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San Diego Sarah has posted 9,762 annotations/comments since 6 August 2015.

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Second Reading

About Sir William Jennens

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

During the crisis of 1688 which culminated in the ‘Glorious Revolution’, Capt. Sir William Jennens commanded the Rupert and was the leading critic of the fleet’s strategy of not intercepting the invasion force of William of Orange.

Further clashes with Pepys and other authorities led to Jennens following James II into exile, one of the few Protestants at the exiled court at St. Germain.

During the crisis of 1688 which culminated in the ‘Glorious Revolution’, Capt. Jennens commanded the Rupert and was the leading critic of the fleet’s strategy of not intercepting the invasion force of William of Orange.

Further clashes with Pepys and other authorities led to Jennens following James II into exile, one of the few Protestants at the exiled court at St. Germain.

In 1690-91 Capt. Jennens served aboard the French flagship, interrogating British prisoners for sending Jacobite propaganda ashore, and helped plan the projected Franco-Jacobite invasion of 1692.

In 1698 Sir William Jennens returned to England in an unsuccessful attempt to be pardoned; he was quickly deported him, before his creditors caught him, but his betrayal of the Jacobites ruled out a return to France.

Capt. Jennens was in Lisbon in 1699 and offered his services to the Portuguese crown. Jennens probably died in Lisbon in 1704 -- the year his niece’s husband won his great victory at the Battle of Blenheim.

About Sir William Jennens

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Historian/novelist J.D. Davies has spent years researching the Anglo-Dutch Wars and thinks he knows who Jennens was:

http://jddavies.com/2016/03/03/th…

William Jennens was born in 1634, the youngest son of Sir John Jennens, MP for St. Albans -- and an uncle of the future Sarah Jennings Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough.

Eccentric, often unpleasant, but always larger than life, Sir William Jennens was one of the most colorful of the ‘gentlemen captains’.

We know little about Jennens’ life before the Restoration, but he was lieutenant of the Newcastle in 1660, and served in three other ships in 1661-4.

The Second Anglo-Dutch War brought William Jennens his first command, the Fourth Rate Ruby, in which he fought at the battle of Lowestoft (3 June 1665)
and at the Four Days’ Fight (1–4 June 1666), in which he was wounded. His bravery and the patronage of Prince Rupert brought Capt. Jennens a knighthood and the command of the Third Rate Lion, in which he served at the St. James’ Day Fight, 25 July 1666.

Capt. Sir William Jennens was Holmes’ second-in-command for the raid Terschelling in August 1666 – the incident which also destroyed a pacifist Mennonite community and is known as ‘Holmes’s bonfire’.

From then on Capt. Jennens’ career went downhill, thanks to his abrasive personality which led to Pepys describing him as ‘a proud, idle fellow’.

Capt. Sir William Jennens was accused of cowardice during the Dutch raid on the Medway, and later of administrative irregularities during a Mediterranean cruise. His command of the Princess in 1670–71 led to his dismissal from the service for having his wife aboard during the voyage, and he was sentenced to a year and a day in the Marshalsea prison.

The Third Anglo-Dutch War saw his rehabilitation and he commanded the Second Rate Victory in 1673. He was wounded at the battle of the Texel,11 August 1673.

Capt. Jennens next commanded the guardship Royal James at Portsmouth in 1678–9. This led to a series of clashes with Pepys. He was reprimanded for keeping women aboard and for plundering wine from Dutch vessels wrecked on the Isle of Wight.

From 1678 onwards Jennens was involved in developing the patent for the first Turkish ‘bagnios’ in London, which only led to a series of protracted lawsuits.

Capt. Sir William Jennens was a prosecution witness in the show treason trial of Stephen Colledge, a poet who wrote verses against Charles II during the Popish Plot.

In 1686 Capt. Sir William Jennens took command of the guardship Jersey at Portsmouth, but was reprimanded and fined by a court martial in 1688 for a drunken brawl at a dinner with a fellow captain.

