Monday 3 June 1661
To the Wardrobe, where discoursing with my Lord, he did instruct me as to the business of the Wardrobe, in case, in his absence, Mr. Townsend should die, and told me that he do intend to joyne me and Mr. Moore with him as to the business, now he is going to sea, and spoke to me many other things, as to one that he do put the greatest confidence in, of which I am proud. Here I had a good occasion to tell him (what I have had long in my mind) that, since it has pleased God to bless me with something, I am desirous to lay out something for my father, and so have pitched upon Mr. Young’s place in the Wardrobe, which I desired he would give order in his absence, if the place should fall that I might have the refusal. Which my Lord did freely promise me, at which I was very glad, he saying that he would do that at the least. So I saw my Lord into the barge going to Whitehall, and I and Mr. Creed home to my house, whither my father and my cozen Scott came to dine with me, and so we dined together very well, and before we had done in comes my father Bowyer and my mother and four daughters, and a young gentleman and his sister, their friends, and there staid all the afternoon, which cost me great store of wine, and were very merry.
By and by I am called to the office, and there staid a little. So home again, and took Mr. Creed and left them, and so he and I to the Towre, to speak for some ammunition for ships for my Lord; and so he and I, with much pleasure, walked quite round the Towre, which I never did before. So home, and after a walk with my wife upon the leads, I and she went to bed.
This morning I and Dr. Peirce went over to the Beare at the Bridge foot, thinking to have met my Lord Hinchinbroke and his brother setting forth for France; but they being not come we went over to the Wardrobe, and there found that my Lord Abbot Montagu being not at Paris, my Lord hath a mind to have them stay a little longer before they go.
25 Annotations
First Reading
Australian Susan • Link
Another day as busy as Saturday! All these last minute things to get the ships ready to sail and Sam leaping in with "my Lord" to reap some of the rewards of the "great confidence" Lord Sandwich has placed in him. And, at last, a mention of Elizabeth after silence.
A. De Araujo • Link
"and my mother and four daughters....and there staid all afternoon.....and were very merry" No sign of Alzheimers or senility here!
Louis Anthony Scarsdale • Link
If you click on "Father Bowyer" you find (thanks to Pauline) a citation from Tomlin, where it is mentioned that Will Bowyer "and his wife made friends with Elizabeth, and Sam sometimes called him 'father Bowyer.'" The syntax suggests that "my mother" is "my mother Bowyer," i.e., Mrs. Bowyer---for Sam has but the one sister, Paulina ("Pall"). His real mother (whatever her state of mind) does not have four daughters---suggesting the link now pointing to Mrs. Pepys Senior should be redirected.
Andrew Hamilton • Link
"my mother and four daughters"
I think the reference is to the senior Mrs. Bowyer. See Pauline's entry: "Robert was an usher at the Exchequer, and he prided himself on keeping a paternal eye on the clerks and often invited them home to his houseful of daughters in Westminster, and sometimes to his country place in Buckinghamshire. He and his wife made friends with Elizabeth, and Sam sometimes called him 'father Bowyer.'"
vicente • Link
'Tis Mother Boyer I do believe.
re: The Alzh...... very noticable when and if, mrs P. says to our Sam, "My Son used to come and visit me, he is such a nice ladd, makes lots of money he do, he hob nobs with the best he do." this happened to a friend of mine, now that is when the disease is galloping, not that "lazy idol B***** and his strumpert." thats the mind latching on to the reality.
Both Illnesses are terrible, but the second takes a lot of energy to hold ones P's & Q's when you can step away from the negative. Another Old Age defect of mind is when the mind laches on to Language of basic superlatives, coming from a sweet Lady that never swore in her Life. that can floor you.
David A. Smith • Link
"I am desirous to lay out something for my father"
From time to time we chrono-critics chastise Sam for his 17th century failings ... and in recompense, we must give him his due. When the moment is right (note the shrewdness: his ask follows Montagu's compliments and expressions of trust), he asks not for himself but his father.
