"4th crossing: thence to Lord Crew's to dinner. I'm guessing this is back on the north side of the river in either the City or in Westminster. The Theatre seems to have been there as well and must have had artificial lighting since it would have been getting dark by then. London in June - not really dark until about 9 pm?"
Glyn worked hard on this timeline, but forgot that dinner time was lunch time to us. So the theater outing was in the afternoon.
Lord Crew's house was in what we now think of as Lincoln's Inn, and Gibbon's Tennis Court Theater was a building off Vere Street and Clare Market, near Lincoln's Inn Fields. Just around the corner, so not a long walk.
I'm guessing lunch was at 1 p.m., and the theater at 3 p.m.-ish.
"The Comptroller came this morning to get me to go see a house or two near our office, which he would take for himself or Mr. Turner, and then he would have me have Mr. Turner’s lodgings and himself mine and Mr. Davis’s. But the houses did not like us, and so that design at present is stopped."
We have established that Slingsby likes Pepys, and he can't be insensative to the inconvenience the Pepys family have had to endure recently getting their housing fixed up -- never mind the cost of that fine new staircase and improved kitchen, which I suspect Pepys paid for since he was so worried about money the month before it started.
My guess is that Slingsby is trying to find better housing for someone nearby, so he can up-grade the Pepys' quarters by having them move --either into the new house or the Turner's house, and by combining the Pepys house with the next-door Davies quarters, make a really nice house for himself. It's a case of unlocking some doors, and voila, a bigger residence.
Win-win. But Pepys needs to buy into the scheme. Which, so far, he has not done. (Must really like his new staircase?)
"It was necessary to attract men of honour into the service, but also to maintain standards of technical skill and to keep the navy as free as possible from political graft."
This must have been an on-going conversation, the principles of which were unevenly applied as getting competent and qualified men aboard a warship in wartime was an on-going problem.
If you want to avoid a spoiler, do not click on this link. If you want to read an example of James, Duke of York taking a stand in wartime for the need to employ qualified Captains, click on through: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
THANKS Sandra -- and please join in whenever you feel inspired. Your insights are as good as anyone's; we are all guessing most of the time, since none of us were there! And I agree about the enrichment to our everyday lives -- I feel exactly the same as you. If we make it through the entire 9-1/2 years, I think we've earned an honorary History degree!
I don't know what the gift-giving protocol was at Christmas/Twelfth Night in Charles II's times -- during Queen Elizabeth's day, silver and gold goodies as gifts were common. Presumably King Charles and Cromwell sold/melted all that were left to pay for the un-Civil Wars.
As noted many times during these annotations, plate was a way of storing and transferring wealth, since there were no banks. Charles II was generous as well -- but no-one gave it away if they didn't expect a meaningful return.
"Great talk now how the Parliament intend to make a collection of free gifts to the King through the Kingdom; but I think it will not come to much."
In this case, Parliament would let it be known that people should make a contribution in lieu of there being some sort of a tax imposed. Presumably the wealthy would then guess how much that tax would cost them, and voluntarily give less than that, hoping that the combined total would fill His Majesty's needs, and no tax would be imposed.
Why Pepys thinks this can be avoided, I don't know. There are still soldiers and sailors to be paid off, and a fleet to send to Portugal which will bring home a fortune -- in a year's time. Deficit financing was unknown at the time -- no Bank of England yet. When the Treasury was empty, it was empty.
Elizabeth Pearcey on the Pepys Group today clarified that there was also a Half Way House at Rotherhithe (Redriffe), unfortunately demolished when the railway was built in 1834.
This is the one Pepys quite often visited on his way (by land) to or from visits to Deptford Dockyard, Greenwich, or Woolwich Dockyard.
In 1663, George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham took out a patent for extracting glass and crystals from flint, and, with an energy worthy of a member of the Royal Society, he founded a manufactory at Lambeth, for which he imported Venetian workmen.
In 1676, John Evelyn visited the Lambeth glassworks, and highly praises the wares produced there. He was evidently delighted with "the huge vases of metal as clear, ponderous, and thick as crystal; also looking-glasses far larger and better than any that come from Venice." 3 3 Evelyn's Diary, vol. ii. p. 322, 19 September, 1676.
