Thursday 16 April 1668

Th[ursday].

ItemCost
Greeting’s book, 1s.
Begun this day to learn the Recorder. To the office, where all the morning. Dined with my clerks: and merry at Sir W. Pen’s crying yesterday, as they say, to the King, that he was his martyr.
So to White Hall by coach to Commissioners of [the] Treasury about certificates, but they met not, 2s.
To Westminster by water. To Westminster Hall, where I hear W. Pen is ordered to be impeached, 6d.
There spoke with many, and particularly with G. Montagu: and went with him and Creed to his house, where he told how W. Pen hath been severe to Lord Sandwich; but the Coventrys both labouring to save him, by laying it on Lord Sandwich, which our friends cry out upon, and I am silent, but do believe they did it as the only way to save him. It could not be carried to commit him. It is thought the House do coole: W. Coventry’s being for him, provoked Sir R. Howard and his party; Court, all for W. Pen. Thence to White Hall, but no meeting of the Commissioners, and there met Mr. Hunt, and thence to Mrs. Martin’s, and, there did what I would, she troubled for want of employ for her husband,
spent on her 1s.
Thence to the Hall to walk awhile and ribbon, spent 1s.
So [to] Lord Crew’s, and there with G. Carteret and my Lord to talk, and they look upon our matters much the better, and by this and that time is got, 1s.
So to the Temple late, and by water, by moonshine, home, 1s.
books, 6d.
Wrote my letters to my Lady Sandwich, and so home, where displeased to have my maid bring her brother, a countryman, to lye there, and so to bed.

18 Annotations

First Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

The Royal Society today at Arundel House — from the Hooke Folio Online

70
Apr. 16. 1668. Sr R Southwell presented 36 raritys. and 11. relations & Inquirys. amongst the Relatio[ns] there were in portuguese. of the nile. vnicorn. vses of the palm tree, the weed of the Red Sea which dyes the...pintadoes
[ http://www.jstor.org/pss/1522729 ] quere).

Mr. Ricauts [ http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo… ] Letter from turky) giuing account of the way vsed in turky of Dressing their Leather wth. Acornes. The curator was orderd to suggest the like tryall to be made here with English Acornes by...the tanners of London (quere. Cesio tht brought this Letter presented 33 raritys)

The Curator produced againa Large Conicall tin Receiuer for the magnifying of sounds which being tryed was found to make words softly vtterd at a distance to be heard Distinctly, whereas they could not be soe heard without the Instrument.

The same produced a Muscle to shew how it consists of meer fibers or strings, lying close together Longwise like the fibres of tal[c].

http://webapps.qmul.ac.uk/cell/Ho…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"W. Pen is ordered to be impeached,"

Commons Journal
Charges against Sir W. Penn.

Sir Wm. Penn having tendered and delivered in an Answer in Writing, as to the Matter of Imbezzlement of Prize Goods objected against him in the Narrative of the Commissioners of Accounts;

[ Here the back and forth of charges and rebuttals ]

The main Question being put, That an Impeachment be had against Sir Wm. Penn;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

Christopher Squire  •  Link

‘severe, adj., Etym:  < French sévère or < Latin sevērus
 I. Rigorous in condemnation . . b. Construed with ‘to, with, against’.
1648    in Hamilton Papers (1880) 216   The Houses haue been of late very seuere against the poore Caualiers . . ‘ [OED]

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"...merry at Sir W. Pen’s crying yesterday, as they say, to the King, that he was his martyr."

"Ah, ha, ha...What?"

"Your ill-gotten profits from the prize goods, sir."

***
"...but the Coventrys both labouring to save him, by laying it on Lord Sandwich, which our friends cry out upon, and I am silent, but do believe they did it as the only way to save him. It could not be carried to commit him."

Didn't someone we know lay blame on Lord Sandwich a while back for "suffering a company of rogues...",etc...While nervously hoping to keep his own profit in the affair if possible? Given there seems little for Coventry to gain by saving Penn, it seems a decent act for a man who's done the Nation good service...Not to mention perhaps Coventry fears that if Penn goes down he might take the Naval Office and a certain CoA with him.

***

"So it's agreed...? We can't take the chance of our role in this affair getting out."

"Well...Pepys does talk a bit much but...He is a friend..."

"Not so good a friend as he was want to be, to me..." Warren frowns. "Though it's up to you...My role here being simply that of merchant."

"Warren...If James and I go down with Penn...You're going down as well."

"This all seems so sordid...Must we take such extreme measures? Surely I could speak to Samuel..."

"James...The man would sacrifice you in an instant. Look at how he's been chortling over poor Admiral Sir Will. The family...Larger than ever...Must be protected, Jamie. Just let deal with this..." pat on arm.

"Well, Betty...You know best in this affair. Just promise me Creed and Howe will be quick about it." Pierce sighs.

"Dr. Pierce, rest assured Howe and I will deal with this matter quickly and quietly...Mr. Pepys being an old friend." Creed nods.

"Far as I'm concerned you can take your time about it." Warren frowns.

"My only demand is that Father's hand must not be seen in this...And of course Mrs. Pepys must be left unharmed." Lord Hinchingbroke cuts in.

"We've not heard from our Chairman yet." Betty notes, looking to head of the table. Where Sir John Minnes eyes the group shrewdly.

