Saturday 27 July 1661
To Westminster, where at Mr. Montagu’s chamber I heard a Frenchman play, a friend of Monsieur Eschar’s, upon the guitar, most extreme well, though at the best methinks it is but a bawble.
From thence to Westminster Hall, where it was expected that the Parliament was to have been adjourned for two or three months, but something hinders it for a day or two. In the lobby I spoke with Mr. George Montagu, and advised about a ship to carry my Lord Hinchingbroke and the rest of the young gentlemen to France, and they have resolved of going in a hired vessell from Rye, and not in a man of war. He told me in discourse that my Lord Chancellor is much envied, and that many great men, such as the Duke of Buckingham and my Lord of Bristoll, do endeavour to undermine him, and that he believes it will not be done; for that the King (though he loves him not in the way of a companion, as he do these young gallants that can answer him in his pleasures), yet cannot be without him, for his policy and service. From thence to the Wardrobe, where my wife met me, it being my Lord of Sandwich’s birthday, and so we had many friends here, Mr. Townsend and his wife, and Captain Ferrers lady and Captain Isham, and were very merry, and had a good venison pasty. Mr. Pargiter, the merchant, was with us also.
After dinner Mr. Townsend was called upon by Captain Cooke: so we three went to a tavern hard by, and there he did give us a song or two; and without doubt he hath the best manner of singing in the world. Back to my wife, and with my Lady Jem. and Pall by water through bridge, and showed them the ships with great pleasure, and then took them to my house to show it them (my Lady their mother having been lately all alone to see it and my wife, in my absence in the country), and we treated them well, and were very merry. Then back again through bridge, and set them safe at home, and so my wife and I by coach home again, and after writing a letter to my father at Brampton, who, poor man, is there all alone, and I have not heard from him since my coming from him, which troubles me. To bed.
34 Annotations
First Reading
Bradford • Link
"I heard a Frenchman play, a friend of Monsieur Eschar's, upon the guitar, most extreme well, though at the best methinks it is but a bawble.”
—-Sam’s taste thinking it, perhaps, inferior (in sound? or in technique required?) to the lute (as another plucked string instrument), much less the viol.
Glyn • Link
Jemima ("Jem") is 14 and Paulina ("Pall") is 11. I suppose as it's their father's birthday, and he is overseas, their being rowed through the bridge with Elizabeth and Sam is a special outing as a treat for them. I think Pepys is genuinely fond of them, not just doing it to please Lady Montagu.
Pedro. • Link
" Lord Chancellor"
Bishop Gilbert Burnet (1643-1715) History of His Own Time.
After saying "The King's passion for his mistress Villiers left him oftentimes neither master of himself nor capable of business, and therefore committed the care of all to the management of the Earl of Clarendon."
He goes on to say of Clarendon�
"He was bred to the law, and grew eminent in that possession, as well as considerable in the House of Commons. When the war broke out he he followed the King's fortunes abroad, and returned an absolute favourite. He was a good minister, indefatigable in business, but a little too magisterial, and not well enough aquainted with foreign affairs. He was a good chancellor, and imparcial in the administration of justice, but a little too rough. He had a levity in his wit, and a loftiness in his carriage, that did not well become the station that he was in; for those who addressed to him, and those that thought themselves neglected, he was apt to reject with comtempt and some disparagement of their services, which created him many enemies…"
dirk • Link
A very human Sam today!
Some business talk, some political interest (I wonder what it is that "hinders" Parliament so much), a little showing off his recently acquired status, and finally a profound worry about his father. I think this is one of the most "complete" entries so far.
dirk • Link
Capt'n Cooke
Australian annotators to the site (Susan...): don't get too excited! This isn't *the* capt'n Cooke.
daniel • Link
Bradford:
methinks not, sam was a guitar player too, afterall! my impression is that this Monsieur's playing was "cried up" a lot but he found it but passably nice, not special as far as a performer.
Stolzi • Link
I wonder why the "young gentlemen" wished to go into France.
Alan Bedford • Link
'at the best methinks it is but a bawble.'
