"... my wife not coming home. I to bed, troubled, about 12 or past. ...."
Bess has done this a few times now. I wonder where she goes. Are Jemima and Elizabeth consoling themselves on their men's preoccupation with war, knocking back a couple of bottles of vino and comparing sob stories?
"It is hard for me to accept that Holmes the prisoner sat at dinner with Robinson his jailer and parted friendly like. "
A friend, Elizabeth St.John, has written a book *The Lady of the Tower* about Lady Lucy St.John Apsley, wife of Sir Allen Apsley, Keeper of the Tower under King James. It's based on family documents and the diary of her daughter, Lucy Hutchinson, wife of the regicide Col. John Hutchinson. Yes, that's 40 years before Pepys, but things worked much the same. Buying positions, taking fees off-the-top for service, monopolies -- and paying off the Keeper when you leave, or are executed.
How people were treated varied by how much they could pay, and how the King wanted them to be treated. For instance:
One example (not from her book):
From 1605-1622 the Martin Tower in the Tower of London housed an illustrious guest. A gentleman of high fashion, good looks, keen intellect, loyal to friends and congenial to his hosts who could hardly be called jailers, as they went to great lengths to assure his comfort and entertainment.
Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland's occupancy of the Martin Tower was well known as his rooms occupied most, if not all, of it. He entertained often and lavishly, and used it as the center of operations for his widespread business enterprises. Among his frequent guests were his son and heir, his pet fox, and Sir Walter Raleigh.
From his arrival on 27 November, 1605 (after the Gunpowder Plot) the man nicknamed The Wizard Earl made himself at home.
If rumors circulating in 1622 held any truth, when Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland was released, he was loathe to leave as his apartment housed much of his celebrated library. He owned one of the largest collections of books in Britain. They covered a broad range of topics, many related to alchemy. His interest in natural philosophy (what we call science) earned him the moniker The Wizard Earl.
Richard Lomas in *A Power In The Land* (Tuckwell Press, 1999) and other sources describe Northumberland's suite in the Martin Tower as having multiple dining rooms, a drawing room, gardens with access to a tennis court, and enough space to accommodate 20 servants. And of course there was a bowling alley. Servants ran between his home, Syon House, and the Martin Tower with imported delicacies.
Northumberland perfected his game of Ten Pins, read books, poured fine wine, smoked tobacco with Sir Walter Raleigh, and later dined and gambled with his fellow prisoners, Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset and his murderous countess Lady Frances Howard.
"Abroad to St. James’s, and there much business, the King also being with us a great while." ... Lord Annesley recorded 27 February, ... 'I think we must be forced to get the King to come to every committee; for I do not see that we do any thing at any time but when he is here.'”
We heard yesterday that James, Duke of York is with the fleet in Portsmouth. He usually chairs the Monday morning Navy Board meeting. Last week Charles II declared war. That he would chair today's meeting given his brother's absence makes perfect sense to me.
Matt, if you feel like investigating those questions further, perhaps the House of Commons debate of April 5, 1662 when some reforms for Hackney carriages, streets, and encumbrances were discussed is a good place to start. I'm interested in what you find out. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
"Upon Tuesday, at about 4 in the afternoon, his majesty arrived here in good health, ..."
I'm thinking this "His Majesty" is James, Duke of York.
On Monday morning, Pepys saw him trying on his coat and helmet. James must ride fast, with horse relays. It's about 73 miles from London to Portsmouth, and Pepys has over-nighted in places like Godalming and Guildford.
From LAWSON LIES STILL IN THE THAMES by Gill Blanchard, Amberley Publishing 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6123 page 180:
"John Evelyn was one of the commissioners appointed to make arrangements for the expected sick and wounded victims of the war. Those from the fleet who needed hospital treatment would be transported to St. Thomas' Hospital in London, where half the buildings were set aside for them. The day after the London disaster he went to receive the "poor burnt creatures" that were saved, and with plans to help the women and orphans. He counted 50 widows, 45 of whom were pregnant. The 25 recorded survivors -- 24 men and one woman -- were rescued because they were travelling in the roundhouse and the coach, the only sections to remain above water after the rest of the ship shattered. These were a suite of rooms -- usually the most important cabins -- high up on the stern of the ship."
