Friday 13 October 1665
Lay long, and this morning comes Sir Jer. Smith to see me in his way to Court, and a good man he is, and one that I must keep fair with, and will, it being I perceive my interest to have kindnesse with the Commanders. So to the office, and there very busy till about noon comes Sir W. Warren, and he goes and gets a bit of meat ready at the King’s Head for us, and I by and by thither, and we dined together, and I am not pleased with him about a little business of Tangier that I put to him to do for me, but however, the hurt is not much, and his other matters of profit to me continue very likely to be good. Here we spent till 2 o’clock, and so I set him on shore, and I by water to the Duke of Albemarle, where I find him with Lord Craven and Lieutenant of the Tower about him; among other things, talking of ships to get of the King to fetch coles for the poore of the city, which is a good worke. But, Lord! to hear the silly talke between these three great people! Yet I have no reason to find fault, the Duke and Lord Craven being my very great friends. Here did the business I come about, and so back home by water, and there Cocke comes to me and tells me that he is come to an understanding with Fisher, and that he must give him 100l., and that he shall have his goods in possession to-morrow, they being all weighed to-day, which pleases me very well. This day the Duke tells me that there is no news heard of the Dutch, what they do or where they are, but believes that they are all gone home, for none of our spyes can give us any tideings of them. Cocke is fain to keep these people, Fisher and his fellow, company night and day to keep them friends almost and great troubles withal. My head is full of settling the victualling business also, that I may make some profit out of it, which I hope justly to do to the King’s advantage. To-night come Sir J. Bankes to me upon my letter to discourse it with him, and he did give me the advice I have taken almost as fully as if I had been directed by him what to write. The business also of my Tangier accounts to be sent to Court is upon my hands in great haste; besides, all my owne proper accounts are in great disorder, having been neglected now above a month, which grieves me, but it could not be settled sooner. These together and the feare of the sicknesse and providing for my family do fill my head very full, besides the infinite business of the office, and nobody here to look after it but myself. So late from my office to my lodgings, and to bed.
6 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
10. JOHN EVELYN TO SAMUEL PEPYS (1)
For my most honor’d Friend
Samuel Pepys Esqr his
house in Greenewich
Sayes Court
13 October 1665 (2)
Sir,
I am this afternoone to send away £1000 to Deale and Dover with a Guard, not having been able to find any opportunity of returning the mony otherwise; which will make me so unmanerly, as not to be able to waite on you as I ought: There is likewise another Calamity on me, from the negligence of others; therefore (though the occasion be very instant, as to those Vessells for our pestiferous men) I must defer the kissing of your hands til to morrow, unlesse you resolve to do me the honor of refreshing your Selfe in our poore Garden any time this evening when you have best leasure, where I shall be to receive your Commands, who am (3)
Sir
Your most obedient
and faithfull Servant
JEvelyn:
Source: PRO S.P. 29/134, f.85. Endorsed by P, ‘13 October 65 Says Court Esqr Evelin.’
2 MS: ‘Says-Court 13:Octr:65’.
3 Such a meeting, if it occurred, is not recorded. E has no diary entry from the 11th to the 14th October inclusive. P seems to have spent most of the day at the office engaged on its ‘infinite business’ (diary, 13 and 14 October).
http://www.romanbritain.freeserve…
Terry Foreman • Link
This day the House of Commons has also taken note of the Prize Goods.
Resolved, &c. That a Bill be brought in, for the Preservation of Prize Goods for the Account of his Majesty: And that it be referred to Sir Abraham Cullen, Mr. Pryn, Sir Tho. Dolman, Sir Lan. Lake, Sir Tho. Gower, Sir Edm. Pooley, Sir Rob. Holt, Colonel Wyndham, Sir Hen. North, Sir Rob. Atkins, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir John Knight, Sir Wm. Moreton, Mr. Jolly, Sir Geo. Downing, Mr. Scowen, Sir Edw. Thurland, Mr. Coleman, Sir Wm. Coventry, Sir Rich. Forde, Mr. Kendall, and all the Members of this House that are Commissioners for the Prize Goods; or any Three of them: And they are to meet in the Divinity School, at Two of the Clock this Afternoon: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.
From: 'House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 13 October 1665', Journal of the House of Commons: volume 8: 1660-1667 (1802), pp. 615-616. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/… Date accessed: 14 October 2008.
Robert Gertz • Link
"...for none of our spyes can give us any tideings of them."
"Spy? You say you spy?!"
"I spy, you spy, we all spy."-from "Don't Drink the Water"
Robert Gertz • Link
"...nobody here to look after it but myself."
What? Where be Team Pepys, that stout-hearted band of merry men dedicated to the reformation of the English Navy...And perhaps piling up a little on the side against a rainy day? Or does Sam mean that only he can sign off on everything?
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"comes Sir Jer. Smith to see me in his way to Court"
To Oxford, where the court is at this time.
Terry Foreman • Link
"to the Duke of Albemarle, where I find him with Lord Craven and Lieutenant of the Tower about him; among other things, talking of ships to get of the King to fetch coles for the poore of the city, which is a good worke."
L&M: Since 1554 a city tax had been levied to provide the poor with coal at less than market price. The King's ships were used to fetch the coal. The Lieutenant of the Tower had control of storage, and arranged for delivery from Tower Wharf to the churchwardens of each parish. (Per L&M footnote)