Wednesday 23 December 1668
Met at the Office all the morning, and at noon to the ’Change, and there met with Langford and Mr. Franke, the landlord of my father’s house in Fleet Streete, and are come to an arbitration what my father shall give him to be freed of his lease and building the house again. Walked up and down the ’Change, and among others discoursed with Sir John Bankes, who thinks this prorogation will please all but the Parliament itself, which will, if ever they meet, be vexed at Buckingham, who yet governs all. He says the Nonconformists are glad of it, and, he believes, will get the upperhand in a little time, for the King must trust to them or nobody; and he thinks the King will be forced to it. He says that Sir D. Gawden is mightily troubled at Pen’s being put upon him, by the Duke of York, and that he believes he will get clear of it, which, though it will trouble me to have Pen still at the Office, yet I shall think D. Gawden do well in it, and what I would advise him to, because I love him. So home to dinner, and then with my wife alone abroad, with our new horses, the beautifullest almost that ever I saw, and the first time they ever carried her, and me but once; but we are mighty proud of them. To her tailor’s, and so to the ’Change, and laid out three or four pounds in lace, for her and me; and so home, and there I up to my Lord Brouncker, at his lodgings, and sat with him an hour, on purpose to talk over the wretched state of this Office at present, according to the present hands it is made up of; wherein he do fully concur with me, and that it is our part not only to prepare for defending it and ourselves, against the consequences of it, but to take the best ways we can, to make it known to the Duke of York; for, till Sir J. Minnes be removed, and a sufficient man brought into W. Pen’s place, when he is gone, it is impossible for this Office ever to support itself. So home, and to supper and to bed.
11 Annotations
First Reading
Australian Susan • Link
Wow! Hasn't Bess done well - swanning up to Unthanks in her own coach and matched pair of swanky horses. You go, girl. It's been a long way since having a grace-and-favour one room under Sandwich's roof just over 10 years ago!
Jenny • Link
Amazing isn't it Susan? They've done very well and they've worked hard for it (Sam couldn't have done it without Bess whatever he may think)
Jenny • Link
Merry Christmas (or whatever your faith is or not) to all annotators. It is Christmas Eve here in the antipodes. Wouldn't we all like to share Bess' Christmas mince pies, a tradition we still keep today in the "English" parts of the world.
A. De Araujo • Link
"with our new horses the beautifullest almost that ever I ever saw"
They should have names or is it that just a touch in the reins will suffice?
Happy winter solstice,Christmas,Chanuka etc to all of you.
jeannine • Link
"So home to dinner, and then with my wife alone abroad, with our new horses, the beautifullest almost that ever I saw, and the first time they ever carried her, and me but once; but we are mighty proud of them"
Sam & Elizabeth take off and wish the best to all!
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/…
Happy, Happy to everyone!
Robert Gertz • Link
The keys to the Pepysmobile in Bess' hot lil' hands...Neat.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"Walked up and down the ’Change, and among others discoursed with Sir John Bankes, who thinks this prorogation...."
L&M: See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Terry Foreman • Link
"He says that Sir D. Gawden is mightily troubled at Pen’s being put upon him, by the Duke of York, and that he believes he will get clear of it"
L&M: Penn had been joined with Sir Denis Gauden and his son Benjamin Gauden in the contract for navy victualling, as a means of providing some official check on the victualler: CSPD 1668-9, p. 208.
John G • Link
A merry Christmas to all of you annotators from me in Sydney.
Many thanks for you contributions to this marvelous site.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers. John G
Ashley Smith • Link
Merry Christmas to all and one, you know who you are.
'the beautifullest almost that ever I saw'
San Diego Sarah • Link
Happy Holidays everyone, and keep the faith ... 2022 has to be better. (I am imagining the annotators 10 years from now laughing and saying, 'if only she knew!!!') One of the many things Pepys has taught me is that we have it better in every way, and to be very grateful, because we do indeed stand on the shoulders of giants.