that 50 more were ready to sail. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 20.]
I presume the two Dutch and two French men-of-war were ready to face off against each other; if and how De la Roche's man-of-war is involved with them is unclear. But it is otherwhere stated that he had other ships with him including English ships he had taken, which is why Allin's squadron went after him.
Feb. 19. 1668 DEVONSHIRE Account attested by several Ostend mariners before Thos. Newman, deputy vice-admiral of Devonshire, 14 Feb. 1668, and before Sir Giles Sweit, surrogate of the Admiralty Court, 19 Feb., of the seizure of their vessel, the St. Mary of Ostend, at Torquay, by Capt. De la Roche and 2 French men-of-war.
On his approach, being unable to defend their ship, they bored holes into her, and escaped to shore, carrying their sails, ammunition, &c., and gave them in charge to Dan. Luscombe, of Torquay;
but De la Roche sent men to seize the ammunition, &c., stopped up the holes, and carried away the vessel.
He also carried off a boat belonging to an Ostend vessel, near Cowes Castle. [2½ pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 7.]
'Charles II: February 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 204-261. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
Comments
Second Reading
About Bernard Skelton
San Diego Sarah • Link
Sir John Skelton was a page to Charles II in exile before the Restoration.
Sir John's son, William, was taken by Capt. Louis de la Roche in February 1668, along with a couple of hundred soldiers, and nearly shipped off to France, except for the intervention of Admiral Allin.
Possibly there were two Bevil Skeltons? In another place his wife as of 1670 is named as Simona Carew, Maid-of-Honor to Queen Catherine from 1663-1670, and a Lady-of-the-Privy Chamber from 1673.
Or perhaps he had more than one wife?
Finding out about his career in Plymouth seems to entail downloading a book ...
http://archive.org/stream/travels…
'Charles II: February 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 204-261. British History Online
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
http://courtofficers.ctsdh.luc.ed…
About Col. Philip Honywood
San Diego Sarah • Link
I should add that James, Duke of York was the official Governor of Portsmouth, so the title of Lt. Governor means Col. Sir Philip Honywood was actually in charge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lis…
About Col. Philip Honywood
San Diego Sarah • Link
1662 March - Sir Charles Berkeley was appointed Lieut.-Governor of Portsmouth.
He was killed at the battle of 3 June, 1665, when his brother, Sir William Berkeley succeeded him as Lieut. Governor of Portsmouth.
Twelve mouths later, on 1 June, 1666, Sir William Berkeley was killed in a naval engagement,
and on 14 June, 1666 Sir Philip Honywood, who had been Commander-in-Chief of the garrison under Sir Charles Berkeley, was appointed Lieut.-Governor.
http://historyinportsmouth.co.uk/…
@@@
Jan. 14. 1668
Portsmouth.
Hugh Salesbury to Williamson.
Sir Philip Honywood and his lady arrived on Saturday evening, and were heartily welcomed, he having altered his condition by marriage.
The Constant Warwick and Eagle are ready for service when required.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 232, No. 116.]
The party was for Lt. Governor of Portsmouth, Sir Philip Honywood's new bride. I have yet to find her name.
'Charles II: January 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 262-320. British History Online
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
About Thursday 12 March 1667/68
San Diego Sarah • Link
All good things come to an end:
March 12. 1668
Exeter House.
Lord Ashley to Lord Arlington.
The prize money having come to an end, shall not be able to pay one more warrant but that which the King spoke of in the Council Chamber;
begs that no more warrants may be charged upon him.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 236, No. 89.]
About Saturday 15 February 1667/68
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... in titleing of my books for the present year ..."
I'm rethinking this: Pepys clearly says they are for the present year. Maybe it's the word BOOKS that has me puzzled.
Perhaps these were boxes, and the filing would be placed in them by subject in chron order. When the box was full, Pepys would take it to his bookbinder who would stitch the pages into a permanent book.
That seems to explain the system better.
About Wednesday 30 September 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
Pepys' letter to Sandwich yesterday arrived today.
Sandwich wrote that 'it was necessary for my occasion and no more'.
