Annotations and comments

San Diego Sarah has posted 9,739 annotations/comments since 6 August 2015.

Comments

Second Reading

About Monday 18 July 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Thence to Westminster to my barber’s, to have my Periwigg he lately made me cleansed of its nits, which vexed me cruelly that he should put such a thing into my hands."

Pepys' purchase of 2 periwigs and some new clothes eight months ago were good investments; he would not now be as accepted at Whitehall if he hadn't "upped his game". But that was a big deal ... this time he doesn't mention the time and cash outlay (and he is using a different vendor). Considers it a cost of doing business, I suppose.

http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
"By and by comes Chapman, the periwigg-maker, and upon my liking it, without more ado I went up, and there he cut off my haire, which went a little to my heart at present to part with it; but, it being over, and my periwigg on, I paid him 3l. for it; and away went he with my owne haire to make up another of, ... Sir W. Pen observed mightily, and discoursed much upon my cutting off my haire, as he do of every thing that concerns me, but it is over, and so I perceive after a day or two it will be no great matter."

About Sunday 17 July 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... they have christened his young son today-called him James."

Makes sense, since Sandwich said he plans to sail tomorrow. And calling the baby James is a nice nod to the Duke of York. I hope it helps the political situation.

About Saturday 16 July 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Again from yesterday:

"Then as to the voyage, he thinks it will be of charge to him, and no profit; but that he must not now look after nor think to encrease, but study to make good what he hath, that what is due to him from the Wardrobe or elsewhere may be paid, ..."

"The voyage will be of charge to him" (Sandwich) -- i.e. as a war fleet the Admiral will be expected to bear some of the cost.

"... and no profit; but that he must not now look after nor think to encrease ..." -- he cannot use the fleet to go privateering. No plundering. This is war, and he is defending the nation by keeping the Dutch fleet under surveillance.

"... but study to make good what he hath, that what is due to him from the Wardrobe or elsewhere may be paid, ..." I.E. Improve his investment port folio, have someone (Pepys?) collect the 7,000 pounds owed to the Wardrobe, and Ned Montagu's 2,000 pounds.

About Saturday 16 July 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Does this have anything to do with the Bill of Imprest?

No: "... there comes W. Howe for my Lord’s bill of Imprest for 500l. to carry with him this voyage,"

This is petty cash for the 12 ships under Sandwich's control. He may have to buy provisions, water, masts, or pay for innkeepers to care for sick or injured seamen, etc. during the voyage, so he needs a cash float.

We all remember how hard Creed found it to account for his cash float for the Mediterranean cruise of 1660/61. That's probably why Pepys angled for Howe to have the job this time -- and why it was hard for Pepys to diplomatically hand out the imprest today. Pepys didn't want Creed to know he didn't want him to have the job this time. Creed obviously thinks it's his job -- so Pepys lets them fight it out.

For more on the Imprest system: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imp…

About Saturday 16 July 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"and there I got Mr. Moore to give me my Lord's hand for my receipt of 109l. more of my money of Sir G. Carteret, so that then his debt to me will be under 500l., I think" -- Can anyone help me parse this?

My understanding is that Pepys got Moore to ask Sandwich to sign a receipt for 109 pounds, transferring debt to Carteret from the Pepys account. This reduced the balance owed by Sandwich to Pepys to under 500 pounds.

Life was complicated: there was no paper money, credit cards, or banking. "Money" was largely represented by IOU's and running tabs. Every quarter (Lady Day, Midsummer, Michaelmas and Christmas) people did their best to settle up using the limited supply of large coins and passing along IOUs, etc.

The impending departure of the fleet has triggered a settling accounts as if it were a quarter day. Yesterday Sandwich told Sam the Wardrobe accounts were current to last Michaelmas, and he was trying to get them current through to Lady Day before he left. ("He says he hath now evened his reckonings at the Wardrobe till Michaelmas last, and hopes to finish it to Ladyday before he goes. He says now there is due, too, 7,000l. to him there, if he knew how to get it paid, besides 2,000l. that Mr. Montagu do owe him.")

Lack of gold to make coins was an on-going problem in Europe. That's why privateers risked life and limb to capture Spanish treasure ships leaving South America, and the Guinny Company and Holmes are looking for goldmines in West Africa, risking a 2nd Dutch War to legitimize their claims.

About Friday 15 July 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Among others what this rogue Creed will do before he goes to sea, for I would fain be rid of him and see what he means to do, for I will then declare myself his firm friend or enemy."

