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San Diego Sarah has posted 9,884 annotations/comments since 6 August 2015.

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Third Reading

About Saturday 30 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

No wonder Pepys and the Navy were short of funds! Fascinating. Thanks.

"... the Duke of York himself has had to jet off to, precisely, Dunkirk to check into rumors of plots and mutiny."

So that's why he went! What more can you link me to about this, Stephane? Were the troops upset about being sent to Tangier, or the local populace about being taken over by France? Or were they upset with Charles II and knew nothing about the deal yet?

I thought Gravelines was ceded to the French in 1657?
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

Ambassador Godefroy, Comte d'Estrades was military governor of Gravelines in 1661, according to "A French Ambassador at the Court of Charles the Second: Le Comte de Cominges" -- which doesn't necessarily mean that the English weren't sending money there for some reason
https://books.google.com/books?id…

About Saturday 23 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

From Sandwich's log, at anchor in Tangier Bay:

November 23, Saturday.
The Greyhound came in from Malaga and brought the Purser General with him and news of an Algiers man of war of 34 guns taken in the English Channel (which news proved false, as is seen in the 27th instance hereafter.)

Copied from
The Journal of Edward Mountagu,
First Earl of Sandwich
Admiral and General-at-Sea 1659 - 1665

Edited by RC Anderson
Printed for the Navy Records Society
MDCCCCXXIX

Section III - Mediterranean 1661/62

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The Greyhound had left for Malaga on 9 November
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Malaga
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
The Purser General -- this confirms that he was William Lever, the Purser-General to Sandwich's fleet 1661-2 (L&M Companion)
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

About Tuesday 26 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

CONCLUSION:

From all these things parliament is seen to have nothing but an intense desire to serve the king and to preserve him and protect him against any peril that may remain. He will be completely delivered if they reform the Privy Council, which is discussed and seems to be desired by parliament and by all sincere servants of his Majesty by purging it of the numerous Presbyterians who not only have seats in it but the greatest power and authority, although they behaved as irreconcileable enemies to the present king and his father, being accommodated by his Majesty when he returned to England with such elevated posts for pure convenience and good governance as it did not then suit him to offend them, but that he may gradually get rid of them for the absolute security of himself, his house and dominions.

'Venice: December 1661', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 33, 1661-1664, ed. Allen B Hinds (London, 1932), British History Online
https://www.british-history.ac.uk…

He says Parliament wants to purge the Privy Council -- the elder statesmen I said were keeping Charles II on the rails of good governance for the time being! Maybe Charles should let a few of the MPs or Lords know what he's doing behind the scenes to balance the budget ... a leak or two might be useful.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

About Tuesday 26 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

This must be the day referred to by the Venetian Ambassador in his report of December 2, 1661 N.S. -- so maybe it's not N.S. after all, and the BHO have been kind enough to change their dates back to O.S.?:

Parliament has also devoted its earnest attention to the means of repressing turbulent spirits, as recommended by the king in his speech, and of destroying the rebellions which seem to be breaking out in several parts of the country before they get a firmer hold. Upon this they remark that some who are in the Tower, justly condemned to execution as guilty of the blood of the late king, but reprieved so far, no one knows why, can only serve while they live as an encouragement and stimulus to their confederates, who are too numerous in this kingdom, to attempt fresh disturbances. These have all been summoned before parliament to hear from their mouths what they have to say why the sentence pronounced against them should remain without effect. Some of them tried to clear themselves by asserting their innocence and that they were wrongfully condemned; others confessed they were blinded by the devil and besought pardon; others again tried in other ways to escape death. But nothing availed to suggest such an indulgence in the minds of the judges, and it is believed that before long the sentence against them will be carried out, it being now confirmed by the authority of parliament.

Not being pleased with the removal of Lambert, Vene and the other sectaries from the Tower to adjacent islands they have petitioned his Majesty to have them brought back to England, and this being granted ships have been sent to fetch them. It is believed that when they arrive parliament will make them pay with their lives for their crimes, and this will be a good example for the numerous fanatics who survive in this country, especially as they are the leaders of the sects and of the false doctrines which dominate England.

