Sam can go to a cock fight -- just because he had never seen one before -- but not a play where he might be seen by Charles II and James. He can't buy books with his own money, but he can be reimbursed by petty cash for office books and spend the money on personal books. He has more money than ever before, but "my poor wife" can't have a velvet dress to look as smart as he does at church. Samuel -- your convoluted logic of what is proper and what is not, is ridiculous. And as for "Among other discourse encouraging him to pursue his love to Mrs. Lane, while God knows I had a roguish meaning in it." -- if she was married, you wouldn't have to worry if she got pregnant, would you?!!! You'd do that to a friend. You all-round rogue.
I hope there isn't a problem with paying off Field without Sir Richard Ford's involvement -- "I with Sir W. Batten by coach to Salisbury Court, and there spoke with Clerk our Solicitor about Field’s business,":
On the 15th: "I sent Griffin with him to the Dolphin, where Sir W. Batten was at dinner, and he being satisfied that I should pay the money, I did cause the money to be paid him, and Griffin to tell it out to him in the office. He offered to go along with me to Sir R. Ford, but I thought it not necessary, but let him go with it, he also telling me that there is never any receipt for it given, but I have good witness of the payment of it." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
30 September, 1651. Treasurers or maimed soldiers and widows to pay allowances for 6 months; Then to such only as procure certificates; And to discharge all others.
it is 9,300 words long and I can't edit it enough ... basically they had to go the soldier's commanding officer and get a certificate to say that the soldier was legitimately maimed or killed in battle. The officer gave his copy to the local magistrate, and the soldier/widow/orphan took theirs to the same magistrate, and could get 4s 8d a week if you were a soldier, and up to 4s if you were a widow or orphan. If you had a job, the magistrate could pay you the difference to get you to 4s a week ... OR they could put a child into an apprenticeship and let the child earn his own keep. And that was good for six months. And I suppose they did a re-authorization after that. I haven't had time to look. Checks and balances, even then.
Found another one, which to my reading is how they raised the money. I would still like to know how much goes to the widows:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/… 10 August, 1647: An Ordinance for the Relief and Maintenance of Maimed Soldiers and Mariners, and the Widows and Orphans of such as have died in the service of the Parliament during these late Wars. Ord. 28 May 1647, for relief of maimed souldiers.; Justices shall put the former Ordinance in execution at any Sessions of the Peace. ¶Whereas by a former Ordinance, bearing Date the 28. day of May now last passed, intituled, An Ordinance for Relief of maimed Souldiers, &c. It is ordained, That such further sum of Money shall be assessed, as by the Justices of Peace in the next Quarter Sessions after the passing the said Ordinance, or the major part of them, shall be adjudged meet to be assessed upon every Parish or Chappelry that hath distinct Parochial Officers, so as the said additional sum exceedeth not the sum of Two shillings six pence, nor be under the sum of Three pence each week, for each such Parish or Chappelry; for as much as the service aforesaid could not be performed as was desired, for want of time sufficient allowed by this Ordinance, in regard the Authority given to the Justices to execute the same, is onely at the next Quarter Sessions after the passing the Ordinance: It is therefore ordered and ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Justices of Peace within the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales, shall be hereby authorized to proceed, and shall, or may at any time hereafter, at any Sessions of the Peace which shall or may at any time hereafter be holden within their several Divisions, proceed for the putting the former Ordinance in execution to all intents and purposes, as they might have done by vertue of the said Ordinance aforesaid, at the next Quarter Sessions after the passing the same.
I have a couple of notes about widows, showing the beginnings of social conscience about the inevitable results of war:
On 25 October 1642, within hours of the stalemate at Edgehill, Parliament passed an Act that for the first time acknowledged the State’s responsibility to provide for the welfare of its wounded soldiers and also for the widows and orphans of those killed: "An Ordinance of both Houses, declaring their Resolutions of making provision for those that shall be maimed in this present war, who are in the service of Parliament; and for the wives and children of those that shall be slain".