Maybe it's just a passing fad, like the violin. Serious string players - at least in Sam's Britain - still play viols (the ones with legs), and pluck members of the lute family as far as Sam can tell. Vivaldi won't even be born for 17 more years.
daniel • Link
Alan B.:
that might be a good estimate of the "common wisdon" of the time but those new instruments would soon take coveted status in a twinkling of an eye. Louis XIV had already made the five-course guitar a fashionable instrument for one and all in France and though many considered a violin "vain and fiddling" at the time, that was to quickly change. Violin virtuosi were to be seen from time to time and Sam later (ten years or so from now) attempts the violin as well as becoming an enthousiastic guitarist.
vicente • Link
N.Bene: twice thru the bridge--- wow "... Back to my wife, and with my Lady Jem. and Pall by water through bridge, and showed them the ships with great pleasure.. ..Then back again through bridge, and set them safe at home..." so there are times when there is no running of the rapidos. No danger. Tide at the turn?
Mary • Link
Tide at the turn?
Yes, this must surely have taken place in the slack interval between tides. Sam could not possibly have undertaken such a trip with a party of important women if it looked risky .... think of their long and cumbersome skirts; difficult to manoeuvre in and uncomfortable, at the very least, if subjected to wetting.
Presumably the tour of the Seething Lane house was brisk, so that the return journey could also be accomplished under favourable conditions. Note that, having escorted the Sandwich ladies back to The Wardrobe at Blackfriars, Sam and Elizabeth take to coach to ride back to Seething Lane; was the tide running faster by this time?
Nix • Link
The Lord Chancellor --
No mention here, but Samuel has previously made mention of Hyde's daughter Anne, whose marriage the previous fall to the Duke of York was highly controversial (did they really get secretly married earlier, or not til she was well along in her pregnancy?). She was the mother (and the Chancellor the grandfather) of two future queens, Mary and Anne.
Pedro. • Link
I wonder why the "young gentlemen" wished to go into France.
As the Lord Inchinbrooke was about 17 years old, and he was travelling with other young gentlemen, could he be undertaking “The Grand Tour of Europe”, or are we a little too early for the young aristocracy to be sent on this?
vicente • Link
Evelyn, John at the age 21,did the tour to Europe[Holland] starting 15th july 1641 thru oct 12th, most fascinating reading. Then his exile to Europe, later, is even a better read '43...
Josh • Link
Did Sam play the guitar? I thought it was the lute. The Background for the instrument doesn't specify.
daniel • Link
Pepys the amteur-musician
my college text book on music of the seventeenth century by Stanley Sadie states among other things " sam...though a naval administrator by profession, Pepys was a keen amateur composer and performer on the violin, viol, guitar, theorbo, flageolet and recorder."
Did he play lute? yes and no. the theorbo is a related instrument with a very characteristic tuning and a full extra octave of bass strings mainly used in ensembles and as a continuo instrument.
if I recall corectly which instruments Sam tends to pick up and play with vigor in the period of the diary I seem to remember the flageolet and guitar being the most popular, viol being a close third.
Pauline • Link
"...it was expected that the Parliament was to have been adjourned...but something hinders it...."
The use of "something" tells us that Sam's intent to catch himself back up with current events has yet to be taken in task--or fulfilled.
dirk • Link
"...it was expected that the Parliament was to have been adjourned "but something hinders it…”
Could it be the “Bill to restore Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction” which Vicente mentioned ref yesterday 26 June?
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"As the Lord Inchinbrooke was about 17 years old, and he was travelling with other young gentlemen, could he be undertaking 'The Grand Tour of Europe', or are we a little too early for the young aristocracy to be sent on this?"
Pedro, I don't know about the others, but Hinchingbrooke will tour with a tutor for many months. Letters from the tutor will be posted in the annots as they are available.
Louise Hudson • Link
Stolzi askes
"I wonder why the "young gentlemen" wished to go into France."
He's 17. Maybe he went to France for the same reason a young man might do it today. to avoid the complications of an inconvenient whoops.
Terry Foreman • Link
"I heard a Frenchman play, a friend of Monsieur Eschar's, upon the guitar, most extreme well, though at the best methinks it is but a bawble.”