About Sir Henry Mildmay

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

For what it's worth, Sir Henry Mildmay MP's Parliamentary biography gives Pepys Diary a shout out -- for the wrong reasons:

http://www.historyofparliamentonl…

They say Sir Henry Mildmay MP did not die at Old Wanstead House, which was settled on his son-in-law (Sir) Robert Brooke†,143. The rumor that he did is based on a mis-transcription in an early edition of Samuel Pepys’† diary.144
• 143. VCH Essex, vi. 324.
• 144. Cf. Pepys Diary ed. H.B. Wheatley, iv. 386 and Pepys Diary ed. R.C. Latham and W. Matthews, vi. 102.

They are firm that Mildmay was ordered in 1664 to be transferred from the Tower to Tangiers, where he apparently died four years later [1668].

About Sunday 14 May 1665

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

For what it's worth, Master of the Jewel House, Sir Henry Mildmay MP's Parliamentary biography gives Pepys Diary a shout out for the wrong reasons:

http://www.historyofparliamentonl…

They say did not Sir Henry Mildmay MP die at Old Wanstead House, which was settled on his son-in-law (Sir) Robert Brooke†,143. The rumor that he did is based on a mis-transcription in an early edition of Samuel Pepys’† diary.144
• 143. VCH Essex, vi. 324.
• 144. Cf. Pepys Diary ed. H.B. Wheatley, iv. 386 and Pepys Diary ed. R.C. Latham and W. Matthews, vi. 102.

They are firm that Mildmay was ordered in 1664 to be transferred to Tangiers from the Tower, where he apparently died four years later [1668].

About Thurday 16 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Stroking Brouncker now ... no sign of the angry letter yet? "

WRONG -- It was the Earl of Peterborough's letter of complaint Pepys is expecting. Brouncker is peeved at Pepys' behavior at his house, and the lack of hospitality he has received considering the amount he has given Pepys.

About Tuesday 14 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... where they drank wine, and drank Mercer’s health first, which I pledged with my hat off ..."

Mercer must have blushed ... Pepys took his hat off to her! I wonder if Elizabeth noticed!!!??? If questioned, Pepys could cover his tracks by saying it was in fun, but he knows that she [Mercer] knows that he likes her breasts ...

About Thurday 16 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... called away by my Lady Pen and Pegg and my wife to their house to eat with them; and there I went, and exceeding merry, there being Nan Wright, now Mrs. Markham, and sits at table with my Lady. So mighty merry, home and to bed."

As someone who is poised between social classes, Pepys' antenna can detect someone "faking it until they make it". Former servant Anne "Nan" Wright Markham has married into the Penn family. That she was a servant doesn't mean she didn't come from a good family which fell on hard times, because of the wars or because of their religion. Or if she was Admiral Penn's former mistress -- for which there is no evidence that I can find beyond Pepys being snide -- the Penns must have liked her enough to allow her to marry their nephew.

Lady Penn seems to be spending time with her in easy social settings, maybe schooling her in the proper way of behaving, running the household, etc. (ad the wearing of periwigs).

About Thurday 16 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... a letter from Sir T. Allen, which says that we have taken ten or twelve ships (since the late great expedition of burning their ships and towne), laden with hempe, flax, tarr, deales, &c."

So Capt. Allin was on the Holmes' Bonfire run. This sounds as if they were on their way home and came across this group of merchantmen bringing supplies to the Dutch fleet.

Depriving the Dutch while using the supplies for the English fleet -- free! -- is a very good thing both ways. (Must admit I imagined Holmes' group's desire to take the East Indiamen as prizes instead of firing them. But that wasn't possible, obviously.)

Sorry, Mr. Cocke, free hemp -- no need to buy yours this week.

About Thurday 16 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... my Lord Bruncker and myself did give Sir G. Carteret our sixpence a-piece, which he did give Mr. Smith to give the poor. "

Stroking Brouncker now ... no sign of the angry letter yet? Remember to invite him and the loathsome Madam Williams to lunch soon.

About Wednesday 15 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Pepys is hungover!

I hope he remembered to asked Coventry how his situation was -- obviously James, Duke of York would have fired him if it was serious. But nevertheless, being accused of sharing information with the enemy is very uncomfortable

About Sunday 5 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

I found out who Mr. Markham was -- who recently married Anne Nan Wright. He was Admiral Penn's nephew, and went on to become the first Governor of Pennsylvania. Anne died before 1684 when he married his second wife.