Good on yer, mate.
Mary • Link
"to speak for some ammunition"
Despite Rick's helpful annotation on June 1st, Sam does indeed seem to have some input to the ordering of ordinance on this occasion.
Pedro. • Link
"I am desirous to lay out something for my father"
Is there some imbalance here in his desire to look out for his father, and yet to have less sympathy for his mother?
Firenze • Link
Providing for the family as a whole surely. In the era before pensions or benefits, you get places for your kin so they can support themselves and their immediate dependents. This duty to family is prudential, not without self-interest, and what is expected of you, irrespective of the degree of affection among the parties.
Wim van der Meij • Link
This does not occur often: at the end of this day's entry he returns to something happening earlier in the morning (the 'going over to The Beare' etc.). Usually Sam's accounts are strictly chronological
Rick Ansell • Link
I think in this case Peyps is acting in his capacity as Sandwich's servant when he goes to the Tower regarding ammunition. The fact that he worked for the Navy Office wouldn't have hurt however. Since the Tower certainly acted as an ordnance depot later in its life I suspect he would have spoken to the Ordnance officers based there.
I don't think the Navy Office dealt with powder and shot even in the 1660s - it made sense then, as later, for these items, whether destined for land or sea use, to be managed by the same body. It wasn’t that many years prior to this that the cannon (and their carriages) used afloat and ashore were the same items. At this stage the powder and, mostly, the shot would have been interchangeable.
language hat • Link
"Is there some imbalance here..."
Family relations are exceedingly complicated. Even today, in a culture I was born into and with people I know personally, I hesitate to judge people's attitudes towards (and relations with) their parents. I wouldn't even know how to begin doing so for someone living centuries ago, in a society alien to me, on the basis of a few random remarks in a journal. I suggest we at least wait until we have a few years' worth of material before we start drawing conclusions (unless he gives us a full accounting, in some future entry, of his history with mom and dad and his feelings about it, which seems about as likely as his plotting to blow up Parliament).
Pauline • Link
"Is there some imbalance here in his desire to look out for his father, and yet to have less sympathy for his mother?"
The record to date shows Sam quite devoted to both parents and very sympathetic to his "poor" mother these past three troubled months. No sign in my reading of the entries that he has taken the side of his father against his mother. He's upset and concerned that they are troubled: he describes the trouble and what is reported to him and how he finds them, but he does not characterize either of them as being in the right.
Firenze has it right, providing a post for the father benefits the family.
Pedro. • Link
"Imbalance"
There is no doubt that Sam cares for his family, and anything that benefits Mr.P would benefit the family as a whole. However, from the entries on the 1st and 28th of April where Sam says...
"I staid till 10 at night, persuading my mother to understand herself, and that in some high words, which I was sorry for, but she is grown, poor woman, very froward"
and
"which I was ashamed to hear that my mother should be become such a fool"
It seems that when there is an arguement between the two, Sam has taken the side of his father quite strongly.
Pauline • Link
"Imbalance"
Pedro, his mother may be the troubled person—Sam’s reporting tells us how troubled and how bad (and ashamed) he feels about it—but I just don’t see how that means he has taken his father’s side. He seems to be supporting his father in his frustration with it all, yes; but I see that differently than taking sides as if it were an argument. The quotes you give are good examples of Sam realizing that his mother is very troubled and upset beyond reasoning with. If her husband has caused her this trouble, I don’t see where Sam has tumbled to that.
vicente • Link
Men then and sometimes now are the final arbitrator of who is in charge of household affairs [ especially when debt is concerned by law]. The wifey was not a partner, even when it comes to the taxes, they were considered to be only a shadow. When the 'tin can' kicked the bucket the wife kept the business, because man and wife were considered one. So it was natural that the man WAS head of house in ALL matters. Of course it seems strange now, but justification was by RIB of Adam. This scheme of relationships also part of the revolution of the equality. Note: Church going, Man got to go twice while the wifey only after chores were done.