Information from GEORGE VILLIERS, SECOND DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM -- 1628-1687 : A STUDY IN THE HISTORY OF THE RESTORATION By WINIFRED Anne Henrietta Christine Herbert Gardner, LADY BURGHCLERE JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. LONDON 1903 https://archive.org/stream/cu3192…
"... my Lord Abbot Montagu being not at Paris, my Lord hath a mind to have them stay a little longer before they go."
Hhhhmmmm -- last minute effrorts by Henrietta Maria to stop this wedding? Louis XIV sending over secret instructions? What was Abbe Ralph doing in London???
"Here I had a good occasion to tell him (what I have had long in my mind) that, since it has pleased God to bless me with something, I am desirous to lay out something for my father, and so have pitched upon Mr. Young’s place in the Wardrobe, which I desired he would give order in his absence, if the place should fall that I might have the refusal. Which my Lord did freely promise me, at which I was very glad, he saying that he would do that at the least."
Thank goodness -- I knew John Pepys Snr. was an OK tailor -- maybe he didn't specialize in velvet, so Sam took that work elsewhere, or he was very busy and so Sam used someone else to meet his deadline. But our naysayers owe John an apology!
Sam first records John's desire to work at the Wardrobe almost a year ago, and Sam's reason for not doing it then do not include John's competence, but his not wishing to appear greedy: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
"Among others got my Lord’s imprest of 1000l. and Mr. Creed’s of 10,000l. against this voyage their bills signed."
As I recall -- and I haven't looked this up -- 17 ships are sailing for Portugal; let's say there are a minimum of 500 men per ship. 8,500 men will need fresh food and water, spars and masts break, people get sick and need to be left with funds to cover their recovery; they are being entertained in Portugal by royalty, and need to reciprocate; they will be transporting a Princess for months at sea -- along with her dozens of attendants. Add gifts and port fees and other miscellaneous expenses, I can see 10,000l. disappearing quite quickly.
I wonder where Creed will keep the cash? If it's gold, that's still a lot of small barrels to keep under his bunk in his locked cabin. If it's in silver, that's a whole lot more barrels to keep where? They could overflow his cabin.
Maybe there's a "vault" next to the "armory" in the bowels of the ship, which is off limits to the crew? Does anyone remember where to find the incredible diagram of a ship we shared during the 1660 voyage?
And in the Commons, keeping people in their seats was an issue: "Climbing over Seats forbidden. "Ordered, That, whensoever the House is to rise, every Member keep their Seat, till the Speaker go out; and then every one in their Course orderly, as they sit, and not over the Formes.
"Ordered, That all such of the Members of this House, as climb over their Seats, shall pay Twelve-pence to the Serjeant attending this House."
James had often suffered from Buckingham's personal ascendency over his facile brother and realized that if they met, his decision would probably be reversed. He took precautions accordingly, and dispatched Harry Killigrew to the Court with letters.
Killigrew made such haste that he arrived 6 hours before Buckingham, and so Charles II had ample time to weigh matters before being subjected to his favorite's influence.
Consequently, when Buckingham made his appearance, he was informed that the King thought it would be an affront to the Lord High Admiral to override his action, and that Buckingham must owe his advancement — if any — to His Royal Highness.
Buckingham's eloquence being ineffectual, he had no alternative but to return to the Fleet, where he set to work to justify what previously had seemed an unjust and harsh decision on James' part.
The Earl of Peterborough, writes: "Buckingham's fickleness and uncertainty (for those are the epithets of such as would favor him), gives scandal to every sober thing. He has quitted his ship, sent back his goods, and abandoned to shift several gentlemen (who) came with him, and because of the appearance of her strength and the goodness of her defense thrust himself aboard the Earl of Sandwich as a private volunteer to the disturbance of that ship and the dislike of everyone."1
On board the Unicorn, 20 April, 1665. 1 Dom. State Cal., Charles II., vol. xiv. p. 95.
SPOILER: On June 3, 1665, the battle of the campaign was fought off Lowestoft, but there is no record that Buckingham took any part in this great British victory.
Adapted from George Villiers, Second Duke of Buckingham, 1628-1687: A Study in the History of the Restoration By Baroness Winifred Anne Henrietta Christine Herbert Gardner, Lady Burghclere https://books.google.com/books?pg…
Meanwhile, at Westminster, the Privy Council met with Charles II, James -- and Buckingham:
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham assisted at the Privy Council meeting,1 where the Declaration of War with the Dutch Republic was drafted. He had instantly volunteered for active service, and requested the command of a ship. 1 22 Feb., 1665.