16th May, 1665. To London, to consider of the poor orphans and widows made by this bloody beginning, and whose husbands and relations perished in the London frigate, of which there were 50 widows, and 45 of them with child.
In neither case do I have any idea of what relief was forthcoming. At least they were thinking about it.
"... Captain Taylor brought me 40l., the greater part of which I shall gain to myself after much care and pains out of his bill of freight, as I have at large set down in my book of Memorandums."
Anyone know what Pepys' Book of Memorandums is ... an official accounting record for the Navy, or Pepys' personal log of reminders of what's owed to him by whom? Keeping double books can be so confusing.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… Wednesday 16 December 1663 Up, and with my head and heart full of my business, I to my office, and there all the morning, where among other things to my great content Captain Taylor brought me 40l., the greater part of which I shall gain to myself after much care and pains out of his bill of freight, as I have at large set down in my book of Memorandums.
I wonder what Pepys' Book of Memorandums is ... an official accounting record for the Navy, or Pepys' personal log of reminders of what's owed to him by whom. Keeping double books can be confusing.
"to my great content Captain Taylor brought me 40l., the greater part of which I shall gain to myself after much care and pains out of his bill of freight, ..."
Having chatted until midnight, and then walked home to Wapping, Capt. John Taylor is back bright and early with the money ... finally!
This goes back to 21 February 1663: "Captn. Taylor and Bowry, whose ship we have hired for Tangier ... and after some difference about their prices we agreed, ... and discoursed of something about freight of a ship that may bring me a little money" http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… which was referred to last Saturday http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Colonel Edwin Sandys scattered a small group of Royalists under Lord Teynham [Christopher Roper, 4th Lord Teynham] to secure Rochester on 23 August, 1642.
&&&
Because of his humble origins, John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton incurred the jealousy of several noblemen. He clashed with the powerful Secretary for Scotland, John Maitland, Earl of Lauderdale and lost all his offices in 1663. He was then appointed governor of Rochester from 1663 to 1667, and Lieutenant-General of the Kent militia.
14 November, 1666. I went my winter circle through my district, Rochester and other places, where I had men quartered, and in custody.
15 November, 1666. To Leeds Castle.
16 November,1666. I mustered the prisoners, being about 600 Dutch and French, ordered their proportion of bread to be augmented and provided clothes and fuel.
&&& Diarist Samuel Pepys commented on the condition of Rochester Castle, and as early as the 17th century the castle may have acted as a tourist attraction.[45] By this time many castles were in a state of ruin, and Rochester was amongst those in need of repair, although still in use.[46] In 1610 James I granted Sir Anthony Weldon control of the castle. During the English Civil War, Weldon declared for the Parliamentarian cause. The castle did not see fighting during the war, even though the city was captured by Royalists in 1648; this may indicate that the castle was not a serviceable fortification by this point. Weldon's support for the Parliamentarians may have spared the castle from slighting (demolition) in the aftermath, a fate shared by many other castles. Walker Weldon inherited the castle and carried out the destruction of part of the outer wall in the 18th century to sell off the building material; he had originally intended to dismantle more of the castle, but the plans were abandoned.
Capt. John Taylor was one of the foremost shipbuilders of his day. He built the London in 1657 and her successor the Loyal London 1666. Like many shipbuilders he was unversed in theory of naval architecture. He served as Master-Shipwright at Chatham under the Commonwealth until he was replaced in 1660 at the instigation of the Duchess of Albemarle by Phineas Pett. He then resumed business as a private shipbuilder and timber merchant with a yard at Wapping. So apparently he lived at or near the yard.
"So homeward, calling upon Mr. Fen, by Sir G. Carteret’s desire, and did there shew him the bill of Captain Taylor’s whereby I hope to get something justly."
Capt. John Taylor -- one of the foremost shipbuilders of his day. He served as Master-Shipwright at Chatham under the Commonwealth until he was replaced in 1660 at the instigation of the Duchess of Albemarle by Phineas Pett. He then resumed business as a private shipbuilder and timber merchant with a yard at Wapping.
