Wednesday 24 October 1666
Up, and down to the Old Swan, and there find little Michell come to his new shop that he hath built there in the room of his house that was burned. I hope he will do good here. I drank and bade him joy, for I love him and his wife well, him for his care, and her for her person, and so to White Hall, where we attended the Duke; and to all our complaints for want of money, which now we are tired out with making, the Duke only tells us that he is sorry for it, and hath spoke to the King of it, and money we shall have as soon as it can be found; and though all the issue of the war lies upon it, yet that is all the answer we can get, and that is as bad or worse than nothing. Thence to Westminster Hall, where the term is begun, and I did take a turn or two, and so away by coach to Sir R. Viner’s, and there received some money, and then home and to dinner. After dinner to little business, and then abroad with my wife, she to see her brother, who is sick, and she believes is from some discontent his wife hath given him by her loose carriage, which he is told, and he hath found has been very suspicious in his absence, which I am sorry for. I to the Hall and there walked long, among others talking with Mr. Hayes, Prince Rupert’s Secretary, a very ingenious man, and one, I think, fit to contract some friendship with. Here I staid late, walking to and again, hearing how the Parliament proceeds, which is mighty slowly in the settling of the money business, and great factions growing every day among them.
I am told also how Holmes did last Sunday deliver in his articles to the King and Cabinet against [Sir Jeremy] Smith, and that Smith hath given in his answer, and lays his not accompanying the fleete to his pilot, who would not undertake to carry the ship further; which the pilot acknowledges. The thing is not accommodated, but only taken up, and both sides commanded to be quiet; but no peace like to be. The Duke of Albemarle is Smith’s friend, and hath publiquely swore that he would never go to sea again unless Holmes’s commission were taken from him.1
I find by Hayes that they did expect great glory in coming home in so good condition as they did with the fleete, and therefore I the less wonder that the Prince was distasted with my discourse the other day about the bad state of the fleete. But it pleases me to hear that he did expect great thanks, and lays the fault of the want of it upon the fire, which deadened everything, and the glory of his services.
About seven at night home, and called my wife, and, it being moonshine, took her into the garden, and there layed open our condition as to our estate, and the danger of my having it [his money] all in the house at once, in case of any disorder or troubles in the State, and therefore resolved to remove part of it to Brampton, and part some whither else, and part in my owne house, which is very necessary, and will tend to our safety, though I shall not think it safe out of my owne sight.
So to the office, and then to supper and to bed.
27 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
The Royal Society today at Gresham College — from the Hooke Folio Online
Oct. 24. 1666. (expt. about propagating motion was prosecuted wth 3 ball of wch the middle remaind almost quiescent though struck by either of the Laterall ones which did impel each other vpwards
(It was moued that materialls for building. as earth for bricks tiles &c might be consider)
good tarris in Darbishere)
a caue about plimouth discouerd. 20 foot vnder ground 24 foot square vault couerd wth Icelles). cole balls -
(Staggs tears) Iumper curiositys by the hands of mr Hooke.)
It was orderd tht the persons appointed for transfusion should meet and if they succeeded to shew it to the Society)
http://webapps.qmul.ac.uk/cell/Ho…
Terry Foreman • Link
"expt. about propagating motion was prosecuted wth 3 ball of wch the middle remaind almost quiescent though struck by either of the Laterall ones which did impel each other vpwards"
This was a smaller version of "Newton's Cradle," a device created in 1967 by English actor Simon Prebble and named in honor of Sir Isaac Newton, because it illustrates his Laws of Motion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt…'s_laws_of_motion
Terry Foreman • Link
"(It was moued that materialls for building. as earth for bricks tiles &c might be consider)"
Robert Hooke was among those who quickly urged the rebuilding of London in brick and stone, not wooden planks -- contra Pepys and Warren..
"good tarris in Darbishere”
Trass \Trass\, n. [D. tras or Gr. trass, probably fr. It. terrazzo terrace. See Terrace.] (Geol.)
A white to gray volcanic tufa, formed of decomposed trachytic cinders; — sometimes used as a cement. Hence, a coarse sort of plaster or mortar, durable in water, and used to line cisterns and other reservoirs of water. [Formerly written also tarras, tarrace, terras.]
http://dictionary.die.net/tarras
Jesse • Link
"who had more men killed and hurt, and his ship received more shot than any in the fleet"
I knew this rang a bell, just different names...
"...he had hardly a shot in his side nor a man killed, whereas he hath above 30 in her hull, and not one mast whole nor yard; but the most battered ship of the fleet, and lost most men, saving Captain Smith of “The Mary." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Mary • Link
"there layed open our condition as to our estate"
What refreshing openness from husband to wife. Sam, of course, still controls the purse-strings, but at least he lets Elizabeth know how they stand financially. Sharp contrast with many a later wife who had no idea at all of the family's financial standing.
Sam may cavil about this, that and the other from time to time, but at bottom he clearly trusts Elizabeth.
