Saturday 25 July 1668
Up, and at the Office all the morning; and at noon, after dinner, to Cooper’s, it being a very rainy day, and there saw my wife’s picture go on, which will be very fine indeed. And so home again to my letters, and then to supper and to bed.
Methought this miserable wet day was one to stay inside the office or home in the Navy compound in Seething Lane; but Pepys is curious enough to leave Elizabeth and make a postprandial dash across the as-yet-unbuilt London to Samuel Cooper's shop in Henrietta St., Covent Gardens, to have a look at her in-small.
Postprandial? Thank you Terry.
Preprandial dash, I believe, as this happened before supper. Usually "preprandial" is matched to "cocktail".
For what it's worth, prandium means "late breakfast."
The ancient Roman "prandium" was the second breakfast at midday. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prandium#Meals Pepys's dash might have been designed as a wake-up activity in the normal metabolic postprandial dip. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postprandial_dip (Consider the somnolent hour or two after the midday meal when at school or work?!) However, "postprandial" has come to mean "after eating a meal." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postprandial
Is Coopers portrait of Elizabeth to be found anywhere nowadays?
Mae, it appears to be lost forever. Such a terrible shame.
A greater pity none of Bess' pictures survive...If only Sam had tucked one or two in among the pages...
'Charles II: July 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 469-516. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas2/1667-8/pp469-516 @@@ July 25. 1668 Portsmouth. Hugh Salesbury to Williamson. The Monmouth and 4 others are detained by the winds. Sir Thos. Allin has come to his charge; the ships ordered to be laid up here are paying off. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 134.] @@@ July 25. 1668 Portsmouth. B[en] J[ohnson] to Williamson. The Cambridge and 4 others named have been paid off, and they are proceeding with the rest, but the men turned over to carry about the Sovereign will not be paid till the ship arrives at Chatham. Sir Thos. AIIin has joined his squadron, and they only wait for sailing orders. Hands are at work on the new fifth rate ship, which is to outsail all the rest. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 135.] @@@ July 25. 1668 Bristol. James Baskerville to Williamson. One small vessel will be ready to sail for Barbados in 9 or 10 days, and 2 others are preparing, but will not be ready these 3 weeks. Will send the packet by the former if he thinks fit. Fears the wet weather will hinder the launching of the King’s frigate on Wednesday. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 136.] @@@ July 25. 1668 James Hayes, Prince Rupert's secretary to Williamson. There were certain captains in the King’s service at Woolwich last summer, under command of Prince Rupert, who have not received satisfaction to this day; their petition has been depending before Council for 3 months, without obtaining a reading. I am desired by Prince Rupert to request you to put it in such a way that it may come before the King and Council, and so the poor men have that which is due to them. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 137.] @@@ July 25. 1668 Whitehall. The Duke of Ormonde to Williamson. I perused the draft of a letter given me by [Edw.] Progers, groom of the King’s bedchamber, and, believing it may produce some advantage to his Majesty, I send it for his signature. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 138.] @@@ July 25. 1668 Portsmouth. Thos. Hayter to Sam. Pepys. I have paid the Cambridge and 4 other ships named, and Sir Thos. AlIin having arrived, hope the remainder of the work will receive a speedy despatch, and be completed in 10 days. The books of ships paid off wilt come by the coach, as sending them by post would be a great unnecessary charge. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 139.]
July 25. 1668 Bristol. Sir John Knight to the Navy Commissioners. I still think the Edgar will cost near 1,500/. in fitting out; though she may be rigged for 150/., that is not the sole charge. After all things thought needful had been put on board the St. Patrick, much more was wanting. Pray send me credit for 1,000/. or 1,500/.; I will submit to you all demands for materials. I acquainted Lord Arlington, at Bath, with the want of money, and he promised to write to his Majesty about a supply. Let me have an order to the victualler’s agent to supply victuals, and for myself to furnish stores to the Merlin yacht. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 141.] --- Encloses, Demand by Capt. Amos Beare of things required for the use of the Edgar — 25 July 1668. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 141i.] --- Demand of carpenter’s stores for the Merlin yacht. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 141ii.] @@@ July 25. 1668 Bristol. Capt. John Wettwang of the Edgar to the Navy Commissioners. I cannot do what I would, others being entrusted; I think half the great sum demanded by Sir John Knight will do; there are no heavy charges remaining, but I cannot give an estimate. If 200/. were ordered, it will do well, for Sir John Knight will not pay or do anything till money be paid for him in London. I dare engage that the rigging shall not amount to above 100/., and all other things shall be as reasonable. The storeship has arrived, but cannot be discharged till the ship is launched. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 142.] --- Encloses, Demand by Capt. Amos. Beare of requisites for the Edgar. The same as No. 141I. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 142i.]
After his second breakfast, Pepys takes his customary afternoon break and finds an excuse to get some fresh air; he takes a cab and goes somewhere where he might meet someone interesting. He gets away from the office and his wife and her maid and everyone wanting him to make decisions and play his role ... and looks at art created by his friend, one of the best lutenists of the day. He had some fun and exercised a different part of his brain. His work benefitted from the break, as we now know from science.