This seems to refer to the 21 February 1663 entry: "Capts. Taylor and Bowry, whose ship we have hired for Tangier ... and after some difference about their prices we agreed, ... and discoursed of something about freight of a ship that may bring me a little money" http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… which was referred to last Saturday http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
"So home to dinner, and thither came to me Mr. Mount and Mr. Luellin, I think almost foxed ..."
Peter Llewellyn was apparently quite "happy." From Webster Dictionary, 1913 Fox (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foxed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Foxing.] [See Fox, n., cf. Icel. fox imposture.] 1. To intoxicate; to stupefy with drink. "I drank ... so much wine that I was almost foxed." -- Pepys.
"At dinner comes a messenger from the Counter with an execution against me for the 30l. 10s., given the last verdict to Field. The man’s name is Thomas, of the Poultry Counter. I sent Griffin with him to the Dolphin, where Sir W. Batten was at dinner, and he being satisfied that I should pay the money, I did cause the money to be paid him"
A couple of weeks ago the questions was raised about how the office was run. Here is an example. The Clerk of the Acts, Pepys, runs the office and keeps an enormous "petty cash". Someone presents an invoice. Pepys cannot approve it. Another member of the Navy Board must do so ... Batten, the surveyor, is close by so he gets the request. Pepys must trust William Griffith, who count out the money.
I'm surprised the payee didn't beg for an escort -- 300 pounds in pieces of 8 or sovereigns must have weighed a ton. Perhaps they put it in a wheelbarrow? Did they even have wheelbarrows then? Maybe in sacks, or money belts, or ... ?
Why should they all trundle over to Sir Richard Ford? I imagine he was acting as a referee so Edward Field doesn't get a black eye at the exchange, and he would count the money on Field's behalf. Pepys says a receipt and referee shouldn't be necessary as there are so many impartial witnesses to the payment.
How interesting the collector is employed by a prison ... I suppose Pepys would have been dragged to the debtor's prison (Poultry Counter) if he hadn't paid up. So probably there were more men outside to either drag away Pepys or guard the payment.
Certified checks, credit cards and direct deposit certainly make our lives easier.
"... a great dispute between Mr. Gauden, Victualler of the Navy, and Sir J. Lawson and the rest of the Commanders going against Argier, about their fish and keeping of Lent; ..." On second thoughts, this says Lawson and the Commanders are going AGAINST Algiers, meaning they are getting ready to sail for a fight next Spring. So the English do not occupy Algiers now. Are they off to fight those pirates again? Part of Holmes annoying the Dutch strategy? Or are they rescuing slaves? Since the tars can fish for food during Lent, this reduces the amount of supplies the Victuallers have to send, which somehow benefits Mr. Gauden, but that's disputed by Lawson and the Commanders who must want more food, just in case. Think I've got it now.
As I understand the situation, Sandwich's expedition in August 1661 to control the Barbary Pirates in the Mediterranean enjoyed little success; fortunately later that year a storm reduced Algiers' mole. The Algerians lost 11 men-o'-war and several merchantmen as well as the use of their mole. The English decided to build a new mole at Tangier instead of repairing the one at Algiers. The Wikipedia article makes no mention of the English occupying Algiers as well as Tangier, but that would appear to be the case. If I've got it wrong, can someone explain why the Navy Board is supplying Algiers.
"What did Sam need a boy to do to help him dress?" -- "Sam is coming up in the world, he need a servant to confirm his status."
While this is undoubtedly true, I think there's more to it than that. One, dressing was more difficult. I've seen a film about putting on a dress in the 17th century, and it took two servants to hold the skirt cage while the Lady folded herself inside. I haven't seen a film about men putting on their pants (presumably one leg at a time, just like today) but I suspect there was lacing and other things to be done to make everything fit so snugly. And there were layers of clothes because it was so cold. Having help with the "go fetch" and the "hold this while I button that" part of dressing would be helpful. Obviously Sam can do it, but prefers not to. It's so hard brushing fluff off the back of your coat by yourself.
