"some high proceedings of my Lord Chief Justice Keeling, that the gentlemen of the country did complain against him in the House"
L&M note that "the gentlemen of the country" were the rural party -- critics of the court. Kelyng's conduct of two capital trials (in which he had fines both juries) had led to the appointment of a committee of investigation by the Commons on the 16th. . When they reported on 11 December, it was voted that he had been guilty of innovations amounting to the exercise of 'an arbitrary and illegal Power', that he had vilified Magna Carta (which he had called 'Magna Farta'), and thhat he should be brought to trial. After he had appeared before the house on 13 December, it was resolved to take no further action against him but a motion was passed declaring illegal the fining or imprisoning of juries. See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
"Here I did also see their votes against my Lord Chiefe Justice Keeling, that his proceedings were illegal, and that he was a contemner of Magna Charta (the great preserver of our lives, freedoms, and properties) and an introduction to arbitrary government; "
"some high proceedings of my Lord Chief Justice Keeling, that the gentlemen of the country did complain against him in the House"
L&M note that "the gentlemen of the country" were the rural party -- critics of the court. Kelyng's conduct of two capital trials (in which he had fines both juries) had led to the appointment of a committee of investigation by the Commons on the 16th. . When they reported on 11 December, it was voted that he had been guilty of innovations amounting to the exercise of 'an arbitrary and illegal Power', that he had vilified Magna Carta (which he had called 'Magna Farta'), and thhat he should be brought to trial. After he had appeared before the house on 13 December, it was resolved to take no further action against him but a motion was passed declaring illegal the fining or imprisoning of juries. See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
"The men that I know of the nine I like very well; that is, Mr. Pierrepont, Lord Brereton, and Sir William Turner"
L&M: William Pierrepoint was a Presbyterian politician of the 1650s, out of active politics since 1661; Brereton the son of a parliamentary commander; and Turner a city alderman and draper.
"so that Sir John Talbott did fly out and was very hot in the business of Wildman’s being named, and took notice how he was entertained in the bosom of the Duke of Buckingham, a Privy-counsellor; and that it was fit to be observed by the House, and punished. "
"Thence walked to my bookseller’s, and there he did give me a list of the twenty who were nominated for the Commission in Parliament for the Accounts: and it is strange that of the twenty the Parliament could not think fit to choose their nine, but were fain to add three that were not in the list of the twenty, they being many of them factious people and ringleaders in the late troubles;."
L&M: CJ, ix. 36-7. The objectionable names were in fact among those included by the nominating committee amongst their 29 suggestions. "The panel was very much disliked (and very justly) because many villains and enemies to the late King were nominated: Milward, p. 164. For the full list of names, see CTBN vol. ii. pp. li-lib.
"to bed, having finished my letters, among which one to Commissioner Middleton, who is now coming up to town from Portsmouth, to enter upon his Surveyorship."
L&M: His patent was issued on 25 November and he was paid from 25 December.
"I to Westminster Hall, and there walked a good while till 8 at night, and there hear to my great content that the King did send a message to the House to-day that he would adjourne them on the 17th instant to February;"
"called at Cade’s, the stationer, where he tells me how my Lord Gerard is troubled for several things in the House of Commons, and in one wherein himself is concerned; and, it seems, this Lord is a very proud and wicked man, and the Parliament is likely to order him."
L&M: Lord Gerard of Brandon, a captain in the King's Life Guards (later a Whig and a supporter of Monmouth's rebellion ) was a violent and litigious person, and his behaviour was now the subject of two petitions in the Commons: CJ, , ix. 36, 41; HMC, Rep., 8/1/115. Cade's connection with the affair has not been traced. Gerard, who is said to have 'jeered at' the Commons, was soon afterwards deprived of his command at the King's order: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
"he hears some of the Thomsons are like to be of the Commission for the Accounts, and Wildman, which he much wonders at, as having been a false fellow to every body, and in prison most of the time since the King’s coming in. "
L&M: George Thomson and his three brothers (all merchants) had been prominent in the service of the Commonwealth; two of them (George and Robert) in the naval administration. Fior Wildman and for the appointments, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
"(as he observed about the business of the Duke of Albemarle’s being to follow the Prince upon dividing the fleete, in case the enemy come out), but neither of them to be maintained in others. That the business the other night of my Lord Anglesey at the Council"
"and that the Duke of York and Mr. Wren knew of it, and that himself did know of it on Sunday morning: that on Sunday his coach, and people about it, went to Twittenham,"
L&M: Clarendon had a country villa (York House) at Twickenham: R. S. Cobbett, Memorials Twickenham, pp. 217+.
