23 Annotations

First Reading

Robert Gertz  •  Link

So, scratch the tubes? Poor Sam. I know the feeling as cataract surgery looms. I note we hear nothing of Bess' reaction to this except the vague feeling that Sam has pulled in a little during this time of crisis and seems to be relying on her more. Still, just the fact that he seems to be drawing on her and home for comfort and can even consider losing his place with some degree of resignation suggests they have, in spite of their problems and his tendency to wander, built a fairly secure home life that he feels he can turn to.

Michael L  •  Link

Robert: so if I hear you right, the tune he would be playing for her is "Bess, you is my woman now."

Robert Gertz  •  Link

No, more "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To."

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"busy"

Most often Pepys writes "Up, and to the office, where all the morning," -- but today he writes "where all the morning busy."

***

Has anyone else been struck by how often of late Pepys goes accompanied -- makes an appearance with his entourage -- at one of the theatres?

What started this? What of those oaths of old to ration such pleasure?

Mary  •  Link

I had noticed, Terry, and also remarked how often he has taken Elizabeth with him of late. I wondered whether this practice was (partly, at least) aimed at pacifying his wife over the wretched time that she claimed to have had when rusticated to the in-laws' place earlier in the summer. That was enough to provoke her to threaten to leave Sam (for the second time that we know of during their marriage).

Robert Gertz  •  Link

It must raise a few eyebrows to see Pepys strutting in with Bess on arm, the lovely (too bad she couldn't have been a Lucy) Mercer and Deb in attendance, often likely trailed by Tom Edwards, Will Hewer, and possibly others from the office, their presence considered too routine or insignificant by Sam to mention.

By now reaching Sam at times like this probably gets quite Byzantine... "Mr. Pepys is occupied but let me take your name, sir and he'll get back to you shortly. Ah, miss...Right this way. Mr. Pepys is waiting. Now, sir, if you would like to see Mr. Pepys on Thursday, I have an opening while he's at the King's playhouse during intermission...Though I could possibly squeeze you in today at the office when he returns, if the press of business is not too... Thank you, sir..." pockets bribe. "Yes...I do believe I can fit you in today."

Will Norton  •  Link

Dear Friends,

This week there is an adaptation of some of Sam's diary on the bbc. The link is pasted below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b…

Happy listening

Will

Alan  •  Link

"This week there is an adaptation of some of Sam’s diary on the bbc."

Alas, "iPlayer is only supported in the UK".

Interesting that the Beeb should have this dramatisation slotted against the "Women's Hour" programming.

Jim  •  Link

I'm in the USA, and I was able to listen to the BBC reading of Sam's diary on the link provide by Will.

arby  •  Link

Thanks, Will.

arby  •  Link

Actually, Will's link didn't work for me either, I'm also a USian. But I was able to hear it by Googling "woman's hour drama bbc pepys". It's still Radio 4, and it's still the iPlayer, but it works.

Michael L  •  Link

I just heard the first two episodes of the BBC Radio 4 production. It's indeed good, but I do wish they had played "Let Beauty Retire" as their opening tune instead.

Margaret  •  Link

The link to the BBC radio program works just fine here in Canada. Thanks, Will.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Just hearing Capt Holmes calling our boy "Pepsy" is worth listening to the show.

Alan  •  Link

Guess I'll need to try again!

Second Reading

London Lynn  •  Link

The Theatre Royal is now owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber. I watched a documentary about about him recently where he talked about plans to refurbish the building. Sadly all on hold at time of writing because of Covid-19. Great to think that this building from Pepys’ time is still in use.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

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Aug. 15. 1668 -- 6 p.m
Whitehall.
R. Francis to [Williamson].

[Later we learn that Williamson is visiting the Earl of Thurmond’s manor house at Billing, Northampton.]

I obtained a warrant for the payment of 1,410/. for wines taken by the Prince
out of a Spanish vessel for the use of the Navy, which I delivered to Mr. Roberts, and received 6 guineas as the fees.

I want instructions about the correspondence desired by Mr. Deane.

I received 7 guineas from Mr. Aldworth for his reference, and desire instructions as to the disposal of fees till your return;

I also want directions on a letter from Sir Hen. Wood.

Sir Rich. Browne called on behalf of Mr. Thwaites, who requests a reference to the Deputy and Council of Ireland for an abatement in the farm he took of the excise of beer.

I send letters on private matters received since your absence from the office.

A gentleman has come from the Dutch Ambassador, to compare the ratifications.

Mr. Oldenburgh has married his ward, a girl of 12, with a considerable fortune.

I will be careful to attend to all your commands.
[3 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 178.]
***
Henry Oldenburg FRS married his second wife, Dora Katherina Dury (1654–77),
the daughter of Dorothy and John Dury, in London on 13 August 1668.

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Aug. 15. 1668
Whitehall.
Letter of news [sent by Francis to Williamson].

Lord Gerard has parted with his command in the Horse Guards to the Duke of Monmouth, for some valuable consideration.

M. Colbert, the French Ambassador, intends to make his public entry with great magnificence on Monday next;
he will not be treated at his Majesty’s charge till he has had his audience, but have a present in money or jewels equivalent to it.

Nothing is heard of the Venetian Ambassador’s entry.

The difference between the town of Newcastle and Mr. Crooke, about his erecting a ballast wharf upon the Tyne, has been heard before Council, the town praying stay of the wharf till the question is settled by law.