THE LETTERS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 1656 - 1703
Edited by Guy De La Bedoyere
Boydell & Brewer
ISSN 1 84383 197 X
Page 71
About Tuesday 29 September 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
Letter #64 in The Letters of Samuel Pepys was written today.
Pepys had heard that Sandwich had landed in Portsmouth. It's long without saying very much. Most important it enclosed a bill of exchange for 500/. drawn upon a Mr. Salisbury to assist Sandwich with his travel expenses.
Court news including the swearing in of Sir John Trevor as Secretary of State in place of Mr. William Morice (purchased for 8,000/.). Also Prince Rupert had paid 3,500/. to be made Constable of Windsor Castle.
Tonight the King and Queen are having supper with the Carterets. Tomorrow the King and the Duke of York are leaving for a month's progress towards Norfolk and Suffolk.
Pepys also says he has asked Anthony Deane to wait upon His Lordship to assist with anything he needs.
Pepys then explains that his eyes are giving him a lot of trouble, and that he apologizes for not writing the letter himself. (I.E. He dictated it to a clerk.)
THE LETTERS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 1656 - 1703
Edited by Guy De La Bedoyere
Boydell & Brewer
ISSN 1 84383 197 X
Pages 70-71
About Thursday 6 February 1667/68
San Diego Sarah • Link
Thanks Stephane for bringing in this important letter to our chronological record.
I wonder what Lady Batten thought about finding her husband was an embezzler.
In my copy of The Letters of Samuel Pepys, this is number 63.
Sadly it is one of the letters "dropped" on line, probably as an incentive to make us buy the book (or at least that's what happened to me this morning).
How odd that this new potential bombshell to the Committee of Accounts isn't mentioned by Pepys in the Diary. He must have been very confident that the Navy Board was sufficiently removed from the crime so this was an insignificant personal event ... or it gives us an idea of how many pertinent facts he left out of his narrative.
About Saturday 15 February 1667/68
San Diego Sarah • Link
Stephane, I'm guessing Camphere Downs is Camperduin on the North Holland coast ... site of the 18th century Battle of Camperdown. Mynheer Quack's ship almost made it home sans crew. He had been in England negotiating improved postal arrangements made necessary by the war/peace.
About Sunday 16 February 1667/68
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... my wife not being well, I did lie below stairs in our great chamber, where I slept well."
So he and Elizabeth usually sleep in the second-best chamber? Maybe the room is warmer? Below stairs usually means the servants' quarters, which were usually warmer, by why would their 'great chamber' be there? We need a floor plan again.
About Saturday 15 February 1667/68
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... in titleing of my books for the present year ..."
How did they do that? You can't glue something on. If it was a leather cover, you couldn't write on it. I don't think they had cardboard covers. There was no pocket to tuck a card into. Tie on a label????????????
About Wednesday 12 February 1667/68
San Diego Sarah • Link
"I wonder how much Elizabeth is aware of the Committee for Accounts."
My guess is quite a lot ... in a couple of days she'll probably get a nice Valentine's Day gift from Pepys to quietly hide away in her vanity next to her pearls and watch.
About Gilles de La Roche-Saint-André
San Diego Sarah • Link
I missed one:
Feb. 29. 1668
Whitehall.
Robert Yard to F. Royley.
I am very sensible of your kindness.
I have had an express from Sir. Thos. Allin of what passed between him and De la Roche off Spithead;
that he had taken 100 men from him, which were being transported under Mr. Skelton for France, and landed them at Portsmouth,
and also the Mary and 4 others of Ostend,
but all was done with great civility and fairness.
The forts at Sheerness are to be fortified with all diligence.
The Marquis of Castel Rodrigo has declared to Sir Wm. Temple that he accepts the alternative, and a suspension of arms until March, which is what France offered;
so now the ambassadors there, having received that notice, are to press the French King to a peremptory declaration of himself.
[2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 123.]
I have no idea is the last paragraph has anything to do with De La Roche or not.
About Gilles de La Roche-Saint-André
San Diego Sarah • Link
Feb. 27. 1668
Portsmouth Dockyard.