All nominations were in the gift of the Duke of York, who never missed an occasion to mortify Buckingham. Buckingham's petition was consequently rejected; James refused to entrust a man-o'-war to a gentleman who, however distinguished by birth, had no experience of naval matters — a doctrine of undeniable soundness, although somewhat opposed to the practice of the 17th century.
Buckingham determined "to go as a volunteer, and put himself on board a flagship, the captain of which owed him a favor. Once there, he desired that in respect to his quality and his being a Privy Councilor, he might be present in all Councils of War.”
James, Duke of York replied that he did not consider this reasonable, and that he would not make a fresh precedent in his favor. Buckingham had frequently amused Charles II by mimicking members of the Privy Council at Whitehall, which probably strengthened James' resolution to exclude Buckingham from the Naval Board. 1 “Life of Clarendon," 1727 ed., vol. ii. p. 356.
James was determined not to be made ridiculous, and welcomed the opportunity to wipe out the long score of grievances which he and his father-in-law, Chancellor Clarendon, held against waggish Buckingham. 2 Clarendon, p. 342.
James was so unpopular that public opinion would quickly have supported Buckingham, had he maintained a calm and dignified attitude. Even Henry Mordaunt, 2nd Earl of Peterborough, a staunch partisan of James, Duke of York, was inclined to think Buckingham ill-used.
Buckingham's friends placed his contention on a sound basis in “fixing his pretence not upon a Peerage, but his being a Privy Councilor.” 3 3 Dom. State Cal., Charles II., vol. xiv. p. 54. Letter to Lord Peterborough, 16 April, 1665.
Unfortunately, calm and patience were not amongst Buckingham's qualities. Instead of remaining at his post on the flagship, he rushed back to Whitehall to see what his persuasive tongue would effect with Charles II.
Ooooppps -- Bishops -- I forgot to mention those pesky administrators as being part of the Church of England that Pepys is unfamiliar with.
Early in May, 1661 it was proposed to reinstate the Bishops to the House of Lords. The Clergy Act 1661 (13 Cha. 2 St. 1. c. 2) passed and was signed by Charles II on 30 July, 1661. It "repealed, annulled and made void to all intents and purposes" the Clergy Act 1640, which had prevented those in holy orders from exercising any temporal jurisdiction or authority and so, expelled the bishops, as Lords Spiritual, from the House of Lords.
[It was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1863.]
Bishops and Archbishops were a big part of why the Civil Wars were fought.
Talking about Wales -- it's been raining a lot there too. The House of Lords outdoes themselves today by: "Fast-day. "Ordered, That his Majesty be humbly moved to issue out a Proclamation for the observing of a publick Day of Humiliation throughout all England and Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, in respect of the immoderate Rain and Waters; and to beseech God to divert the Judgments threatened thereby; and that the Lords Concurrence be desired herein: And Mr. Lowther is to carry up the Order."
If you were doubting that the most educated people in England were still a superstitious lot, there's some proof that they were. On the other hand, had they known about the Gulf Stream and El Nino years, etc., perhaps they would have avoided this inconvenience.
And Dr. Brodie Waddell of Cambridge University has written a book about the 17th century concept of democracy:
Series: Studies in Early Modern Cultural, Political and Social History Series Vol. Number: 13 Imprint: Boydell Press
God, Duty and Community in English Economic Life, 1660-1720 by Brodie Waddell
An analysis of later Stuart economic culture that contributes significantly to our understanding of early modern society.
The English economy underwent profound changes in the 17th and 18th centuries, yet the worldly affairs of ordinary people continued to be shaped as much by traditional ideals and moral codes as by material conditions.
This book explores the economic implications of many of the era's key concepts, including Christian stewardship, divine providence, patriarchal power, paternal duty, local community, and collective identity.
Brodie Waddell drawson a wide range of contemporary sources - from ballads and pamphlets to pauper petitions and guild regulations - to show that such ideas pervaded every aspect of social and economic relations during this crucial period.