From LAWSON LIES STILL IN THE THAMES by Gill Blanchard, Amberley Publishing 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6123 page 178-181:
On the bitterly cold morning of Tuesday March 7, Lawson's "good ship" London set out from Chatham to join the rest of the fleet at its new berth at the Hope (a stretch of the Thames named after the Hope stream).
There were 300 men and about 30 women and children on board, seeing off their husbands and fathers. The civilians were to disembark at the Hope and either catch a ride home on another ship, or hike back on foot.
At about 9 a.m. the London was about 10 miles from her moorings. When she was close to Southend, Essex (at the mouth of the Thames) a fire took hold of the gun room, and the London quickly blew apart.
"A sound like a thunderbolt from heaven was reportedly heard in Holland."
Timbers were thrown in the air, and a man on the Monleague, which was sailing passed, was killed by a flying splinter.
Rugge estimated that John Lawson lost 21 relatives in the explosion.
Lawson's report to the Navy Board later disclosed that he had found a large quantity of wood and empty casks lying around the ship, and had ordered the purser to have them removed two weeks before the explosion. Mr. Dam, the purser, testified there were 21,000 billets of wood, 80 dozen candles, and some empty water casks, iron hoops and bags on board when the ship blew up.
Sad to note Elizabeth appears not to have been included in this reunion luncheon. I suppose her new clothes are in production now, so she had nothing to wear.
Terry, I'm confused, and before I (and others) spend hours sorting them out, can you tell me if we have one or two years' worth of Royal Society reports here. The first one is dated March 2, 1663/64, and others dated today March 1, 1664/65.
Interesting that both years seem to have dealt with oxygen.
"CGS on 2 Mar 2008 -- Not everyone had the cash to pay those dues. "... I did pay my admission money, 40s. to the society. ..." "As for the 20 Quid that was still a lot of mulah even in 1940, a months salary for a country teacher."
40 shillings are two pounds, not twenty. Still a lot of money back then, but not as much as CGS was claiming.
I wonder if Mrs. Bland's ship, The Hannibal, is one of the Levant ships approved to sail with a Navy escort ... remember the to-do over this https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
"... when we can neither spare them ships to go, nor men nor King's ships to convoy them ..." The Levant Company's negotiations with the King for a convoy are summarized in HMC, finch, p.363.
Apparently an escort of six ships was granted in early February. -- Latham and Matthews Vol.VI.1665 and London: G.Bell and Sons Ltd. May 1974.
"... Sir Philip Warwick’s; and there he did contract with me a kind of friendship and freedom of communication, wherein he assures me to make me understand the whole business of the Treasurer’s business of the Navy, that I shall know as well as Sir G. Carteret what money he hath; and will needs have me come to him sometimes, or he meet me, to discourse of things tending to the serving the King: and I am mighty proud and happy in becoming so known to such a man. And I hope shall pursue it."
Seems the Povy disaster has alerted Warwick to Carteret's predicament, and Pepys wisely agrees to step up. Some people are doing their best to mind the store.
"... saying that our evil living will call the hand of God upon us again."
So even rich, educated sinners worried about 1666 being next year ... and no one has forgotten that pesky comet. Many blamed Charles II and his Court's riotous living for the triple whammy about to hit England.
"Strange that there's no mention at all of a celebration of any sort..."
Two years ago Pepys splurged and took Elizabeth to two plays in one night to celebrate his 30th birthday (and news that he wasn't about to be arrested). It was also just before Lent and all sorts of Vows kicked in for that. Last year there was a note like today's.
Birthdays don't appear to be a big deal, unless you're the King.
Comments
Second Reading
About Sunday 19 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... being the first day of the tour there."
Any ideas? It's Lent, and War has just been declared, plus March in London is a wet affair, so I doubt it's a new social event.
About Wednesday 15 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... my wife not coming home. I to bed, troubled, about 12 or past. ...."
Bess has done this a few times now. I wonder where she goes. Are Jemima and Elizabeth consoling themselves on their men's preoccupation with war, knocking back a couple of bottles of vino and comparing sob stories?