It was ordered that the town give Mr. Crooke sufficient private security to make good all damage his wharf should receive by being left unfinished during the controversy;
he pretends a right by virtue of a lease from the Dean and Chapter of Durham,
and the town a right from their charter.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

The King, his Royal Highness, and the Duke of Monmouth have gone in their
barges to Vauxhall, whence they intend to take their recreation in fowling
along the river, and toward New Park,
returning to Whitehall to dine.

The Duke of Monmouth intends to go to Bath to visit his Duchess, who has
been there some time for the strengthening of her hip, which was put out by
an accident, and supposed to have been ill-set.

The ratifications with Holland of the triple alliance are ready to pass the great
seal, and will be exchanged in a few days.

A very rich ship belonging to the Dutch East India Company, which was feared to have been lost, has safely arrived, to the very great joy of the company.
She has brought one of the richest cargoes that ever came in any one ship of
that company.

The Comte de Sault, second son of the Duke of Les Digues, who was second to his brother in a duel fought with the son of the Comte de Maurevers, Governor of Brest, is coming over to England, having made his escape.
[2-¼ pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 179.]
***
Ambassador Charles Colbert (1625 — 1696). In 1664 he married Françoise
Béraud, daughter of a rich banker, who brought with her the territory of
Croissy, which name he took to be turned into a Marquisate in July 1676.
They had 7 children

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Aug. 15. 1668
Whitehall.
John Swaddell to Williamson, Queen’s College, Oxford.

Lord Arlington has informed Sir Philip Musgrave that you have put the papers
relating to that affair into the Lord Keeper’s hands,
and that the King will examine the thing himself;
and also how unsuccessfully his lordship has endeavoured to serve his son.

The Duke and Duchess of Richmond have come to the house in the
Bowling Green, with a resolution to stay there altogether;
I forward you a letter from the Duke.

I will observe your commands during your absence.
[1-½ pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 181.]

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[Aug. 15?] 1668
Warrant to the Duke of York
to order the receiving Sir Daniel Harvey, Ambassador to the Grand Seignor,
and his retinue of 26 persons on board,
and their entertainment during the voyage;
and in order thereto, for victuals to be provided and laid in accordingly.
[Draft. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 183.
***
Sir D. Harvey left Deal for Turkey 15 Aug. 1668
See Vol. 245, Nos. 1 and 126 infra.]

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Aug. 15. 1668
Royal Katherine,
Downs.
Sir Jer. Smyth to Williamson.

The Montague and 5 other King’s ships, with several merchantmen, have sailed for the Straits, &c.,
and the Resolution, Rupert, and Warspite have departed for Portsmouth.

The Royal Sovereign is at the Gunfleet.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 180.]

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Aug. 15. 1668
Warrant to the Lord Keeper
to affix the great seal to two instruments of 24 July last, the one containing a ratification of the triple alliance concluded 25 April, between Great Britain, Sweden, and the States General;
the other for a separate instrument then likewise concluded.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Book 30, f. 77.]

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Aug. 15. 1668
Woolwich.
Will. Hannam, master attendant, to the Navy Commissioners.

Has supplied the Dover;
wants her to stop at Erith to take out her guns, as they draw 16 ft. water, and she would ground in coming up.

Asks whether the Assurance is to be laid up;

there are 8 sail here already, besides the Dover coming, so that if more arrive, they must lay aboard one another.

The Assurance and Pearl, being of easy draught, may go into Deptford wet dock.

The foremast of the Phœnix has fallen.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 184.]

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Aug. 15. 1668
The Revenge, Downs.
Robert Julian, Sir Edw. Spragg’s clerk, to Thos. Hayter.

Sir Edward wants to know when Lord Anglesey will send down the money for his men’s tickets;
they are discontented, seeing the ships they formerly served in all paid off, and they turned over without receiving a penny;
they must be paid before he sails, or he will lose all his men.
They have been promised it these three months.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 185.]

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Aug. 15. 1668
Bristol.
Capt. John Wettwang to the Navy Commissioners.

Nothing shall be wanting as to the despatch of the ship Edgar,
but I desire you will write to the shipwright to hasten him, as there is a deal
of carpenter's work to do, and no hands to do it, but all put off till we come
down below.

Sir John Knight's man has kept no muster book of the time of men's entry and discharge, except for those who worked by weekly wages, and the purser is not well acquainted with his place;

I have taken entries of all, and shall muster the men every two days, and give an account.

The victualler will not furnish any more victuals, and says that Squire Gauden owes him so much that he has neither money nor credit.

I cannot get down the ship as yet, having had such bad weather.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 188.]

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"What of those oaths of old to ration such pleasure?"

Oaths work ... until they don't. Those oaths have made him a rich man, and seen him through a war with honor not shared by his colleagues, but they lose when he believes himself to be going blind.
Some of the oaths concerned drinking too much, and his sobriety seems good right now.
Others concerned his "ladies of pleasure", and I'm surprised to note he hasn't strayed far from Elizabeth, Mercer and Deb lately. Perhaps I should be worried by that?

Many courtiers seems to be taking some time off this summer -- some visiting their country homes for the first time in years; working from home, so to speak. Pepys is keeping up his usual schedule.
Poorhouse money is being funneled into the theater. I think I know which needed it most.

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