L&M: For the growing popularity of the guitar, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Terry Foreman • Link
"In the lobby I spoke with Mr. George Montagu, and advised about a ship to carry my Lord Hinchingbroke and the rest of the young gentlemen to France, and they have resolved of going in a hired vessell from Rye, and not in a man of war. He told me in discourse that my L"
L&M: For their journey and stay abroad, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
They sailed in late August: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
George, son of George Montague and grandson of the 1st Earl of Manchester, went with them: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
Adm. Edward, Earl of Sandwich doesn't mention his birthday in his log today -- but then, he wouldn't, would he? Too much of a man's world for that:
27th. Thursday. At sunset Capt. Bennett went off from the fleet to Lisbon to the King of Portugal in the frigate Martin with the King of England's letter.
About 9 oclock, by an observation we made of the Scorpion's heart, we found that we were 40 degrees 18' of latitude.
Copied from
The Journal of Edward Mountagu,
First Earl of Sandwich
Admiral and General-at-Sea 1659 - 1665
Edited by RC Anderson
Printed for the Navy Records Society
MDCCCCXXIX
Section III - Mediterranean 1661/62
@@@
I know nothing about navigation by the stars, so I searched on Scorpion and found a couple of annotations saying "the Scorpion’s Heart [Antares] - 26° 00’" -- so Sandwich must have found it helpful in his dead reckoning. Perhaps someone can explain it better, please.
The King of Portugal = Alfonso VI
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
MartinVT • Link
Yesterday, we heard Sam's remorse about breaking his vow to abstain from wine for a week, which week has not ended yet. Today, he doesn't mention wine, but does mention merriment during dinner at the Wardrobe, then a visit to "a tavern hard by", and finally more merriment at home. So, either the vow has been forgotten entirely, or "merriment" can in fact be had in the absence of alcohol.
Hoff • Link
"the Scorpion's heart" for Antares, how lovely!
San Diego Sarah • Link
"So, either the vow has been forgotten entirely, or "merriment" can in fact be had in the absence of alcohol."
Once you've fallen off the wagon, it's hard to get back on it -- especially at birthday parties and with friends.
San Diego Sarah • Link
Why Parliament was delayed: Charles II had charged them with finishing up the issue of what to do with the Regicides and their 'stolen' property before he could leave on his summer holiday trip to Worcester, and other important issues.
Neither house had completed that task.
Today, besides the regulation of the unlicensed printing presses and the paving of roads around Westminster, the House of Commons discussed:
Pains and Penalties against Regicides.
Another Message from the Lords;
Mr. Speaker, The Lords have returned to you the Bill declaring Pains, Penalties, and Forfeitures, imposed upon the Estates and Persons of certain notorious Offenders; with some Amendments, to which they desire your Concurrence.
Which Amendments being twice read, and compared with the Coherence in the Bill; the First and Second Amendments, were, upon the Question, agreed to.
And the Third Amendment being to leave out the Provisoes belonging to the Lord Craven and the Lord Marquis of Winchester, the same was also read: And
The House was then informed, by one of the Members, That the Lord Craven had withdrawn his Proviso: Whereupon this House agreed to the leaving out of his Proviso.
And the House then took into Debate the other Part of that Amendment, concerning the Proviso for the Marquis of Winchester.
And the Question being put, That this House doth agree to the leaving out of the Proviso for the Marquis of Winchester;
It passed in the Negative: And
Resolved, That this House doth adhere to the said Proviso, that it shall stand in the Bill.
Resolved, That a Conference be desired with the Lords, touching the said Proviso: And Mr. Clifford is to go up to the Lords to desire a Conference: ... Which Conference was accordingly had with the Lords in the Painted Chamber.
High Commission Court.
A Message from the Lords:
Mr. Speaker, The Lords have sent you down the Bill for Explanation of a Clause, &c. concerning Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions, with some Amendments: To which they desire your Concurrence.
And the said Amendment being a Proviso to be added to the said Bill;
The same was Three times read: And
Resolved, upon the Question, That this House doth concur with the Lords to have the Proviso added to the Bill.
And Sir Charles Harbord is to go up to the Lords, to acquaint them with the Concurrence of this House therein.
Disbanding the Army, &c.
Mr. Birch reports from the Committee for the Navy, that all paid off, save 150,000/.s, and the Accompts ready to be delivered in.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners for Disbanding and Paying of the Army and Navy to continue so many of the Auditors as they shall find necessary; and to pay them for such time only as they shall be employed in the Service.