Sir Thos. Allin to the Navy Commissioners.
Is at Spithead with 5 ships.
Intreats orders to the victualer to supply provisions mentioned to complete 5 months' stores, having hastened away as ordered without some portion.
Wants small nails.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 101.]
Sounds like the caper with Monsieur De la Roche has been successfully resolved, with the return of English seamen and ships.
@@@
My guess is these intrusions were approved of by Louis XIV ... or was De la Roche an Ostender or a Dutch mercenary? What made him different from all the other warships dodging the storms in the Channel in February 1668 is that he captured ships in English harbors and our soldiers.
Either way, someone was probing to find out if England, in her chaos and penury, was still capable of mounting a defense.
Google is no help.
About Gilles de La Roche-Saint-André
San Diego Sarah • Link
Feb. 27. 1668
Portsmouth.
——— to Williamson.
Mons. De la Roche with his consort,
after having left Sir Thos. Allin 2 hours,
was forced back by the weather,
and then Sir Thomas, having received orders, stopped him,
and took from him a small Ostender, which he had taken out of one of our harbors, and also 103 (sic) Englishmen, together with Lieut.-Col. Skelton.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 98.]
About Gilles de La Roche-Saint-André
San Diego Sarah • Link
Feb. 27. 1668
Portsmouth.
Hugh Salesbury to Williamson.
Sir Thos. Allin has appeared in sight from the Downs with 4 ships named.
He met Capt. De la Roche with another French man-of-war, and commanded him aboard, where he now remains;
he is stayed for having Capt. [Wm.] Skelton and 200 or 300 English sailors aboard him.
Sir Thomas and the French ships are riding at anchor at Spithead.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 97.]
About Gilles de La Roche-Saint-André
San Diego Sarah • Link
Feb. 25. 1668
Portsmouth. ——— to Williamson.
The Emsworth frigate has arrived from the Downs.
Mons. De La Roche with his consort has gone for the coast of France,
but met with Sir Thos. Allin's squadron of 5 frigates
Saw some guns fired, and they have lain this hour muzzled together.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 77.]
About Gilles de La Roche-Saint-André
San Diego Sarah • Link
Feb. 24. 1668
WHITEHALL
Duke of York to [Sir Thos. Allin].
Conveys to him Charles II's instructions as detailed,
in reference to the violences committed by French ships
under the Sieur De la Roche.
[1½ pages. See No. 55 supra.
S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 62.]
About Gilles de La Roche-Saint-André
San Diego Sarah • Link
Feb. 20. 1668
Portsmouth.
––––— to Williamson.
Monsieur De la Roche continues at Cowes with his man-of-war.
The master of the Priscilla yacht of London, laden with wine from Bordeaux, has been driven in by contrary winds,
and reports that two Dutch and two French men-of-war were sitting there when he came away, and that 50 more were ready to sail.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 20.]
I presume the two Dutch and two French men-of-war were ready to face off against each other; if and how De la Roche's man-of-war is involved with them is unclear. But it is otherwhere stated that he had other ships with him including English ships he had taken, which is why Allin's squadron went after him.
About Gilles de La Roche-Saint-André
San Diego Sarah • Link
Feb. 19. 1668
DEVONSHIRE
Account attested by several Ostend mariners before Thos. Newman, deputy vice-admiral of Devonshire, 14 Feb. 1668, and before Sir Giles Sweit, surrogate of the Admiralty Court, 19 Feb.,
of the seizure of their vessel, the St. Mary of Ostend,
at Torquay, by Capt. De la Roche and 2 French men-of-war.
On his approach, being unable to defend their ship, they bored holes into her, and escaped to shore, carrying their sails, ammunition, &c.,
and gave them in charge to Dan. Luscombe, of Torquay;
but De la Roche sent men to seize the ammunition, &c., stopped up the holes, and carried away the vessel.
He also carried off a boat belonging to an Ostend vessel, near Cowes Castle.
[2½ pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 235, No. 7.]
'Charles II: February 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 204-261. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…