About Mr Markham

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

William MARKHAM, colonial governor, born in England about 1635; died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 12 June, 1704.

Capt. William Markham apparently spent his early life in the city of Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, a first cousin of William Penn Jr.

William Markham married Anne "Nan" Wright on 22 July 1666 at St. James Dukes Place, London England.

In 1666, William Penn Jr., became a Quaker, which was disapproved of by his father. However, after Admiral Sir William Penn’s death, Charles II settled his account with the estate by giving William Jr. the charter for Pennsylvania.

On 10 April, 1681, William Penn made Capt. William Markham his deputy, with authority to establish courts, settle boundaries, sell lands, and exercise every right that was granted to Penn, except that of calling a legislative assembly.

Capt. William Markham sailed for Boston soon after obtaining his commission and made his way thence to New York, where he exhibited his credentials and received from the acting governor a letter to the local officials on the Delaware, notifying them of the transfer of authority.

He left his only daughter, Anne, with the Penns for the next seven years. So far I have not found information on where Anne “Nan” Wright Markham lived. Since he remarried in 1684, it's possible she had died before he sailed.

Capt. William Markham went on to be the first governor of Pennsylvania.

See http://famousamericans.net/willia…
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Mar…

About Tuesday 14 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

How many vowes did Pepys break today? He must get holidays off.

That was one drunken party ... ending up with soot and candle grease on his periwig (although he didn't mention it ... but how could it be avoided?).

About John Colvill

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

John Colvill must have been a successful goldsmith, given what L&M tells us about his estate. However, Pepys wasn't impressed by his character:

"So back again to Colvill’s, ... I find him a bold man to say any thing of any body, and finds fault with our great ministers of state that nobody looks after any thing; and I thought it dangerous to be free with him, for I do not think he can keep counsel, because he blabs to me what hath passed between other people and him."

https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

About Sunday 12 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... I and my wife up to her closett to consider how to order that the next summer, if we live to it; ..."

It's still secret that Charles II sent Holmes to attack the Dutch East India ships (which their navy could have commandeered to continue the fight). Yes, Pepys heard a rumor about that, but didn't believe it. Knowing that repairs are under way, but insufficient funds are going to dictate what happens next, Pepys appears to anticipate either the plague or invasion more than being fired.

Bless Louis XIV and his new fleet, trolling around in the Mediterranean, which thwarted the Dutch invasion plans last month.

About Thursday 9 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

So he did; thanks for the reminder ... as to the habit, we shall see. I'm not surprised he needs a nap as he does burn the candle at both ends.

About Saturday 11 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

You made my day, Nick. The great thing about history is that you can become a "historian" just by being one. In about 1985 I realized I had WWI and WWII chronologies down, and most of the General Knowledge questions were covered, so the time had come to drill down on something. I picked Elizabeth Murray Tollemache Maitland, Countess of Dysart and Lauderdale who lived near my former home at Ham House, Middx. That required knowing the Stuart century. I lurked on this blog for 18 months before I offered any information, feeling totally intimidated. Now my curiosity has developed into being a researcher and content proofreader of 17th century historical novels. It's a job I made up! Someone's gotta do it.

About Friday 10 August 1666

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Hi Nick ... there is much about Pepys' financial dealings I do not understand either. I this case it sounds like Colvill is doing Pepys an enormous favor -- in return for what we do not know. Just the other day Colvill liquidated Pepys personal account in gold when the rest of England is short of cash. Perhaps he has a son stationed in Tangier? Perhaps Pepys has promised him preferences when things get back to what passes for normal? Perhaps Creed threatened him with broken knee caps? Perhaps Elizabeth is giving him favors and Pepys doesn't know? Perhaps we'll find out a year from now.

To get a general feel for how tallys worked, type TALLY in the search bar above right.

With Phil's new system, since this is a very general search, I'd then go to GOOGLE on the lower right, and that'll bring up a listing for every TALLY in the Diary, and you can quickly scan through and select ones where the excerpt seems interesting.

If you don't want to GOOGLE it, then start with changing the search parameter to ENCYCLOPEDIA and you'll find the Wikipedia explanation plus three annotations in general. If that doesn't satisfy your curiosity, then change the search to ALL ANNOTATIONS and every one regarding TALLY will be displayed.