Two, the orphans of the parish needed the employment, and a place to stay and three meals a day. It was the duty of those who could to take them in, teach them manners and to read, and how to be good Christians.
And three, extended family, living cooperatively, and having a large household created security on many levels. Just cleaning took a lot more effort than today. No one could do it all alone. Sam seems to have gotten used to being the only man in a house full of women, but even that wasn't usual.
Comments
Second Reading
About Tuesday 22 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Sam can go to a cock fight -- just because he had never seen one before -- but not a play where he might be seen by Charles II and James. He can't buy books with his own money, but he can be reimbursed by petty cash for office books and spend the money on personal books. He has more money than ever before, but "my poor wife" can't have a velvet dress to look as smart as he does at church. Samuel -- your convoluted logic of what is proper and what is not, is ridiculous. And as for "Among other discourse encouraging him to pursue his love to Mrs. Lane, while God knows I had a roguish meaning in it." -- if she was married, you wouldn't have to worry if she got pregnant, would you?!!! You'd do that to a friend. You all-round rogue.
About Tuesday 15 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Thank you, Sasha ... an "l" not a "1". Of course! (Interesting ... grammatically that should read "a 'l' not an 'one.'" Oh well!)
About Monday 21 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
I hope there isn't a problem with paying off Field without Sir Richard Ford's involvement -- "I with Sir W. Batten by coach to Salisbury Court, and there spoke with Clerk our Solicitor about Field’s business,":
On the 15th: "I sent Griffin with him to the Dolphin, where Sir W. Batten was at dinner, and he being satisfied that I should pay the money, I did cause the money to be paid him, and Griffin to tell it out to him in the office. He offered to go along with me to Sir R. Ford, but I thought it not necessary, but let him go with it, he also telling me that there is never any receipt for it given, but I have good witness of the payment of it." http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
About Thursday 17 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Last one ... I found one that gives amounts to the soldiers, widows and orphans --
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
30 September, 1651.
Treasurers or maimed soldiers and widows to pay allowances for 6 months; Then to such only as procure certificates; And to discharge all others.
it is 9,300 words long and I can't edit it enough ... basically they had to go the soldier's commanding officer and get a certificate to say that the soldier was legitimately maimed or killed in battle. The officer gave his copy to the local magistrate, and the soldier/widow/orphan took theirs to the same magistrate, and could get 4s 8d a week if you were a soldier, and up to 4s if you were a widow or orphan. If you had a job, the magistrate could pay you the difference to get you to 4s a week ... OR they could put a child into an apprenticeship and let the child earn his own keep. And that was good for six months. And I suppose they did a re-authorization after that. I haven't had time to look. Checks and balances, even then.
About Thursday 17 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Found another one, which to my reading is how they raised the money. I would still like to know how much goes to the widows:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
10 August, 1647: An Ordinance for the Relief and Maintenance of Maimed Soldiers and Mariners, and the Widows and Orphans of such as have died in the service of the Parliament during these late Wars.
Ord. 28 May 1647, for relief of maimed souldiers.; Justices shall put the former Ordinance in execution at any Sessions of the Peace.
¶Whereas by a former Ordinance, bearing Date the 28. day of May now last passed, intituled, An Ordinance for Relief of maimed Souldiers, &c.
It is ordained, That such further sum of Money shall be assessed, as by the Justices of Peace in the next Quarter Sessions after the passing the said Ordinance, or the major part of them, shall be adjudged meet to be assessed upon every Parish or Chappelry that hath distinct Parochial Officers, so as the said additional sum exceedeth not the sum of Two shillings six pence, nor be under the sum of Three pence each week, for each such Parish or Chappelry; for as much as the service aforesaid could not be performed as was desired, for want of time sufficient allowed by this Ordinance, in regard the Authority given to the Justices to execute the same, is onely at the next Quarter Sessions after the passing the Ordinance: It is therefore ordered and ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Justices of Peace within the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales, shall be hereby authorized to proceed, and shall, or may at any time hereafter, at any Sessions of the Peace which shall or may at any time hereafter be holden within their several Divisions, proceed for the putting the former Ordinance in execution to all intents and purposes, as they might have done by vertue of the said Ordinance aforesaid, at the next Quarter Sessions after the passing the same.