The revolution was not only about religion or kings and who ruled. It was about the relations between all peoples and the treatment of each other[ Religion provided the forum and the new lands provided opportunity to practice other ways]. The Parallels, we can see today in many parts of the world, events removed only by time and location. I was reading up on the hanging procedure of that time, and the only difference beween then and now, was location, time and method of brain washing.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"To the Wardrobe, where discoursing with my Lord, he did instruct me as to the business of the Wardrobe, in case, in his absence, Mr. Townsend should die, and told me that he do intend to joyne me and Mr. Moore with him as to the business, now he is going to sea"
L&M note Thomas Townsend, sen., was Sandwich's deputy at the Wardrobe. Pepys and Moore now supervised the Wardrobe finances, rendering an account to Sandwich on his return in May 1662. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… Moore (already in charge of Sandwich's household) did most of the work; Pepys's function (to judge by the diary) were mainly fulfilled by frequent dinners taken at the Wardrobe. In June1662 Pepys recommended Sandwich appoint Moore Townshend's assistant. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Bill • Link
An aristocrat like Sandwich needs smart, capable "technocrats" to handle his affairs and protect his interests. As proud as SP is and as much as he benefits, I think Sandwich knows that he is getting the better half of this relationship. And giving SP's father a position will help cement that relationship. Win/win.
Louise Hudson • Link
Assuming Pauline is still here after 10 years, as A. Hamilton is, Sam does take his father's side, most recently on May 30, when he wrote
"indeed my mother is grown now so pettish that I know not how my father is able to bear with it. I did talk to her so as did not indeed become me, but I could not help it, she being so unsufferably foolish and simple, so that my father, poor man, is become a very unhappy man."
I think that indeed counts as taking sides.
Tonyel • Link
" since it has pleased God to bless me with something, I am desirous to lay out something for my father,"
I assume the custom would be to pay the outgoing Mr Young when he retired so Sam is not just asking for a favour, he's putting up a stake on behalf of his father. Good for him.
Terry Foreman • Link
"my Lord Abbot Montagu being not at Paris, my Lord hath a mind to have them stay a little longer before they go."
Hinchingbrooke and his brother Sidney were about to go to school in Paris, where they were in the charge of their cousin the Abbé Walter Mountagu. Sidney returned in May 1664; his brother toured Italy and came home in August 1665. (Per L&M footnote)
Terry Foreman • Link
"the Abbé Walter Mountagu"
An Abbé is the French word for abbot. It is the title for lower-ranking Catholic clergymen in France.
A concordat passed between Pope Leo X and Francis I of France (between 1515 and 1521), gave the kings of France the right to nominate 255 Abbés commendataires for almost all French abbeys, who received income from a monastery without needing to render a service. Since the mid-16th century, the title abbé has been used for all young clergymen with or without consecration.
Since those abbés only rarely commanded an abbey, they often worked in upper-class families as tutors, spiritual directors, etc.; others became writers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abb…
Bill • Link
From the Dictionary of National Biography for WM: "became abbot of St. Martin near Pontoise; resigned in favour of Cardinal Bouillon at the request of the French government, 1670, but continued to enjoy the revenues"
Terry Foreman • Link
"Usually Sam's accounts are strictly chronological"
Actually many of Pepys's entries are marked by a new item at the end -- a lede http://grammarist.com/usage/lead-… beginning an account (as here) of something else that happened "this morning" -- often what happened in parliament..
Terry Foreman • Link
"This morning I and Dr. Peirce went over to the Beare at the Bridge foot, thinking to have met my Lord Hinchinbroke and his brother setting forth for France; but they being not come we went over to the Wardrobe, and there found that my Lord Abbot Montagu being not at Paris, my Lord hath a mind to have them stay a little longer before they go."
Hinchingbrooke and his brother Sidney were about to go to school in Paris, where they were in the charge of their cousin the Abbé Walter Mountagu. Sidney returned in May 1664; his brother toured Italy and came home in August 1665. (Per L&M footnote)