Previous discussions of English economic life have tended to ignore or dismiss the influence of cultural factors. By contrast, Waddell argues that popular beliefs about divine will, social duty and communal bonds remained the frame through which most people viewed vital 'earthly' concerns such as food marketing, labour relations, trade policy, poor relief, and many others. This innovative study, demonstrating both the vibrancy and the diversity of the 'moral economies' of the later Stuart period, represents a significant contribution to our understanding of early modern society. It will be essential reading for all early modern British economic and cultural historians.
Brodie Waddell is Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Cambridge. He has published on preaching, local government, the landscape and other aspects of early modern society.
Mary Fairfax's skin, like Catherine of Braganza’s, was swarthy, but she was also short-legged and awkward — a "little round crumpled woman," 2 and yet so fond of finery, that even when in mourning she would contrive to wear a loose over-robe all edged and laced with gold. Pious and virtuous as she was, she shared readily in the harmless frolics of the Queen's circle. 2 Illustration to Bonn's Ed. of Grammont's "Mems.," 405.
GEORGE VILLIERS, SECOND DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM -- 1628-1687 : A STUDY IN THE HISTORY OF THE RESTORATION By Baroness Winifred Anne Henrietta Christine Herbert Gardner, LADY BURGHCLERE JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. LONDON 1903 https://archive.org/stream/cu3192…
And if you believe Grammont ... but in this case, I score his memory quite high as it fits with others testimonials. I'm happy Queen Catherine found some genuine lady friends.
Comments
Third Reading
About Tuesday 4 June 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
"4th crossing: thence to Lord Crew's to dinner. I'm guessing this is back on the north side of the river in either the City or in Westminster. The Theatre seems to have been there as well and must have had artificial lighting since it would have been getting dark by then. London in June - not really dark until about 9 pm?"
Glyn worked hard on this timeline, but forgot that dinner time was lunch time to us. So the theater outing was in the afternoon.
Lord Crew's house was in what we now think of as Lincoln's Inn, and Gibbon's Tennis Court Theater was a building off Vere Street and Clare Market, near Lincoln's Inn Fields. Just around the corner, so not a long walk.
I'm guessing lunch was at 1 p.m., and the theater at 3 p.m.-ish.
About Tuesday 4 June 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
"The Comptroller came this morning to get me to go see a house or two near our office, which he would take for himself or Mr. Turner, and then he would have me have Mr. Turner’s lodgings and himself mine and Mr. Davis’s. But the houses did not like us, and so that design at present is stopped."
We have established that Slingsby likes Pepys, and he can't be insensative to the inconvenience the Pepys family have had to endure recently getting their housing fixed up -- never mind the cost of that fine new staircase and improved kitchen, which I suspect Pepys paid for since he was so worried about money the month before it started.
My guess is that Slingsby is trying to find better housing for someone nearby, so he can up-grade the Pepys' quarters by having them move --either into the new house or the Turner's house, and by combining the Pepys house with the next-door Davies quarters, make a really nice house for himself. It's a case of unlocking some doors, and voila, a bigger residence.
Win-win. But Pepys needs to buy into the scheme. Which, so far, he has not done. (Must really like his new staircase?)
About Tuesday 4 June 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
"It was necessary to attract men of honour into the service, but also to maintain standards of technical skill and to keep the navy as free as possible from political graft."
This must have been an on-going conversation, the principles of which were unevenly applied as getting competent and qualified men aboard a warship in wartime was an on-going problem.
If you want to avoid a spoiler, do not click on this link.
If you want to read an example of James, Duke of York taking a stand in wartime for the need to employ qualified Captains, click on through:
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Saturday 1 June 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Or is there no rent-paying office that's too small for grabbing? And can he keep the feathers?"
Sandwich has lots of retainers to employ and pay, and so no office is too small. And as for the feathers -- I wonder how they work in mattresses?
About Saturday 1 June 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
THANKS Sandra -- and please join in whenever you feel inspired. Your insights are as good as anyone's; we are all guessing most of the time, since none of us were there!
And I agree about the enrichment to our everyday lives -- I feel exactly the same as you. If we make it through the entire 9-1/2 years, I think we've earned an honorary History degree!
About Friday 31 May 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
I don't know what the gift-giving protocol was at Christmas/Twelfth Night in Charles II's times -- during Queen Elizabeth's day, silver and gold goodies as gifts were common. Presumably King Charles and Cromwell sold/melted all that were left to pay for the un-Civil Wars.