San Diego Sarah • Link
CONCLUSION -- THE COMMONS:
Conference with Lords.
A Message from the Lords:
Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present free Conference in the Painted Chamber, with this House, upon the Matter of the last Conference, concerning the Proviso of the Marquis of Winchester.
And this House having agreed thereto;
Ordered, That Mr. Milward, Sir Edmund Peirse, and Sir Robert Howard, be added to those who were to manage the former Conference, to assist in this free Conference.
Sir Thomas Meres reports from the free Conference, That the Lords did adhere to their Opinion for the same Reasons they did before; because this Proviso did intrench upon the Act of Oblivion: And that his Majesty had signified, that, upon mature Advice, he was against it; and that it would intrench upon his Prerogative, &c.: And that the Lords hoped the Commons would change their Opinion, and agree with the Lords.
Resolved, That this House doth concur with the Lords, in the leaving out the said Proviso concerning the Marquis of Winchester.
Resolved, That a Petition be prepared, to which the Lords Concurrence is to be desired, for recommending the Cause of the Marquis of Winchester; and the Merits and Sufferings of that Family, to the gracious Consideration of his Majesty.
Resolved, That Sir Heneage Finch be desired to draw up the Petition against Monday Morning.
Resolved, That, when the Message is sent up to signify the Concurrence of this House to the Amendments sent from the Lords to the Bill declaring Pains, Penalties, and Forfeitures, that this Petition shall also be carried up to the Lords for their Concurrence.
(These notes are abbreviated.)
San Diego Sarah • Link
Edited highlights from the House of Lords for today:
Message to H. C. that the Lords agree to the Bill for regulating the Navy, and the Militia Bill.
To let them know, that this House agrees with them in the Amendments in the Bill concerning Articles and Orders for the governing of His Majesty's Navies and Ships of War; and that this House hath passed the Bill concerning the Militia.
Bill for Pains and Penalties on Persons excepted from Indemnity.
The Lord Ashley * reported from the Committee, "That they have taken the Bill concerning Pains, Penalties, and Forfeitures into Consideration, and have made some Alterations, which are offered to the Judgement of this House."
Which Alterations were read Twice, and Agreed to.
Hodie 3a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act declaring the Pains, Penalties, and Forfeitures, imposed upon the Estates and Persons of certain notorious Offenders, excepted out of the free and general Pardon and Oblivion."
It was Resolved in the Affirmative.
Message to H. C. with it.
To deliver to them the Bill concerning Pains and Penalties; which this House hath passed, with Alterations, wherein their Concurrence is desired.
Bill for restoring Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.
Hodie 3a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for Explanation of a Clause contained in an Act of Parliament made in the Seventeenth Year of the late King Charles, intituled, "An Act for Repeal of a Branch of a Statute Primo Eliz. concerning Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical."
It was Resolved in the Affirmative.
Protest against it.
Memorandum, That the Lord Viscount de Stafford desired Leave to enter his Dissent, if the aforesaid Question were carried in the Affirmative: Which was granted.
"Stafford."
Bill concerning the Estates of Persons sequestered for adhering to the King's Party.
Hodie 1a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for discharging those whose Estates have been sold, sequestered, and decimated, for adhering to His Majesty, or His Royal Father, from all Interest exceeding Three Pounds per Cent. per Annum."
Rejected.
The Messengers returned with this Answer:
Answer from H. C.
That they have acquainted the House of Commons, that their Lordships have passed the Bill for the Militia, and the Bill concerning the Navy.
San Diego Sarah • Link
PART 2
Bill for restoring Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.
A Message was sent to the H.C.
To deliver to them the Bill concerning restoring Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction; which this House hath agreed to, with a Proviso, wherein their Concurrence is desired.
Message from H. C. with Bills.
A Message was brought from the House of Commons; who brought up divers Bills passed the House of Commons, wherein their Lordships Concurrence is desired:
1. "An Act for paving and repairing the Highways from Charing Crosse to the Stone Bridge beyond Pickadilly, and from Charing Crosse to St. James', and from thence to the Common Road, and so round the Wall of St. James' Parke, and up to Hyde Parke."
2. "An Act to restrain unlicensed and disorderly Printing."
3. "An Act for vesting the Arrears of the Excise and New Impost in His Majesty."
