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San Diego Sarah has posted 8,814 annotations/comments since 6 August 2015.

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Second Reading

About Wednesday 24 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

I'm confused again: The first reference to The Chancellor is linked to Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper (Baron Ashley, Chancellor of the Exchequer). "... strike in with the persons that are against the Chancellor; but this he says of him, that he do not say nor do anything to the prejudice of the Chancellor. But he told me that the Chancellor was rising again, and that of late Sir G. Carteret’s business and employment hath not been so full as it used to be while the Chancellor stood up."

The second reference isn't linked to anyone, so presumably Phil Gyford thinks Sir John Mennes is very friendly with Baron Ashley. But Robert Gertz says this Chancellor "happens to be father-in-law of the Duke of York", which would be Edward Hyde.

About Wednesday 24 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

'He brought an example how he would not let the Castle there be victualled for more than a month, that so he might keep it at his beck, though the people of the town did offer to supply it more often themselves, which, when one did propose to the King, Sir George Carteret being by, says Sir George, “Let me know who they are that would do it, I would with all my heart pay them.” “Ah, by God,” says the Commander that spoke of it, “that is it that they are afeard of, that you would hug them,” meaning that he would not endure them.'

Why on earth would Carteret not allow Elizabeth Castle to be reprovisioned, since it was his Castle? and I presume the end means that Carteret asks for the names of the volunteers so that he could punish them for offering? Jersey was Puritan, but they loved Charles, and so far as I can tell, them seem to have been good Royalists during Carteret's time.

About Wednesday 24 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... the new tennis-court, newly built next my Lord’s lodgings, to be fallen down by the badness of the foundation or slight working, which my cozen Roger and his discontented party cry out upon, as an example how the King’s work is done, which I am sorry to see him and others so apt to think ill of things. It hath beaten down a good deal of my Lord’s lodgings, and had like to have killed Mrs. Sarah, ..." The shoddy new tennis court was built for Charles II, and is part of the Palace, as are Sandwich's lodgings. So I think it would be the Palace administrator / landlord (whoever that might be) who would do the suing.

About Sunday 21 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"He shewed me a list, which he hath prepared for the Parliament’s view, if the business of his selling of offices should be brought to further hearing, wherein he reckons up, as I remember, 236 offices of ships which have been disposed of without his taking one farthing. For what Mr Coventry did about this list: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…"
-- that's today's post, Terry. Is there SPOILER ALERT knowledge posted elsewhere?

(Terry -- I am grateful you are going through this exercise for the second time. It's nice to have a link with the original gang.)

About Sunday 21 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Hon. Wm. Coventry -- Between 1660 and 1664 the Secretary of the Navy was entirely dependent on fees for his remuneration. In 1664 a salary was awarded. (Per Cumgranissalis on 13 Jun 2005.)

I suspect the salary came as a result of this inquiry.

About Saturday 20 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Latin was the common language of diplomacy, serious books, royal proclamations, etc. If Will Hewer was to advance in life, he needed to have a working knowledge of the language. This may be the first move Pepys has taken to build his own network of influential young people who, in later life, will go to other departments of the government and report the gossip back to him. We call it mentoring today.

About Thursday 18 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Forget the SPOILER ALERT ... today is the 18th! So Pepys is copying something as the Commons is asking for proposals on retrenchment. The question remains, what is a retrenched budget?

About Thursday 18 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... all the morning writing out in my Navy collections the ordinary estimate of the Navy, and did it neatly."

Michael Robinson's note leads me to think that today Pepys copies what he understands to be the recently-approved Navy budget into his "collections" (i.e. his formal working records?) ... but on the 18th (SPOILER ALERT) the Commons change their minds and ask for proposals on how to retrench the budget. Anyone know what a retrenched Charge of His Majesty's Navy is? Or have I totally misunderstood what's going on?

About Tuesday 16 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

According to the archives, Terry on 17 Jun 2006 says '"The news about the subsidy business in Parliament" has come PDQ from a man who, since 1661, has been M.P. for Rochester, and sat in Commons earlier in the morning.'

Apparently Sir Francis Clerke was the MP Rochester, Kent. He was a commissioner of the prizes, a constant receiver of all public money, and a constant diner at court tables. -- A Seasonable Argument ... for a New Parliament. Andrew Marvell, [1677] 1776.

I had expected the answer to be William Coventry, who was also in the House of Commons that day. Any idea why Sir Francis was such a prompt informer of Naval news?

And there was an (unreliable) fore-runner to Hansard at the time. Yesterday we learned of Mr. Monpesson of Tedworth, Wilts, hearing an invisible drum every night for a year. This story was examined in the “Mercurius Publicus,” April 16-23, 1663, by which it appeared William Drury, of Uscut, Wilts, was the invisible drummer.