As noted many times during these annotations, plate was a way of storing and transferring wealth, since there were no banks. Charles II was generous as well -- but no-one gave it away if they didn't expect a meaningful return.
"Great talk now how the Parliament intend to make a collection of free gifts to the King through the Kingdom; but I think it will not come to much."
In this case, Parliament would let it be known that people should make a contribution in lieu of there being some sort of a tax imposed. Presumably the wealthy would then guess how much that tax would cost them, and voluntarily give less than that, hoping that the combined total would fill His Majesty's needs, and no tax would be imposed.
Why Pepys thinks this can be avoided, I don't know. There are still soldiers and sailors to be paid off, and a fleet to send to Portugal which will bring home a fortune -- in a year's time. Deficit financing was unknown at the time -- no Bank of England yet. When the Treasury was empty, it was empty.
About Halfway House
San Diego Sarah • Link
Elizabeth Pearcey on the Pepys Group today clarified that there was also a Half Way House at Rotherhithe (Redriffe), unfortunately demolished when the railway was built in 1834.
This is the one Pepys quite often visited on his way (by land) to or from visits to Deptford Dockyard, Greenwich, or Woolwich Dockyard.
Thank you, Elizabeth!
About Lambeth
San Diego Sarah • Link
In 1663, George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham took out a patent for extracting glass and crystals from flint, and, with an energy worthy of a member of the Royal Society, he founded a manufactory at Lambeth, for which he imported Venetian workmen.
In 1676, John Evelyn visited the Lambeth glassworks, and highly praises the wares produced there. He was evidently delighted with "the huge vases of metal as clear, ponderous, and thick as crystal; also looking-glasses far larger and better than any that come from Venice." 3
3 Evelyn's Diary, vol. ii. p. 322, 19 September, 1676.
Information from
GEORGE VILLIERS, SECOND DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM -- 1628-1687 : A STUDY IN THE HISTORY OF THE RESTORATION
By WINIFRED Anne Henrietta Christine Herbert Gardner, LADY BURGHCLERE
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. LONDON
1903
https://archive.org/stream/cu3192…
About Monday 3 June 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... my Lord Abbot Montagu being not at Paris, my Lord hath a mind to have them stay a little longer before they go."
Hhhhmmmm -- last minute effrorts by Henrietta Maria to stop this wedding? Louis XIV sending over secret instructions? What was Abbe Ralph doing in London???
About Monday 3 June 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Here I had a good occasion to tell him (what I have had long in my mind) that, since it has pleased God to bless me with something, I am desirous to lay out something for my father, and so have pitched upon Mr. Young’s place in the Wardrobe, which I desired he would give order in his absence, if the place should fall that I might have the refusal. Which my Lord did freely promise me, at which I was very glad, he saying that he would do that at the least."
Thank goodness -- I knew John Pepys Snr. was an OK tailor -- maybe he didn't specialize in velvet, so Sam took that work elsewhere, or he was very busy and so Sam used someone else to meet his deadline. But our naysayers owe John an apology!
Sam first records John's desire to work at the Wardrobe almost a year ago, and Sam's reason for not doing it then do not include John's competence, but his not wishing to appear greedy:
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
About Saturday 1 June 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Among others got my Lord’s imprest of 1000l. and Mr. Creed’s of 10,000l. against this voyage their bills signed."
As I recall -- and I haven't looked this up -- 17 ships are sailing for Portugal; let's say there are a minimum of 500 men per ship. 8,500 men will need fresh food and water, spars and masts break, people get sick and need to be left with funds to cover their recovery; they are being entertained in Portugal by royalty, and need to reciprocate; they will be transporting a Princess for months at sea -- along with her dozens of attendants. Add gifts and port fees and other miscellaneous expenses, I can see 10,000l. disappearing quite quickly.
I wonder where Creed will keep the cash? If it's gold, that's still a lot of small barrels to keep under his bunk in his locked cabin. If it's in silver, that's a whole lot more barrels to keep where? They could overflow his cabin.
Maybe there's a "vault" next to the "armory" in the bowels of the ship, which is off limits to the crew?
Does anyone remember where to find the incredible diagram of a ship we shared during the 1660 voyage?