"By and by home with Sir J. Minnes, who tells me that my Lord Clarendon did go away in a Custom-house boat, and is now at Callis (Calais)"
L&M: Clarendon (iii. 332-3) states that he embarked at Erith at 111 p.m. on 'Saturday night, the 29th November'. But Saturday was the 30th: Clarendon mistook the date, but not the day of the week.
"in the Lobby met Mr. Sawyer, my old chamber fellow, and stayed and had an hour’s discourse of old things with him, and I perceive he do very well in the world, and is married he tells me and hath a child."
L&M: Robert Ssawyer had been at Magdalene with Pepys. He was a rising young barrister, and afterwards acted as Carteret's counsel before the Brooke House Committee: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… He became Attorney-General, 1681-7. He had married in July 1665.
"Here I heard Mr. Gawden speak to the King and Council upon some business of his before them"
L&M: The new victualing contract; the Council this day ordered Pepys to draft an additional clause: PRO, PC 2/60, p. 80. 'Mr.' is a mistake for 'Sir Denis'.
Comments
Second Reading
About Thursday 17 October 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"some high proceedings of my Lord Chief Justice Keeling, that the gentlemen of the country did complain against him in the House"
L&M note that "the gentlemen of the country" were the rural party -- critics of the court. Kelyng's conduct of two capital trials (in which he had fines both juries) had led to the appointment of a committee of investigation by the Commons on the 16th. . When they reported on 11 December, it was voted that he had been guilty of innovations amounting to the exercise of 'an arbitrary and illegal Power', that he had vilified Magna Carta (which he had called 'Magna Farta'), and thhat he should be brought to trial. After he had appeared before the house on 13 December, it was resolved to take no further action against him but a motion was passed declaring illegal the fining or imprisoning of juries. See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Thursday 12 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"Here I did also see their votes against my Lord Chiefe Justice Keeling, that his proceedings were illegal, and that he was a contemner of Magna Charta (the great preserver of our lives, freedoms, and properties) and an introduction to arbitrary government; "
L&M: Resolutions of a committee reporting on the 11th: CJ. ix. 35=6. Kelyng was accuse of arbitrary anf illegal conduct of trials: see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Thursday 17 October 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"some high proceedings of my Lord Chief Justice Keeling, that the gentlemen of the country did complain against him in the House"
L&M note that "the gentlemen of the country" were the rural party -- critics of the court. Kelyng's conduct of two capital trials (in which he had fines both juries) had led to the appointment of a committee of investigation by the Commons on the 16th. . When they reported on 11 December, it was voted that he had been guilty of innovations amounting to the exercise of 'an arbitrary and illegal Power', that he had vilified Magna Carta (which he had called 'Magna Farta'), and thhat he should be brought to trial. After he had appeared before the house on 13 December, it was resolved to take no further action against him but a motion was passed declaring illegal the fining or imprisoning of juries. See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Thursday 12 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"The men that I know of the nine I like very well; that is, Mr. Pierrepont, Lord Brereton, and Sir William Turner"
L&M: William Pierrepoint was a Presbyterian politician of the 1650s, out of active politics since 1661; Brereton the son of a parliamentary commander; and Turner a city alderman and draper.
About Thursday 12 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"so that Sir John Talbott did fly out and was very hot in the business of Wildman’s being named, and took notice how he was entertained in the bosom of the Duke of Buckingham, a Privy-counsellor; and that it was fit to be observed by the House, and punished. "
L&M: For Wildman's nomination see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Thursday 12 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"Thence walked to my bookseller’s, and there he did give me a list of the twenty who were nominated for the Commission in Parliament for the Accounts: and it is strange that of the twenty the Parliament could not think fit to choose their nine, but were fain to add three that were not in the list of the twenty, they being many of them factious people and ringleaders in the late troubles;."