"Pepys must go...With extreme prejudice...Not that I've allowed his contempt for my ineffectual inoffice persona to influence me. Indeed it's played a major role in keeping my part in all these things as silent as I would desire. Still, however useful he's been to our organization, if Penn goes down...So must he,but before he faces Parliament."

"'Extreme prejudice'...Nice turn of phrase, Sir John." Betty smiles. "So do I lure him out with a promise of no children coming along? Or do we dispose of him at Bagwell's, Martin's, or Burrough's?"

"Not at my home..." Betty Martin frowns. "I've always done my bit for our group, but there are some limits, you know."

"William would be happy to croak him..." Mrs. Bagwell notes.

"I'll gladly do it myself..." Burroughs, eagerly. "All I'm submitted to with him as a poor widow relying on his charity and all he gives me is a grubbly little Valentine cash gift."

"Now, dear..." Sir John raises hand. "Be fair. Samuel has never profitted near so much as we...Graft, espionage, prize goods...He could have cleaned up far more had he leaned more to our persuasion than to his love of the Navy and a bit less chatty about his exploits. Indeed it grieves me to have to dispense with his services for the sake of the Navy. He was a most capable administrator. Do you have anything to add, Betty...My love?"

"Kill him." Betty Mitchell, cool nod at Sir John's side. "For my sake alone, darling." Patting Sir John's arm.

Second Reading

Ivan  •  Link

Mr Pepys spends one shilling on Mrs Martin and does what he would with her. Then during or after his walk he spends one shilling on a ribbon. I wonder who that was for?

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"Greeting’s book,"

L&M: Probably a MS primer.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"Court, all for W. Pen."

L&M: Cf. the reports of the debates in Grey, i. 136-9; Milward, pp. 259-60.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Hewer ... you can handle this lot. I've got meetings." Door slams behind Pepys.

April 16. 1668
The Monmouth,
Downs.
Sir Thos. Allin to the Navy Commissioners.
Sends the demand of the carpenter of the Constant Warwick for stores, and begs they may be sent down.
The Eagle sailed before the provisions came from Dover, which was 6 weeks' for 75 men, and she is allowed 100 men;
I sent them on board the Constant Warwick.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 238, No. 119.]

April 16. 1668
Woolwich.
Capt. James Carteret of the Jersey to the Navy Commissioners.
Was ordered by Sir John Harman to sail from Shoe beacon to Woolwich, and to address himself to their Honours for further orders.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 238, No. 120.]

April 16. 1668
Capt. John Perriman to [the Navy Commissioners.]
Particulars of vessels taken up for the service, and of others in the river.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 238, No. 121.]

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Ormonde must have had meetings as well this day. No correspondence was recorded.

mountebank  •  Link

I'm not enjoying this style of diary so much. The narrative is built around his expenses and likewise comes across as a series of transactions rather than the flow of a lively and interesting life.

I do hope that normal service will resume soon.

Harry R  •  Link

The listing of expenses is perhaps a useful memory aid for Sam when writing up his diary. He's money centric after all. Each item will prompt his recollection of circumstances and details. Could this be part of his normal diary routine and he's simply not had the oomph to put it together these past few days? Prosaic and dull admittedly.

Nicolas  •  Link

“ Mr Pepys spends one shilling on Mrs Martin and does what he would with her. Then during or after his walk he spends one shilling on a ribbon. I wonder who that was for?”

Possibly as a bookmark for his new book?

Kelvin Hard  •  Link

I think it more likely that Pepys is recording his expenditure to put it into his personal accounts rather than as an aide memoire for what he has been doing that day.

Stephane Chenard  •  Link

"... by water, by moonshine, home"

Here's a conversation topic with the waterman (since at this late hour on the near-empty Thames, "look how this bloke is driving" won't be available). It's at the end of Gazette No. 250, that would be in the taverns around now:

***********************************
Advertisement.
Whereas His Majesty having a great Occasion of setting our his Fleet to Sea, and a great number of Watermen and Watermens servants have been impressed, and are to be impressed for that Service; few whereof have made their appearance on board His Majesties ships, according to the appointment and direction of the Tickets left at their respective houses and habitations. Therefore it is His Majesties Pleasure and the Command of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, Lord High Admiral of England, That all Watermen, and Watermens servants, that have been or shall be impressed by the Rulers of the company of Watermen, by having Tickets left at their houses and habitations as aforesaid, together with His Majesties Press and Conduct Money, and do not make their personal appearance, and constantly attend on board, according to the true intent and meaning of the said Tickets, without any pretense or excuse whatsoever, according to His Majesties Order, shall be imprisoned, disfranchised, and banished the River of Thames, and undergo such other penalties, as are provided against such Offenders.
***********************************

Slightly pathetic. There's the repetitive legalese of the age, but before the open-ended threats in the finale His Majesties be stomping his foot and whining, here. How many watermen read the Gazette, anyway? And how will you find gents make your way home by moonshine, if your loyal watermen be 'pressed, eh? Why, we may be replaced by young rogues who can hardly row a boat - like that bloke out there, did you see that? sheesh - and then, on the benighted river, they might go waaaay to the middle where the water be deep, like thus, and maybe they'd rock the boat, like this.

Sam gulps and clutches his freshly-bought books. Wishes he had dressed down a bit today. "Too right, sir. That, uh, be the next landing after the bridge. But you're absolutely right".

Alev Öncül  •  Link

I suppose 6d. is a fairly low price for books. Project Gutenberg says cooks and it seems a better guess. Can someone with LM edition clarify this?

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