About Covent Garden
San Diego Sarah • Link
A love article to Covent Garden, with its history and pictures
https://www.countrylife.co.uk/arc…
About Saturday 1 June 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
I wonder why the Lords didn't sit today.
And in the Commons, keeping people in their seats was an issue:
"Climbing over Seats forbidden.
"Ordered, That, whensoever the House is to rise, every Member keep their Seat, till the Speaker go out; and then every one in their Course orderly, as they sit, and not over the Formes.
"Ordered, That all such of the Members of this House, as climb over their Seats, shall pay Twelve-pence to the Serjeant attending this House."
About Capt. William Poole
San Diego Sarah • Link
L&M: Jonas Poole had married a sister of Adm. Penn.
About Wednesday 22 February 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
CONCLUSION:
James had often suffered from Buckingham's personal ascendency over his facile brother and realized that if they met, his decision would probably be reversed. He took precautions accordingly, and dispatched Harry Killigrew to the Court with letters.
Killigrew made such haste that he arrived 6 hours before Buckingham, and so Charles II had ample time to weigh matters before being subjected to his favorite's influence.
Consequently, when Buckingham made his appearance, he was informed that the King thought it would be an affront to the Lord High Admiral to override his action, and that Buckingham must owe his advancement — if any — to His Royal Highness.
Buckingham's eloquence being ineffectual, he had no alternative but to return to the Fleet, where he set to work to justify what previously had seemed an unjust and harsh decision on James' part.
The Earl of Peterborough, writes: "Buckingham's fickleness and uncertainty (for those are the epithets of such as would favor him), gives scandal to every sober thing. He has quitted his ship, sent back his goods, and abandoned to shift several gentlemen (who) came with him, and because of the appearance of her strength and the goodness of her defense thrust himself aboard the Earl of Sandwich as a private volunteer to the disturbance of that ship and the dislike of everyone."1
On board the Unicorn, 20 April, 1665.
1 Dom. State Cal., Charles II., vol. xiv. p. 95.
SPOILER: On June 3, 1665, the battle of the campaign was fought off Lowestoft, but there is no record that Buckingham took any part in this great British victory.
Adapted from
George Villiers, Second Duke of Buckingham, 1628-1687: A Study in the History of the Restoration
By Baroness Winifred Anne Henrietta Christine Herbert Gardner, Lady Burghclere
https://books.google.com/books?pg…
About Wednesday 22 February 1664/65
San Diego Sarah • Link
Meanwhile, at Westminster, the Privy Council met with Charles II, James -- and Buckingham:
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham assisted at the Privy Council meeting,1 where the Declaration of War with the Dutch Republic was drafted. He had instantly volunteered for active service, and requested the command of a ship.
1 22 Feb., 1665.
All nominations were in the gift of the Duke of York, who never missed an occasion to mortify Buckingham. Buckingham's petition was consequently rejected; James refused to entrust a man-o'-war to a gentleman who, however distinguished by birth, had no experience of naval matters — a doctrine of undeniable soundness, although somewhat opposed to the practice of the 17th century.
Buckingham determined "to go as a volunteer, and put himself on board a flagship, the captain of which owed him a favor. Once there, he desired that in respect to his quality and his being a Privy Councilor, he might be present in all Councils of War.”
James, Duke of York replied that he did not consider this reasonable, and that he would not make a fresh precedent in his favor. Buckingham had frequently amused Charles II by mimicking members of the Privy Council at Whitehall, which probably strengthened James' resolution to exclude Buckingham from the Naval Board.
1 “Life of Clarendon," 1727 ed., vol. ii. p. 356.
James was determined not to be made ridiculous, and welcomed the opportunity to wipe out the long score of grievances which he and his father-in-law, Chancellor Clarendon, held against waggish Buckingham.
2 Clarendon, p. 342.
James was so unpopular that public opinion would quickly have supported Buckingham, had he maintained a calm and dignified attitude. Even Henry Mordaunt, 2nd Earl of Peterborough, a staunch partisan of James, Duke of York, was inclined to think Buckingham ill-used.
Buckingham's friends placed his contention on a sound basis in “fixing his pretence not upon a Peerage, but his being a Privy Councilor.” 3
3 Dom. State Cal., Charles II., vol. xiv. p. 54. Letter to Lord Peterborough, 16 April, 1665.
Unfortunately, calm and patience were not amongst Buckingham's qualities. Instead of remaining at his post on the flagship, he rushed back to Whitehall to see what his persuasive tongue would effect with Charles II.
