Wednesday 29 July 1668
Busy all the morning at the office. So home to dinner, where Mercer, and there comes Mr. Swan, my old acquaintance, and dines with me, and tells me, for a certainty, that Creed is to marry Betty Pickering, and that the thing is concluded, which I wonder at, and am vexed for. So he gone I with my wife and two girls to the King’s house, and saw “The Mad Couple,” a mean play altogether, and thence to Hyde Parke, where but few coaches, and so to the New Exchange, and thence by water home, with much pleasure, and then to sing in the garden, and so home to bed, my eyes for these four days being my trouble, and my heart thereby mighty sad.
8 Annotations
First Reading
Ralph Berry • Link
What what!!
23.12 GMT and no annotations. Either my computer is playing up or it is most unusual.
Terry Foreman • Link
In this entry, Pepys gets the news that Creed, his principal rival for Sandwich’s favor -- whom he "hates" http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… -- is to wed Lord Sandwich’s niece -- which he will, say L&M, "in the following October."
Robert Gertz • Link
Hmmn...Miss Pickering is daughter to the troubled Sir Gilbert, constantly in enough trouble with the Stuarts as to require his wife to even go begging to Sam for help. Sounds like Creed carefully played on the family's desperate need for connections at Court while being able to hint at having "sympathy" with Sir Gilbert's position as a former prominent Puritan himself. No doubt his intimate knowledge of Sandwich's affairs didn't hurt his suit. All that said, perhaps it is a love match...
"So John Creed is marrying a Bess too..." Bess beams.
"Yes...The right one..." Sam, darkly grousing...
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"Creed!...To marry into our family?!!" Sandwich, red-faced.
"Now, Edward..." Jemina, sighing...
"I'd sooner have had little Pepys...At least he's family."
"Yes, our Sam is a dear...But Edward...This note Creed sent..."
"Where he congratulates me on having him enter our family?!!...More or less..."
"And where he notes he'll do all he can, as a member of the family, naturally, to see that no scandal touches our family..."
"Threatening to screw me on the prize goods and our personal accounts, eh?"
"Looks much like it...In very polite and subtle terms..." Jemina, nodding. "One must give the man credit for his unique talents."
"'Welcome to the...' Oh, God, Jem..."
"Just keep practicing Edward...It will come in time..."
Terry Foreman • Link
"to Hyde Parke, where but few coaches"
So SP splits ASAP: no need to hang around to see and be seen by nobody.
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Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"to Hyde Parke, where but few coaches"
Other days he'd rather not be seen at the park if the coach he had was hired.
San Diego Sarah • Link
'Charles II: July 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, pp. 469-516. https://www.british-history.ac.uk…
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July 29. 1668
Lyme.
Anth. Thorold to Hickes.
Hears by the Margaret of Topsham, from Crosick,
that the French are increasing their ships of war,
having built several of good force,
2 of which with 60 guns each lay in Belle Isle.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 173.]
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July 29. 1668
Weymouth.
John Pocock to Hickes.
A vessel from St. Malo reports that the discourse was very hot there as to the certainty of the English Consul at Algiers being killed,
but it is contradicted by later letters.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 175.]
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This coincides with my research
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
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July 29. 1668
Deal.
Rich. Watts to [Williamson].
A King’s ship and a merchant ship bound for Guinea broke loose and drifted southward.
The wheat will be reaped in Thanet next Monday, and grain, and barley, will undoubtedly be very cheap.
The fens have very little crops, they being drowned the beginning of the summer.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 176.]
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July 29. 1668
Falmouth.
Thos. Holden to James Hickes.
A thunderstorm on Wednesday was reported to have killed many sheep and oxen.
The Virgin of Falmouth from Rochelle speaks much of the plentifulness of money among the commonalty of that country;
also of a reported break between England and Holland.
A merchantman has come in to take in pilchards for the Straits,
and the Roebuck from Plymouth.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 177.]
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[July 29.] 1668
Croone House,
Surrey.
Petition of the prisoners of the Fleet, now at Croone House, Surrey, to the King and Council,
that the warden may be ordered to rebuild the old prison, and meantime to contrive a more convenient one for them, as their distance prevents their having the comforts of friends and counsel;
also for writs of habeas corpus, as formerly granted, for lack whereof many of them are unable to satisfy their creditors, and perish for want.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 180.]
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July 29. 1668
“Survey of the printing presses, with the names and numbers of apprentices, officers, and workmen belonging to every particular press.”
Establishments, 26;
presses, 65;
the number of persons employed in an establishment, varying from 18 employed at the King’s house to 2.
Three printers — Mr. Darby, Mr. Winter, and Mr. Rawlyns — are noted as to be indicted the next sessions,
Endorsed, “Received 15 Nov. 1668, Supernumerary Presses.”
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 181.]
San Diego Sarah • Link
July 29. 1668
Bristol.
James Baskerville to Williamson.
The Edgar was launched to-day, in presence of Sir Rob. Holmes, Sir Frescheville Hollis, and a great concourse of gentry.
Mr. Baylie, the builder, was much applauded, as well for the mould of the ship, as for his excellent contrivance in fitting the cradle to launch her;
so smooth and well-poised a launch has not been known by the ancientest artists.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 186.]
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July 29. 1668
Bristol.
Jo. Fitz-Herbert to Williamson.
The Edgar man-of-war was launched to-day in presence of the magistrates and near 3,000 people, it being the fair time;
Sir Rob. Holmes and Sir Frescheville Hollis, being at Bath, honored the ceremony with their presence, and gave their judgment that she was as well built a ship for the service as any in England of her size, being near 11,000 tons.
It is expected that she will be fitted for sea in 6 weeks.
Several ships have arrived from places named;
one from Genaway [Genoa?] reports that the French design for settling the grand trade at Madagascar is totally overthrown, and that they are returning home.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 187.]
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July 29. 1668
Bristol.
Fras. Baylie to the Navy Commissioners.
We launched the Edgar this morning at 8 o’clock.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 188.]
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July 29. 1668
Bristol.
Sir John Knight to the Navy Commissioners.
The Edgar was launched to-day in good condition.
There is paid or due to seamen and lightermen 45/. for the launch, &c., besides 20/. given to the captain and for materials, so that the 100/. is nearly spent.
Requests money may be had to give despatch;
cannot foresee what things may be wanting until the ship is rigged, and put in a condition to sail.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 189.]
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YOU GET THE IDEA BRISTOL WAS RATHER PROUD OF THIS SUCCESS?
David Garfield • Link
ship shape and Bristol fashion