Bill to vest the Arrears of the Excise in the King.
Hodie 1a, 2a, et 3a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for vesting the Arrears of the Excise and New Impost in His Majesty."
It was Resolved in the Affirmative.
Bill to confirm the one for Increase of Navigation, &c.
Hodie 1a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for confirming an Act, intituled, An Act for encouraging and increasing of Shipping and Navigation; and several Acts, both Public and Private, mentioned therein."
Message from H. C. for a Conference concerning the Bill for Pains and Penalties.
To desire a Conference, concerning the Amendments and Proviso in the Bill concerning Pains and Penalties.
The Answer returned was: That this House will give the House of Commons a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber.
The Lord Treasurer, the Lord Privy Seal, and the Lord Chamberlain, were appointed to report this Conference.
Bill to restrain disorderly Printing.
Hodie 1a et 2a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act to restrain unlicensed and disorderly Printing."
ORDERED, That the Consideration of this Bill is committed to these Lords following:
L. Treasurer.
L. Privy Seal.
Dux Albemarle.
L. Chamberlain. ...
Their Lordships, or any Five; to meet this Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Prince's Lodgings.
San Diego Sarah • Link
CONCLUSION -- THE LORDS
Message from H. C. with a Bill.
To return the Bill concerning Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, sent down to the House of Commons, with a Proviso, to which they do concur with their Lordships.
Bill to confirm the one for Increase of Navigation, &c.
Hodie 2a et 3a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for confirming an Act, intituled, An Act for encouraging and increasing of Shipping and Navigation; and several other Acts, both Public and Private, mentioned therein."
It was Resolved in the Affirmative.
Report of the Conference concerning the Bill for Pains and Penalties.
Then the Lord Privy Seal reported the Effect of this Conference: "That the House of Commons do agree with this House in all the Alterations in the Bill of Pains and Penalties, excepting to the leaving out the Proviso concerning the Marquis of Winton; to which they cannot agree, because, it being examined by a Committee of their House, it did appear to them to be a just Thing. And the House of Commons say, They received no Reasons from their Lordships to induce them to be of another Mind. Besides, they conceive this Proviso did not intrench upon the Act of Oblivion; and they look upon the Marquis of Winton to have done much Service for the King, and suffered much in his Estate for Him; and nothing hath been yet given him by Way of Recompence. And this Proviso gives him nothing but his own."
Upon this, their Lordships ORDERED, To have a Free Conference with the House of Commons, and give them Reasons as induced this House to leave out the Proviso.
Message to H. C. for a further Conference about it.
To desire a present Free Conference, with the House of Commons, in the Painted Chamber, touching the Matter of the last Conference.
The Lord Treasurer, the Lord Privy Seal, the Lord Chamberlain, and the Lord Ashley, were appointed to manage this Free Conference; and to let the House of Commons know, "That One of the Reasons that moved this House to leave out the Proviso in the Bill concerning Pains and Penalties was, a Message from His Majesty, That He conceived this Proviso was so high an Intrenchment upon His Right and Prerogative, that He was resolved rather not to pass the said Bill, than to admit or allow of the said Proviso.
"Another Reason was, That this House conceives that Pains and Penalties upon Crimes of so high a Nature do absolutely belong of Right to the King; and that their Lordships cannot admit the taking away any of them from His Majesty without a Violation of Justice and His Majesty's just and legal Right; and that the said Proviso is absolutely a Breach of the Act of Indemnity and Oblivion, which His Majesty is so careful to maintain."
^ Lord ASHLEY is Anthony Ashley-Cooper, Lord Ashley -- in a decade he will become the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
"Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction" -- is this their way of saying the Church of England will be reclaiming all those Presbyterian parishes?
Eric the Bish • Link
The joy of a perfect tide!
It’s the best way to travel through London: fast, safe (if it’s not the middle of a Spring Tide) … and going through the bridge is fun! Best of all, with the turn of the tide they get to do it all over again on the way back :)
Then … well the tide is now running fast the wrong way, so it’s back home by coach.
Cynara • Link
I see Charles’ reputation as a party boy is already well established!
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... going through the bridge is fun!"
And they didn't have the London Eye or roller-coasters for thrills. Nothing wrong with getting splashed with cold water on a hot July day.