A minister who preached last October in some corner of this metropolis and published libels full of sedition, ended his life on the gallows the day before yesterday, without any repentance, indeed with horrid blasphemies, so great was the power of the Tempter over him. His quarters were hung in the usual places and his intestines burned, and it may be hoped that the example will check others who seek to fish in troubled waters.
Some books have recently been burned by the hangman which were found in the house of a sectary, full of biting lies against the present political government and raging against the ecclesiastical.

About Friday 29 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... after dinner to White Hall to the Duke, who met us in his closet; and there he did discourse to us the business of Holmes, ..." and apparently discusses nothing else with his Navy specialists.

On December 2, 1661 N.S. (November 24 O.S. approx.) the Venetian Ambassador says: "The duke of York has been at Dunkirk and is momentarily expected back at Court." -- with no speculation on why he had made such a trip. Since Pepys hasn't mentioned it, this must have been either a well-kept secret, or so mundane as to not be worth of mention.
https://www.british-history.ac.uk…

About Thursday 21 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

And at the Lords:

Message from H. C. about a Proclamation concerning suspicious Persons.
A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Secretary Morice and others:

To let their Lordships know, that the House of Commons have Intelligence that divers Male-contents, Fanatics, Cashiered and Disbanded Officers and Soldiers, and others, have some Design amongst them, tending to the Breach of the Peace of this Kingdom; therefore they desire their Lordships would join with them, to move His Majesty, that He would please to issue out a Proclamation, that all suspicious and loose Persons may be forthwith sent out of these Towns of London and Westm. and the Liberties thereof, for some Time.

Lords to at the King about it.
The Lords concurred in this Message; and appointed these Lords following to join in moving His Majesty herein; videlicet,
L. Steward.
L. Chamberlain.
Epus. London.
Epus. Worcester.
Ds. Craven.
Ds. Lucas.

Message to H. C. about it.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Nathaniell Hobart and Sir Wm. Glascocke:
To let them know, that the Lords do agree to join with them, in attending the King, to move Him to issue out a Proclamation for sending out of this Town all suspicious and loose Persons; and that their Lordships have appointed Six Lords for this Purpose; and their Lordships will send to His Majesty, to know His Pleasure concerning the Time when they shall wait upon Him.

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Paranoia is high, but at least they didn't blame the Quakers this time. But so many of them are under lock and key it's hard to imagine many were running around still.

About Thursday 21 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

The Commons today -- amongst other things:

Importing Madder.
A Bill for importing of Madder, pure and unmixed, was this Day read the Second time.

Disbanding Army.
Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to desire their Concurrence with this House, to petition his Majesty to issue a Proclamation for disarming the disbanded and cashiered Officers and Soldiers; and to command them to depart from, and not to approach within Twenty Miles of, this City, for such time as his Majesty shall think fit.

And Mr. Secretary Morice is to carry up this Message to the Lords.

Supply.
Resolved, upon the Question, Nemine contradicente, That the Sum of Twelve hundred thousand Pounds shall be speedily raised for Supply of the King's Majesty's present Occasions: And that the House do resolve into a Grand Committee To-morrow Morning, to consider of the manner of raising it.

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Madder -- 'According to Culpeper's Herbal, the plant is "an herb of Mars" and "hath an opening quality, and afterwards to bind and strengthen". The root was recommended in the treatment of yellow jaundice, obstruction of the spleen, the melancholy humour, palsy, sciatica, and of bruises. The leaves were advised for women “that have not their courses” and for the treatment of freckles and other discolorations of the skin.

'Madder root may cause birth defects and miscarriages in humans when taken internally.