About Tuesday 14 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
"It is hard for me to accept that Holmes the prisoner sat at dinner with Robinson his jailer and parted friendly like. "
A friend, Elizabeth St.John, has written a book *The Lady of the Tower* about Lady Lucy St.John Apsley, wife of Sir Allen Apsley, Keeper of the Tower under King James. It's based on family documents and the diary of her daughter, Lucy Hutchinson, wife of the regicide Col. John Hutchinson. Yes, that's 40 years before Pepys, but things worked much the same. Buying positions, taking fees off-the-top for service, monopolies -- and paying off the Keeper when you leave, or are executed.
How people were treated varied by how much they could pay, and how the King wanted them to be treated. For instance:
One example (not from her book):
From 1605-1622 the Martin Tower in the Tower of London housed an illustrious guest. A gentleman of high fashion, good looks, keen intellect, loyal to friends and congenial to his hosts who could hardly be called jailers, as they went to great lengths to assure his comfort and entertainment.
Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland's occupancy of the Martin Tower was well known as his rooms occupied most, if not all, of it. He entertained often and lavishly, and used it as the center of operations for his widespread business enterprises. Among his frequent guests were his son and heir, his pet fox, and Sir Walter Raleigh.
From his arrival on 27 November, 1605 (after the Gunpowder Plot) the man nicknamed The Wizard Earl made himself at home.
If rumors circulating in 1622 held any truth, when Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland was released, he was loathe to leave as his apartment housed much of his celebrated library. He owned one of the largest collections of books in Britain. They covered a broad range of topics, many related to alchemy. His interest in natural philosophy (what we call science) earned him the moniker The Wizard Earl.
Richard Lomas in *A Power In The Land* (Tuckwell Press, 1999) and other sources describe Northumberland's suite in the Martin Tower as having multiple dining rooms, a drawing room, gardens with access to a tennis court, and enough space to accommodate 20 servants. And of course there was a bowling alley. Servants ran between his home, Syon House, and the Martin Tower with imported delicacies.
Northumberland perfected his game of Ten Pins, read books, poured fine wine, smoked tobacco with Sir Walter Raleigh, and later dined and gambled with his fellow prisoners, Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset and his murderous countess Lady Frances Howard.
For more: http://englishhistoryauthors.blog…
Meanwhile Jesuits were on the rack, in the building next door.
About Monday 13 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Abroad to St. James’s, and there much business, the King also being with us a great while." ... Lord Annesley recorded 27 February, ... 'I think we must be forced to get the King to come to every committee; for I do not see that we do any thing at any time but when he is here.'”
We heard yesterday that James, Duke of York is with the fleet in Portsmouth. He usually chairs the Monday morning Navy Board meeting. Last week Charles II declared war. That he would chair today's meeting given his brother's absence makes perfect sense to me.
About Wednesday 8 February 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
Matt, if you feel like investigating those questions further, perhaps the House of Commons debate of April 5, 1662 when some reforms for Hackney carriages, streets, and encumbrances were discussed is a good place to start. I'm interested in what you find out.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
About Thursday 9 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Upon Tuesday, at about 4 in the afternoon, his majesty arrived here in good health, ..."
I'm thinking this "His Majesty" is James, Duke of York.
On Monday morning, Pepys saw him trying on his coat and helmet. James must ride fast, with horse relays. It's about 73 miles from London to Portsmouth, and Pepys has over-nighted in places like Godalming and Guildford.
About Thursday 9 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
From LAWSON LIES STILL IN THE THAMES by Gill Blanchard, Amberley Publishing 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6123 page 180:
"John Evelyn was one of the commissioners appointed to make arrangements for the expected sick and wounded victims of the war. Those from the fleet who needed hospital treatment would be transported to St. Thomas' Hospital in London, where half the buildings were set aside for them. The day after the London disaster he went to receive the "poor burnt creatures" that were saved, and with plans to help the women and orphans. He counted 50 widows, 45 of whom were pregnant. The 25 recorded survivors -- 24 men and one woman -- were rescued because they were travelling in the roundhouse and the coach, the only sections to remain above water after the rest of the ship shattered. These were a suite of rooms -- usually the most important cabins -- high up on the stern of the ship."
About Wednesday 8 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
From LAWSON LIES STILL IN THE THAMES by Gill Blanchard, Amberley Publishing 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6123 page 178-181:
On the bitterly cold morning of Tuesday March 7, Lawson's "good ship" London set out from Chatham to join the rest of the fleet at its new berth at the Hope (a stretch of the Thames named after the Hope stream).