Lawrence • Link
"Up, and down to the Old Swan, and there find little Michell come to his new shop that he hath built there in the room of his house that was burned. I hope he will do good here. I drank and bade him joy, for I love him and his wife well, him for his care, and her for her person"
L&M call this place, probably a strong-water house, Am I right in assuming that sam, drinking, and "bade him joy" was drinking Gin here?
Ruben • Link
"I drank and bade him joy, for I love him and his wife well, him for his care, and her for her person”.
After reading Sam's diary for as long as it is being posted, may I transmogrify this to:
"him for his care, and her for her body”?
A. Hamilton • Link
"I knew this rang a bell, just different names…"
Different engagement, but Capt. Smith of the Mary is the same Sir Jeremy[Jeremiah] Smith accused of cowardice by Holmes. In both battles his ship appears to have sustained great damage.
While taking more casualties was advanced by Lord Sandwich in 1665 as a defense against accusations of avoiding battle, and may even be a point of pride among captains, I appreciate Michael McCollough's comment at the link provided by Jesse :
"'…and lost most men…' I wonder if anyone’s made the connection between metrics like this and having to kidnap people to serve in the navy?"
language hat • Link
"and there find little Michell come to his new shop that he hath built there in the room of his house that was burned."
In case anyone is having trouble with this, "in the room of" means "in place of."
phoenix • Link
"...to see her brother, who is sick, and she believes is from some discontent his wife hath given him by her loose carriage, which he is told, and he hath found has been very suspicious in his absence, which I am sorry for."
Sorry for Balty's 'discontent' or for her 'loose carriage'?
No apparent connection made between his philandering and its possible consequences even when - involving others - it is close to home. A whiff of entitlement, perhaps?
Robert Gertz • Link
Greater love hath no Pepys than he should reveal things financial to Bess...
"I love my wife but oh you kid..." apparently sums up Sam's marital philsophy.
Terry Foreman • Link
"Am I right in assuming that sam, drinking, and “bade him joy” was drinking Gin here?"
"strong-waters" was any distilled liquor, among which gin had been "sold in pharmacies and used to treat such medical problems as kidney ailments, lumbago, stomach ailments, gallstones, and gout. It had been present in England in varying forms since the early 17th century, and at the time of The Restoration enjoyed a brief resurgence. It was only when William of Orange, ruler of the Dutch Republic, seized the British throne in what has become known as the Glorious Revolution that gin became vastly more popular, particularly in its baser forms, when it was more likely to be flavored with turpentine, rather than the juniper of later London gins." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gin#…
So, Lawrence, one does wonder.
CGS • Link
"...loose carriage,..." the bane of all that be away from the luv nest, serving their master. [dear jack]
There be a lot of cuckoos available to satisfy the lonely nester.
Many seek the pleasure of the moment as our 'ero attests to, many times when the opportunity arises and hell with to-morrow.
Carpe Diem
CGS • Link
Another day in the saga of failure.
Not me ;'im:
Have not invented toilet paper yet.
CGS • Link
H of C.
ban men from nicking each other:
AND
Lawyers be at work again
"
Suits arising from Fire of London.
A Bill for present Prevention of Suits by Landlords against their Tenants, whose Houses were burnt down by the late Fire, was read the First time.
Ordered, That this Bill be read the Second time on Friday next.
see H of C
CGS • Link
wall of coffee shoppe
"eat English beef not Irish"
"Upset Lord said "the kids are not mine, I've been cuckood""
-------------------------------------
Bill to illegitimate Lady Roos's Children.
Bill to prevent the Importation of Irish Cattle.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
Terry Foreman • Link
"“Staggs tears”"
Joseph Scaliger ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose… ) had thought lacrima cervi, or "stag's tear" was "a bony concretion that formed in the corner of a stag’s eye only after the animal had passed its hundredth year," which no stag does, but "he describes it as though he had carefully inspected a specimen, saying that it was so smooth and light that it would almost slip through the fingers of anyone who held it in his hand. It had similar powers to those of the bezoar, being a powerful antidote to poisons and a cure for the plague if powdered and given with wine; these good effects resulting from the excessively profuse perspiration that followed the administration of the dose.”
http://www.jjkent.com/articles/hi…
Michael Robinson • Link
““Staggs tears”” Scaligar
The Scaligar in question is Julius Caesar Scaliger (1484-1558) who was, inter alia, a medical authority ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juli… ) and not his son Josephus Justus Scaliger (1540-1609), the distinguished scholar. For a recent discussion of the work of J. J. Scaliger see Anthony Grafton 'Defenders of the Text; the traditions of Scholarship in an age of science, 1450-1800' Cambridge: Harvard U.P., 1991. pp. 104-144.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"The Duke of Albemarle is Smith’s friend, and hath publiquely swore that he would never go to sea again unless Holmes’s commission were taken from him."
A court-martial of Smith, demanded by Rupert, referred the matter to the King and the Admiral, who after examining Smith allowed the charges to drop. L&M note Albemarle's defense of Smith may have been inspired by his jealousy of Rupert. Holmes and Smith dealt with the matter by a duel: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… The House of Commons held an inmquiry in March 1668 and decided in Smith's favour: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… But Holmes was never deprived of his commission.