Their walk this morning hasn't eased Pepys' opinion of Creed's intentions. Two weeks ago this worry started:

Friday 24 June 1664 "... and at night weary home, where Mr. Creed waited for me, and he and I walked in the garden, where he told me he is now in a hurry fitting himself for sea, and that it remains that he deals as an ingenuous man with me in the business I wot of, which he will do before he goes. But I perceive he will have me do many good turns for him first, both as to his bills coming to him in this office, and also in his absence at the Committee of Tangier, which I promise, and as he acquits himself to me I will willingly do. I would I knew the worst of it, what it is he intends, that so I may either quit my hands of him or continue my kindness still to him." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

About Monday 6 June 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Hi Gerald ... Mr. Prynne had been tortured by the Star Chamber, Archbishop Laud, Chief Justice Finch (i.e. Charles I's supporters protecting Henrietta Maria and her masques). If you click on his name and look through the Wikipedia entry you'll find:

"William Noy as attorney-general instituted proceedings against Prynne in the Star-chamber. After a year's imprisonment in the Tower of London, he was sentenced (17 February 1634) to be imprisoned during life, to be fined £5,000, to be expelled from Lincoln's Inn, to be deprived of his degree by the university of Oxford, and to lose both his ears in the pillory. Prynne was pilloried on 7 May and 10 May. On 11 June he addressed to Archbishop Laud, whom he regarded as his chief persecutor, a letter charging him with illegality and injustice. Laud handed the letter to the attorney-general as material for a new prosecution, but when Prynne was required to own his handwriting, he contrived to get hold of the letter and tore it to pieces. In the Tower Prynne wrote and published anonymous tracts against episcopacy and against the Book of Sports. In one he introduced Noy's recent death as a warning. Elsewhere he attacked prelates in general (1635). An anonymous attack on Matthew Wren, bishop of Norwich brought him again before the Star-chamber. On 14 June 1637 Prynne was sentenced once more to a fine of £5,000, to imprisonment for life, and to lose the rest of his ears. At the proposal of Chief-justice John Finch he was also to be branded on the cheeks with the letters S. L., signifying 'seditious libeller'. Prynne was pilloried on 30 June in company with Henry Burton and John Bastwick, and Prynne was handled barbarously by the executioner."

It didn't end there ... read on. Charles II evidently felt some responsibility to provide for the scholar's upkeep.

About Thursday 14 July 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... and thence to my Lord Chancellor’s, and there heard several tryals, wherein I perceive my Lord is a most able and ready man."

Maybe a trial in those days was more of a hearing? I can't imagine Clarendon having time to be a trial lawyer, but he would need to hear arguments over payments and non-payments, hiring and firing, property disputes, and other public business. Anyone know where his office was located?

About John Lanyon

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

John Lanyon works closely with Timothy Alsop, the king's brewer, on victualing projects.

About Thursday 14 July 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... I to White Hall, and ... after understanding by a stratagem, and yet appearing wholly desirous not to understand Mr. Gauden’s price ... I went down and ordered matters in our tender so well that at the meeting ... I was ready with Mr. Gauden’s and his, both directed him a letter to me to give the board their two tenders, but there being none but the Generall Monk and Mr. Coventry and Povy and I, I did not think fit to expose them to view now, ... and so with good content rose."

Pepys is up to something, but what? After elaborate preparations, he decides to wait to show the two tenders for business and the letter he wrote for Gauden to sign and give back to him until a fuller board meeting (Monck, Coventry and Povy might see through his scheme? better wait for the elderly ones to sign off on it).

About Thursday 14 July 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... the veriest Fanatique [Deane] that is in England ..."

I have read my notes, and everything on the site I can find, and nowhere do I find mention of Deane's religious leanings. This might just have been part of Clarendon's rant, but it could have blown up into a serious allegation.

About Saturday 28 May 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

'Good discourse, Sir W. Rider especially much fearing the issue of a Dutch warr, wherein I very highly commend him.'

I read this as Pepys enthusiastically agreeing with Rider. Whether that was a silent, knowing nodding of the head, or a verbal agreement, who knows. I tend to think verbal.

About Holborn

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

The George Inn, Holborn, was used as London's point of departure for stage coaches after the 1650s. See advert in Mercurius Politicus, April 8, 1658, quoted in Martim de Albuquerque's "Notes and Queries" No. 14, page 146, published 1850: "All persons who desire to travel into the cities, towns and roads, herein herafter mentioned ... let them repair to the George Inn at Holborn Bridge, London, and thence they shall be in good coaches with good horses, upon every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at and for reasonable rates" The coach leaves from here, and goes to Buckden, Cambridgeshire.

About Friday 8 July 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Mr. Alsop and his company came and consulted about our Tangier victualling and brought it to a good head." Since he's the royal brewmaster, this is another Pepys pun!

About Wednesday 29 June 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

In January, 1664 Pepys sees Henry Commander, scrivener, because Elizabeth reminded Pepys to write his will after his cousin, Edward Pepys, died. He's doing an update following the loss of brother Tom.

About Wednesday 29 June 1664

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Presumably Sandwich reimbursed the Pepys' for caring for the girls at Brampton. Taking them away might have been an economy move.

"I am glad they are gone, lest it should have come to worse." could mean that this reduces the Pepys' exposure to Sandwich debt, and bad feelings over unpaid bills.