'Rubia tinctorum, the rose madder or common madder or dyer's madder, is a herbaceous perennial plant species belonging to the bedstraw and coffee family Rubiaceae. Madder can grow to 1.5 m in height. The evergreen leaves are approx. 5–10 cm long and 2–3 cm broad, produced in whorls of 4–7 starlike around the central stem. It climbs with tiny hooks at the leaves and stems. The flowers are small (3–5 mm), with 5 yellow petals, in dense racemes, and appear from June - August, followed by small (4–6 mm) red to black berries. The roots can be over a metre long, up to 12 mm thick and are the source of red dyes known as rose madder and Turkey red.
It prefers loamy soils (sand and clay soil) with a constant level of moisture. Madder a food for the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the hummingbird hawk moth.

'It has been used since ancient times as a vegetable red dye for leather, wool, cotton and silk.
'In Viking Age levels of York, remains of both woad and madder have been excavated. The oldest European textiles dyed with madder come from the grave of the Merovingian queen Arnegundis in Saint-Denis (565 - 570 AD). In Charlemagne's "Capitulare de villis", madder is mentioned as "warentiam". The herbal of Hildegard of Bingen mentions the plant.
The red coats of the British Redcoats were dyed with madder; earlier and perhaps officer's fabric being dyed with the more expensive cochineal. Madder is mentioned in the Talmud (tractate where it is called "puah" in Aramaic.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rub…

About Thursday 16 August 1660

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Sandwich has no such permission for a Leave of Absence. There was a 5l. a day fine for no shows. What is he up to?"

What I didn't know when I posted this annotation is that Sandwich was at Privy Council meetings on a Very Important Subject at this time. Which I won't link to -- you'll find out soon enough. But you need to know he wasn't goofing off or sleeping in.

About Wednesday 20 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"I would suspect Abermarle [SIC] (General Monck) is getting the same treatment. Unless Charlie has judged him a fool as Montague did and ruled him out as a potential threat."

At this time Charles II is hemmed in by his Privy Council, elderly Royalists who are teaching him the ropes of kingship. Treasurer Southampton, Chancellor Clarendon, Gen. Lord Albemarle, his good friend from Jersey days and the possibly richest man in the land, Sir George Carteret, and up until now, the Duke of Ormonde.

Ormonde's skills were clearly needed in Ireland, so he's out of the way now.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Adm. Sandwich is the only young one in the bunch. By sending him out of the country on a very worthwhile venture, which will take over a year to complete, was a savvy move. I'm sure all the old codgers approved of the appointment -- and probably suggested it, judging from the politics behind the Portuguese match of which Sandwich was a prime promoter.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

Charles is being played by -- and is playing -- them all. The only loser was the young one, Sandwich, who probably thought he was young enough to outlive the old guard and because of his service abroad would still be fresh and astute enough to be on Charles' good side when they passed on.
One good thing about being in Tangier Bay now is that his fingerprints are not all over what happens to the regicides.

About Wednesday 20 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Those which concern Matters of Religion, I confess to you, are too hard for Me; and therefore I do commend them to your Care and Deliberation, which can best provide for them."
And then Charles has his 9 Bishops sworn in -- nice dodge, Your Royal Highness!

About Wednesday 20 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

CONCLUSION

"Those which concern Matters of Religion, I confess to you, are too hard for Me; and therefore I do commend them to your Care and Deliberation, which can best provide for them.

"I shall not need to recommend, or put you in Mind of, the good Correspondence that ought to be kept between you, for the Good of yourselves and Me, and the whole Kingdom; and I may tell you, it is very necessary for us all. You will find, whoever doth not love Me, doth not love you; and they who have no Reverence for you, have little Kindness for Me.
"Therefore, I pray, let us adhere fast to each other; and then we shall, with the Help of GOD, in a short Time, persuade or oblige all Men to that Submission and Obedience to the Law, as may constitute a full Measure of Happiness to Prince and People, and persuade our Neighbours to that Esteem and Value they have formerly had for us."