Terry Foreman • Link
"...to see her brother, who is sick, and she believes is from some discontent his wife hath given him by her loose carriage, which he is told, and he hath found has been very suspicious in his absence, which I am sorry for."
L&M: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
John G • Link
I note that no time was lost in commencing the rebuilding after the fire.
Does anyone know if there was a shortage of artisans and materials for the work to be done?
John G, Sydney
Mary K • Link
Lack of money may have been the most severe drawback for many who wanted to start post-Fire rebuilding immediately after the 1666 fire. It was not until 1696 that the Guildhall records show evidence of the first buildings insurance company (The Hand-in-Hand Fire and Life Insurance Association) being established in the city. The well-known Sun Insurance company followed in 1710.
San Diego Sarah • Link
John G ... I am sure there was a shortage of everything.
During the Civil War it is estimated one-tenth of the population of the British Isles died from war, wounds, famine, etc. During the last 18 months, the plague has been and still is a factor. Many worker-types in the south of England have been impressed, killed, captured or wounded. The countryside has too many widows, orphans, halt, lame and elderly. And now refugees. Their displeasure with Parliament is reflected in the local election returns.
If you were rich, or in privileged circumstances like Pepys, you had access to workers. But for people like the Mitchells, they moved out of the City and in time developed the suburbs, but their circumstances must have been crowded at this time. We are not told where Michael Mitchell found supplies to rebuild part of The Swan, but if he can serve hot dinners, drinks and give workers somewhere to sit out of the rain, he'll make a good living.
Timber, nails, brick, stone, food, all would be in short supply. Anything landed at City wharves (wharfs? -- spellcheck doesn't like that) would have to be moved to somewhere secure since the warehouses burned. If it was landed outside the City, then it had to be trucked in. Charles II had organized alternative marketplaces.
Rev. Josselin complains the recent rains meant they have missed the planting season -- meaning low grain yields next year. That rain also fell on London and the poor displaced masses -- colds, pneumonia, and influenza inevitably follow.
Pepys' focus on accounting, reports and Parliamentary hearings is misleading. His coach daily goes through desolation between the office and Westminster. Having lived through two big fires, I can tell you the place stinks and there's soot and rubble everywhere for months.
Fortunately the Dutch are also in a mess. The Admirals and the States-General are dealing with their own uproars, so they do not invade ... which was fortunate as England was in no position to defend itself from the planned French-Dutch invasion from Scotland and Ireland. I've posted a few memos about rebuilding forts on remote islands, problems moving bullion around, and the logistics of housing Dutch prisoners in Ireland, etc., to give you an idea of Charles II and the Duke of York's concerns.
Feeding Tangiers was not top of their list of easy and cheap things to do. Pepys was on his own, and his personal gold was safely out of circulation. Hoarding is always a problem during disasters.
John G • Link
Many thanks Mary K and San Diego Sarah for your most informative comments.
John G, Sydney
San Diego Sarah • Link
L&M Companion -- Henry Muddiman (1629-1692). Journalist; he wrote most of the content of the government newspapers Apr. 1660-Aug. 1663, the earlier numbers of the *Oxford/London Gazette* 1665-6, and a remarkable run of newsletters 1660-1688, in which he gave correspondents both domestic and foreign news. He worked under successive secretaries of state, and in close association (until 1666) with Joseph Williamson, the Under-Secretary. Together they built up a system of news gathering and news distribution far superior to any previously known in England. In early 1660 he and Pepys belonged to a drinking "Club". (SP)
Sir EDWARD STRADLING, 4th Bart. (c. 1645 - 1685) took his degree of M.A., at Oxford in September 1661. His father and grandfather, the 2nd and 3rd baronets, both raised regiments and fought for King Charles in the Civil Wars. Our Sir Edward, the 4th Bart. was proposed as a knight of the Royal Oak at the Restoration (since he was about 20 at the time, this may have been recognition of his family's services, not his), and he was active as a deputy-lieutenant in the 1660s enforcing the Clarendon Code, and in 1685 he signed a warrant for the arrest of suspected rebels. The family lived in St. Donat’s Castle, Glamorganshire, and he married Elizabeth, daughter of Anthony Hungerford (not the MP) which was a prominent family.
details from: http://www.historyofparliamentonl… and
https://biography.wales/article/s…
Liz • Link
This puts me in mind of what is happening today. We, in the UK, are slowly coming out of another lockdown due to COVID-19. Trying to get hold of workmen is difficult as they are all so busy now. Those that will give you a quote have upped their prices. At least our local decorating store is getting restocked gradually. An assistant said today that deliveries are coming through now. Not the same as a devastating fire but the economy has suffered similarly.
jimmigee • Link
"gin became vastly more popular, particularly in its baser forms, when it was more likely to be flavored with turpentine, rather than the juniper of later London gins."
Ewww--not in my cocktail book.