There were 300 men and about 30 women and children on board, seeing off their husbands and fathers. The civilians were to disembark at the Hope and either catch a ride home on another ship, or hike back on foot.
At about 9 a.m. the London was about 10 miles from her moorings. When she was close to Southend, Essex (at the mouth of the Thames) a fire took hold of the gun room, and the London quickly blew apart.
"A sound like a thunderbolt from heaven was reportedly heard in Holland."
Timbers were thrown in the air, and a man on the Monleague, which was sailing passed, was killed by a flying splinter.
Rugge estimated that John Lawson lost 21 relatives in the explosion.
Lawson's report to the Navy Board later disclosed that he had found a large quantity of wood and empty casks lying around the ship, and had ordered the purser to have them removed two weeks before the explosion. Mr. Dam, the purser, testified there were 21,000 billets of wood, 80 dozen candles, and some empty water casks, iron hoops and bags on board when the ship blew up.
The news took 24 hours to reach Pepys.
About London (ship)
San Diego Sarah • Link
To update this story, they have recovered two of the guns. To see color pictures, go to
https://blog.royalarmouries.org/2…
About Monday 6 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
Elizabeth has the last laugh again. She is letting Pepys know she knows his game very clearly.
About Sunday 5 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
Sad to note Elizabeth appears not to have been included in this reunion luncheon. I suppose her new clothes are in production now, so she had nothing to wear.
About Thursday 2 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
For wonderful pictures and background on the Cotswolds, go to https://www.cotswolds.com/
About Friday 3 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
I take it no copy of Pepys' recommendation to Coventry exists. I suspect he wanted to keep the Thames fishermen in place.
About Wednesday 1 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
Terry, I'm confused, and before I (and others) spend hours sorting them out, can you tell me if we have one or two years' worth of Royal Society reports here. The first one is dated March 2, 1663/64, and others dated today March 1, 1664/65.
Interesting that both years seem to have dealt with oxygen.
About Wednesday 1 March 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
I'm surprised no one caught this one:
"CGS on 2 Mar 2008 -- Not everyone had the cash to pay those dues.
"... I did pay my admission money, 40s. to the society. ..."
"As for the 20 Quid that was still a lot of mulah even in 1940, a months salary for a country teacher."
40 shillings are two pounds, not twenty. Still a lot of money back then, but not as much as CGS was claiming.
About Monday 27 February 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
I wonder if Mrs. Bland's ship, The Hannibal, is one of the Levant ships approved to sail with a Navy escort ... remember the to-do over this https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
"... when we can neither spare them ships to go, nor men nor King's ships to convoy them ..." The Levant Company's negotiations with the King for a convoy are summarized in HMC, finch, p.363.
Apparently an escort of six ships was granted in early February. -- Latham and Matthews Vol.VI.1665 and London: G.Bell and Sons Ltd. May 1974.
About Monday 27 February 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... Sir Philip Warwick’s; and there he did contract with me a kind of friendship and freedom of communication, wherein he assures me to make me understand the whole business of the Treasurer’s business of the Navy, that I shall know as well as Sir G. Carteret what money he hath; and will needs have me come to him sometimes, or he meet me, to discourse of things tending to the serving the King: and I am mighty proud and happy in becoming so known to such a man. And I hope shall pursue it."
Seems the Povy disaster has alerted Warwick to Carteret's predicament, and Pepys wisely agrees to step up. Some people are doing their best to mind the store.
About Monday 27 February 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... saying that our evil living will call the hand of God upon us again."
So even rich, educated sinners worried about 1666 being next year ... and no one has forgotten that pesky comet. Many blamed Charles II and his Court's riotous living for the triple whammy about to hit England.
About Sunday 26 February 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
Is this the first time Pepys has said "Sunday" instead of "Lord's Day"?
About Thursday 23 February 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Strange that there's no mention at all of a celebration of any sort..."
Two years ago Pepys splurged and took Elizabeth to two plays in one night to celebrate his 30th birthday (and news that he wasn't about to be arrested). It was also just before Lent and all sorts of Vows kicked in for that. Last year there was a note like today's.
Birthdays don't appear to be a big deal, unless you're the King.