Sir John Birkenhead or Berkenhead (c.1615 – 4 December 1679) began producing England's first official news-book "Mercurius Aulicus" in 1643. The principal writer was Peter Heylin, but Birkenhead brought satire, slanders and incisive polemics which the parliamentary party found difficult to rebuff. His loyalty to the royalist party was rewarded on the Restoration of the monarchy when he was made licenser of the press and joint editor, with Henry Muddiman, of the new official news-book "Mercurius Publicus". His contribution to journalism after the Restoration was slight, concentrating more on a political career and being elected MP for Wilton, Wiltshire in June 1661. He was knighted the following year and was a founding member of the Royal Society. In 1664 he was sworn in as a Master of Requests, serving until his death in 1679. He is buried in an unmarked grave near the school door at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joh…

About Richard Pigott

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

✹ Pauline on 21 Jul 2004:

from L&M Companion: Of Brampton. In his will (Jan. 1666) he is described as a yeoman. As the executor of his Uncle Robert's estate, Pepys must see to it that every little parcel of it in property around Brampton is properly appraised and some sold so that the proceeds can be distributed to the heirs.

About Whey house (The Strand)

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Elsewhere we have heard of Pepys eating Syllabub:

"In the 17th century, a milkmaid would send a stream of new, warm milk directly from a cow into a bowl of spiced cider or ale. A light curd would form on top with a lovely whey underneath. This, according to Elizabeth David, was the original syllabub. Today's syllabub is more solid (its origins can also be traced to the 17th century, albeit to the upper classes) and mixes sherry and/or brandy, sugar, lemon, nutmeg, and double cream into a custard-like dessert or an eggnog-like beverage, depending upon the cook." http://www.cuisinenet.com/glossar…

About Whey house (The Strand)

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

✹ Roy Feldman on 11 Jun 2006 • Link • Flag
"the whay-house" I love the idea of an establishment that just serves whey -- not because I'm a big fan of whey (I probably wouldn't know it if I saw it), but because I love off-beat specialty stores. I live in New York City, and it's full of such stores: for example, bakeries that only make cupcakes. What I'm wondering is whether a "whay-house" is the 17th-century equivalent of a specialty store that would only be found in a big city like London, or if it was a common feature in all towns above a certain size. Any ideas?

✹ dirk on 11 Jun 2006 • Link • Flag
"whay" Whey was becoming a fashionable drink around this time. Before it had been used mainly as pig food -- so people living in the countryside were familiar with it as a (very refreshing) drink. In the mid 1600s whey-houses became increasingly popular -- obviously this was a city thing, as country folk were already familiar with this drink.

About Wednesday 10 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... Thomas Pepys to desire me to furnish him with some money, which I could not do till his father has wrote to Piggott his consent to the sale of his lands, ..." Can anyone explain this matter to me? Richard Pigott was a Grocer and Ironmonger of London, not an attorney, not related to the Pepys, and doesn't appear to have any interests in Cambridgeshire or Huntingdonshire.

About Friday 5 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Sorry I wasn't more clear, Sasha ... I wasn't remarking on Elizabeth not taking Ashwell to her parents; she was escorted by Sam so Ashwell wasn't necessary.

I was surprised Ashwell isn't going to accompany Elizabeth on a possibly three-day coach trip to Sam's parents in Brampton. (Sam made it in two days on horseback, which presumably is quicker.) I took Elizabeth's neglect of Ashwell to mean leaving her at home in London. Elizabeth knows Sam has a wandering eye, and he has taken advantage of female staff before (Mrs. Sarah at Sandwich's http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…). So do we assume Ashwell will play housekeeper for Sam while Elizabeth is away? Or will Ashwell be expected to have an unpaid vacation somewhere else (I think Sam would have mentioned the money that would save)? Maybe Elizabeth is trying to get Ashwell fired before she leaves? Insufficient information leaves me thinking this doesn't add up.

About Saturday 6 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"But that that pleased me best, was the remains of the noble soul of the late Duke of Buckingham appearing in his house, in every place, in the doorcases and the windows."

I bet that's supposed to read 'But that what pleased ..."

George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham rebuilt and moved to York House in 1624. Although the 2nd Duke sold most of the artwork long before Pepys' visit, the bones of the house were probably much as the 1st Duke knew them when he lived there.

Interestingly enough, 1624 is the first time the word "splendid" appeared in the English language. I don't think these events are connected, though.

About Saturday 6 June 1663

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"James I's Buckingham was thought of so highly? I guess dying as a Protestant martyr helps..."

I wish someone had asked Robert Gertz what he meant by this. The first Duke of Buckingham was hated, especially for dragging so many men to their deaths at the Isle of Re in an unprovisioned fleet, and Felton murdered him for planning to do it all over again.

The Protestant martyr was Charles I.

I'm sure Robert knows this, so perhaps he has an angle that hasn't occurred to me yet.