Thanks to the King for His Speech.
His Majesty, having ended His Speech, withdrew; and the House being cleared, it was moved, "That some Persons might be appointed to give His Majesty humble and hearty Thanks, from this House, for His Gracious and Excellent Speech; and to desire that He would be pleased to give Way that it may be printed and published, for the Satisfaction of the whole Nation."

And accordingly the House ordered the Lord Steward and the Lord Chamberlain to attend His Majesty, from this House, to the Intent aforesaid.

Bishops added to Committees.
ORDERED, That these Lords Spiritual are added to the Committee for Privileges, and to the Committee for Petitions; videlicet,
Archbp. of York.
Bp. of London.
Bp. of Durham.
Bp. of Sarum.
Bp. of Worcester.
Bp. of Lyncolne.
Bp. of St. Davids.
Bp. of Exon.
Bp. of Norwich.

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* Four Score Thousand Pounds = 80,000/. I think.

About Wednesday 20 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

PART 2

"Mr. Speaker, and you Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I do not now importune you to make more Haste in the settling the constant Revenue of the Crown, than is agreeable to the Method you propose to yourselves; to desire you seriously to consider the insupportable Weight that lies upon it; the Obligations it lies under, to provide for the Interest, Honour and Security of the Nation, in another Proportion than in any former Times it hath been obliged to: But I come to put you in Mind of the crying Debts which do every Day call upon Me; of some necessary Provisions which are to be made without Delay for the very Safety of the Kingdom; of the great Sum of Money that should be ready to discharge the several Fleets when they come Home; and for the necessary Preparations that are to be made for the setting out new Fleets to Sea against the Spring, that Revenue being already anticipated upon as important Services which should be assigned to those Preparations.

"These are the pressing Occasions which I am forced to recommend to you with all possible Earnestness, and to conjure you to provide for as speedily as is possible, and in such a Manner as may give us Security at Home, and some Reputation Abroad. I make this Discourse to you with some Confidence, because I am very willing and desirous that you should thoroughly examine whether these Necessities I mention be real or imaginary, or whether they are fallen upon us by My Fault, My own Ill-managery or Excesses, and provide for them accordingly.

"I am very willing that you make a full Inspection into My Revenue, as well the Disbursements as Receipts; and if you find it hath been ill-managed by any Corruption in the Officers I trust, or by My own Unthriftiness, I shall take the Information and Advice you shall give Me very kindly; I say, if you find it; for I would not have you believe any loose Discourses, how confidently soever urged, of giving away Four Score Thousand Pounds* in a Morning, and many other Extravagancies of that Kind. I have much more Reason to be sorry that I have not to reward those who have ever faithfully served the King My Father and Myself, than ashamed of any Bounty I have exercised towards any Man.

"My Lords and Gentlemen, I am sorry to find that the general Temper and Affections of the Nation are not so well composed as I hoped they would have been, after so signal Blessings from GOD ALMIGHTY upon us all, and after so great Indulgence and Condescensions from Me towards all Interests.

"There are many wicked Instruments, still as active as ever, who labour Night and Day to disturb the Public Peace, and to make all People jealous of each other. It will be worthy of your Care and Vigilance, to provide proper Remedies for the Diseases of that Kind; and if you find new Diseases, you must study new Remedies.

"Let us not be discouraged: If we help one another, we shall, with GOD's Blessing, master all our Difficulties.

About Wednesday 20 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

The Commons did nothing I think noteworthy, until called to the Lords:

The King present.
The King's Most Excellent Majesty being present this Day, sitting in His Throne, in His Regal Robes; the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being likewise in their Robes; His Majesty commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to signify His Pleasure to the House of Commons, "That they presently come up and attend him," who immediately came with their Speaker.

And then His Majesty was pleased to declare His Mind to both Houses of Parliament, in the Speech following; videlicet,

His Speech.
"My Lords, and Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"I know the Visit I make you this Day is not necessary, is not of Course: Yet, if there were no more in it, it would not be strange that I come to see, what you and I have so long desired to see, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons of England met together, to consult for the Peace and Safety of Church and State, by which Parliaments are restored to their primitive Lustre and Integrity: I do heartily congratulate with you for this Day.