About Wednesday 29 May 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
Ooooppps -- Bishops -- I forgot to mention those pesky administrators as being part of the Church of England that Pepys is unfamiliar with.
Early in May, 1661 it was proposed to reinstate the Bishops to the House of Lords.
The Clergy Act 1661 (13 Cha. 2 St. 1. c. 2) passed and was signed by Charles II on 30 July, 1661. It "repealed, annulled and made void to all intents and purposes" the Clergy Act 1640, which had prevented those in holy orders from exercising any temporal jurisdiction or authority and so, expelled the bishops, as Lords Spiritual, from the House of Lords.
[It was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1863.]
Bishops and Archbishops were a big part of why the Civil Wars were fought.
About Friday 31 May 1661
San Diego Sarah • Link
Talking about Wales -- it's been raining a lot there too. The House of Lords outdoes themselves today by:
"Fast-day.
"Ordered, That his Majesty be humbly moved to issue out a Proclamation for the observing of a publick Day of Humiliation throughout all England and Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, in respect of the immoderate Rain and Waters; and to beseech God to divert the Judgments threatened thereby; and that the Lords Concurrence be desired herein: And Mr. Lowther is to carry up the Order."
If you were doubting that the most educated people in England were still a superstitious lot, there's some proof that they were. On the other hand, had they known about the Gulf Stream and El Nino years, etc., perhaps they would have avoided this inconvenience.
About Saturday 5 December 1668
San Diego Sarah • Link
And Dr. Brodie Waddell of Cambridge University has written a book about the 17th century concept of democracy:
Series: Studies in Early Modern Cultural, Political and Social History
Series Vol. Number: 13
Imprint: Boydell Press
God, Duty and Community in English Economic Life, 1660-1720
by Brodie Waddell
An analysis of later Stuart economic culture that contributes significantly to our understanding of early modern society.
The English economy underwent profound changes in the 17th and 18th centuries, yet the worldly affairs of ordinary people continued to be shaped as much by traditional ideals and moral codes as by material conditions.
This book explores the economic implications of many of the era's key concepts, including Christian stewardship, divine providence, patriarchal power, paternal duty, local community, and collective identity.
Brodie Waddell drawson a wide range of contemporary sources - from ballads and pamphlets to pauper petitions and guild regulations - to show that such ideas pervaded every aspect of social and economic relations during this crucial period.
Previous discussions of English economic life have tended to ignore or dismiss the influence of cultural factors. By contrast, Waddell argues that popular beliefs about divine will, social duty and communal bonds remained the frame through which most people viewed vital 'earthly' concerns such as food marketing, labour relations, trade policy, poor relief, and many others. This innovative study, demonstrating both the vibrancy and the diversity of the 'moral economies' of the later Stuart period, represents a significant contribution to our understanding of early modern society. It will be essential reading for all early modern British economic and cultural historians.
Brodie Waddell is Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Cambridge. He has published on preaching, local government, the landscape and other aspects of early modern society.
288 Pages
23.4 x 15.6 cm
8 b/w illus.
Hardcover
9781843837794
October 2012
BUY $115.00 / £80.00
https://boydellandbrewer.com/9781…
About Mary Villiers (Duchess of Buckingham)
San Diego Sarah • Link
Mary Fairfax's skin, like Catherine of Braganza’s, was swarthy, but she was also short-legged and awkward — a "little round crumpled woman," 2 and yet so fond of finery, that even when in mourning she would contrive to wear a loose over-robe all edged and laced with gold. Pious and virtuous as she was, she shared readily in the harmless frolics of the Queen's circle.
2 Illustration to Bonn's Ed. of Grammont's "Mems.," 405.
GEORGE VILLIERS, SECOND DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM -- 1628-1687 : A STUDY IN THE HISTORY OF THE RESTORATION
By Baroness Winifred Anne Henrietta Christine Herbert Gardner, LADY BURGHCLERE
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. LONDON
1903
https://archive.org/stream/cu3192…
And if you believe Grammont ... but in this case, I score his memory quite high as it fits with others testimonials. I'm happy Queen Catherine found some genuine lady friends.