L&M: CJ, ix. 36-7. The objectionable names were in fact among those included by the nominating committee amongst their 29 suggestions. "The panel was very much disliked (and very justly) because many villains and enemies to the late King were nominated: Milward, p. 164. For the full list of names, see CTBN vol. ii. pp. li-lib.
About Thursday 12 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"Here only I saw a French lady in the pit, with a tunique, just like one of ours."
L&M: I.e. one of the fashion which the King had in 1666 introduced (as anti-French) for men: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Tuesday 10 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"to bed, having finished my letters, among which one to Commissioner Middleton, who is now coming up to town from Portsmouth, to enter upon his Surveyorship."
L&M: His patent was issued on 25 November and he was paid from 25 December.
About Tuesday 10 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"I to Westminster Hall, and there walked a good while till 8 at night, and there hear to my great content that the King did send a message to the House to-day that he would adjourne them on the 17th instant to February;"
L&M: In fact the message was sent to both houses on the 9th:
LJ, xii. 161
https://www.british-history.ac.uk…
CJ, ix. 34
https://www.british-history.ac.uk…
About Monday 9 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"there to my chamber, and all alone did there draw up my answer to Sir Rob. Brookes’s letter"
L&M: For this correspondence, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Monday 9 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"called at Cade’s, the stationer, where he tells me how my Lord Gerard is troubled for several things in the House of Commons, and in one wherein himself is concerned; and, it seems, this Lord is a very proud and wicked man, and the Parliament is likely to order him."
L&M: Lord Gerard of Brandon, a captain in the King's Life Guards (later a Whig and a supporter of Monmouth's rebellion ) was a violent and litigious person, and his behaviour was now the subject of two petitions in the Commons: CJ, , ix. 36, 41; HMC, Rep., 8/1/115. Cade's connection with the affair has not been traced. Gerard, who is said to have 'jeered at' the Commons, was soon afterwards deprived of his command at the King's order: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Monday 9 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"He tells me that the King himself did the other day very particularly tell the whole story of my Lord Sandwich’s not following the Dutch ships"
L&M: After capturing his prizes in September 1665: cf. Harris, ii. 14. 25-6.
About Sunday 8 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"he hears some of the Thomsons are like to be of the Commission for the Accounts, and Wildman, which he much wonders at, as having been a false fellow to every body, and in prison most of the time since the King’s coming in. "
L&M: George Thomson and his three brothers (all merchants) had been prominent in the service of the Commonwealth; two of them (George and Robert) in the naval administration. Fior Wildman and for the appointments, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Sunday 8 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"(as he observed about the business of the Duke of Albemarle’s being to follow the Prince upon dividing the fleete, in case the enemy come out), but neither of them to be maintained in others. That the business the other night of my Lord Anglesey at the Council"
L&M: See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Sunday 8 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"That he hath papers which do flatly contradict the Duke of Albemarle’s Narrative"
L&M: See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Friday 6 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"that nothing but this unhappy paper"
L&M: See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Friday 6 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"and that the Duke of York and Mr. Wren knew of it, and that himself did know of it on Sunday morning: that on Sunday his coach, and people about it, went to Twittenham,"
L&M: Clarendon had a country villa (York House) at Twickenham: R. S. Cobbett, Memorials Twickenham, pp. 217+.
About Friday 6 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"By and by home with Sir J. Minnes, who tells me that my Lord Clarendon did go away in a Custom-house boat, and is now at Callis (Calais)"
L&M: Clarendon (iii. 332-3) states that he embarked at Erith at 111 p.m. on 'Saturday night, the 29th November'. But Saturday was the 30th: Clarendon mistook the date, but not the day of the week.
About Friday 6 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"in the Lobby met Mr. Sawyer, my old chamber fellow, and stayed and had an hour’s discourse of old things with him, and I perceive he do very well in the world, and is married he tells me and hath a child."
L&M: Robert Ssawyer had been at Magdalene with Pepys. He was a rising young barrister, and afterwards acted as Carteret's counsel before the Brooke House Committee: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
He became Attorney-General, 1681-7. He had married in July 1665.
About Friday 6 December 1667
Terry Foreman • Link
"Here I heard Mr. Gawden speak to the King and Council upon some business of his before them"
L&M: The new victualing contract; the Council this day ordered Pepys to draft an additional clause: PRO, PC 2/60, p. 80. 'Mr.' is a mistake for 'Sir Denis'.