"But, My Lords and Gentlemen, as My Coming hither at this Time is somewhat extraordinary; so the Truth is, the Occasion of My Coming is more extraordinary. It is to say something to you on My own Behalf, to ask somewhat of you for Myself; which is more than I have done of you, or of those who met here before you, since My Coming into England. I needed not have done it then; and, upon My Conscience, I need not do it now.

"They did, and you do, upon all Occasions, express so great an Affection and Care of all that concerns Me, that I may very well refer both the Matter and Manner of your doing any Thing for Me, to your own Wisdoms and Kindness. And indeed, if I did think that what I am to say to you now did alone or did most concern Myself; if the uneasy Condition I am in, if the Streights and Necessities I am to struggle with, did not manifestly relate to the Public Peace and Safety, more than to My own Particular otherwise than as I am concerned in the Public, I should not give you this Trouble this Day. I can bear My Necessities which merely relate to Myself with Patience enough.

About Wednesday 20 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

From Sandwich's log, at anchor in Tangier Bay:

November 20, Wednesday.
About noon the Princess came in to us from Cadiz with a month's provisions for the ships not of Sir John Lawson's squadron. By her I had the news of Don Luis de Haro 2 his death and Don Juan de Gongro his being very dangerously sick, the Duke of Medina Coeli his intending to go to Madrid and things look everyday likelier to have civil wars in Spain.

2 Don Luis Mendez de Haro, etc., Conde-Duque de Oliveres, etc., Chief Minister of Spain.

Copied from
The Journal of Edward Mountagu,
First Earl of Sandwich
Admiral and General-at-Sea 1659 - 1665

Edited by RC Anderson
Printed for the Navy Records Society
MDCCCCXXIX

Section III - Mediterranean 1661/62

@@@

The Princess left on November 8. A victualling trip takes 12 days.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Cadiz
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
Sir John Lawson's squadron -- holding their own off Algiers
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
* that should read "toot their own horn"!
Chief Minister of Spain, Don Luis Mendez de Haro -- he was in charge of funds amongst other things https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Luis Méndez de Haro (born February 17, 1598, Valladolid, Spain — died November 26, 1661, Madrid) the chief minister and favorite of Philip IV (reigned 1621–65), who failed to stem the decline of Spanish power and prestige. https://www.britannica.com/biogra…
Don Juan de Gongro -- Juan de Góngora (or Juan Jiménez de Góngora ), 1st Marquis of Almodóvar del Río (Córdoba , 1608 - Madrid , January 10, 1668) was a Spanish politician and financier in the service of Philip IV.
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jua…
The Duke of Medina Coeli recently wrote to Sandwich, but doesn't mention this trip. So this is news from the Captain of the Princess. I still haven't nailed his name -- help please.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Madrid
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

About Friday 29 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

In case anyone is confused by Pepys' use of the word 'closet', a book by Danielle Bobker called "The Closet : The Eighteenth-Century Architecture of Intimacy" from Princeton University Press, ISBN: 9780691198231 is fascinating. Pepys is directly referenced, of course.

It means they met in James' private office/hobby/curio room.

About Friday 29 November 1661

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

The Sir Wills were sitting in the Commons today, which is why they arranged to meet Pepys in Westminster Hall.
It sounds like it was a boring morning for them.

The Lords were barely more exciting:

Bill concerning Quakers, &c.
The Duke of Richmond reported from the Committee the Bill concerning Quakers, wherein the Committee have thought fit to make some Alterations, which are offered to the Consideration of the House.

The said Alterations were read Twice; and, after some Debate, it is ORDERED, That the said Bill is re-committed to the further Consideration of the same Committee, who are to meet this Day Sevennight.

Abuse of Protections.
ORDERED, That the Committee for Privileges are to take into Consideration the Abuse of Protections, and how to regulate them; and to make Report thereof to this House; and this to be the first Business on Monday next at the Committee.