About Thursday 17 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
I have a couple of notes about widows, showing the beginnings of social conscience about the inevitable results of war:
On 25 October 1642, within hours of the stalemate at Edgehill, Parliament passed an Act that for the first time acknowledged the State’s responsibility to provide for the welfare of its wounded soldiers and also for the widows and orphans of those killed: "An Ordinance of both Houses, declaring their Resolutions of making provision for those that shall be maimed in this present war, who are in the service of Parliament; and for the wives and children of those that shall be slain".
And from John Evelyn's diary:
http://brittlebooks.library.illin…
16th May, 1665. To London, to consider of the poor orphans and widows made by this bloody beginning, and whose husbands and relations perished in the London frigate, of which there were 50 widows, and 45 of them with child.
In neither case do I have any idea of what relief was forthcoming. At least they were thinking about it.
About Wednesday 16 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Twice in one day: "(vide my book of Memorandums touching the contract of masts of Sir W. Warren about which I have had so much trouble)."
So it would seem to be a useful log of actions taken to justify decisions made, and possibly copies of correspondence sent.
About Wednesday 16 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... Captain Taylor brought me 40l., the greater part of which I shall gain to myself after much care and pains out of his bill of freight, as I have at large set down in my book of Memorandums."
Anyone know what Pepys' Book of Memorandums is ... an official accounting record for the Navy, or Pepys' personal log of reminders of what's owed to him by whom? Keeping double books can be so confusing.
About Capt. John Taylor
San Diego Sarah • Link
FINALLY, the settlement of the freight debate:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Wednesday 16 December 1663
Up, and with my head and heart full of my business, I to my office, and there all the morning, where among other things to my great content Captain Taylor brought me 40l., the greater part of which I shall gain to myself after much care and pains out of his bill of freight, as I have at large set down in my book of Memorandums.
I wonder what Pepys' Book of Memorandums is ... an official accounting record for the Navy, or Pepys' personal log of reminders of what's owed to him by whom. Keeping double books can be confusing.
About Wednesday 16 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"to my great content Captain Taylor brought me 40l., the greater part of which I shall gain to myself after much care and pains out of his bill of freight, ..."
Having chatted until midnight, and then walked home to Wapping, Capt. John Taylor is back bright and early with the money ... finally!
This goes back to 21 February 1663: "Captn. Taylor and Bowry, whose ship we have hired for Tangier ... and after some difference about their prices we agreed, ... and discoursed of something about freight of a ship that may bring me a little money" http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… which was referred to last Saturday http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
About Rochester Castle
San Diego Sarah • Link
Colonel Edwin Sandys scattered a small group of Royalists under Lord Teynham [Christopher Roper, 4th Lord Teynham] to secure Rochester on 23 August, 1642.
&&&
Because of his humble origins, John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton incurred the jealousy of several noblemen. He clashed with the powerful Secretary for Scotland, John Maitland, Earl of Lauderdale and lost all his offices in 1663. He was then appointed governor of Rochester from 1663 to 1667, and Lieutenant-General of the Kent militia.
&&&
http://brittlebooks.library.illin…
John Evelyn's Diary:
14 November, 1666. I went my winter circle through my district, Rochester and other places, where I had men quartered, and in custody.
15 November, 1666. To Leeds Castle.
16 November,1666. I mustered the prisoners, being about 600 Dutch and French, ordered their proportion of bread to be augmented and provided clothes and fuel.
&&&
Diarist Samuel Pepys commented on the condition of Rochester Castle, and as early as the 17th century the castle may have acted as a tourist attraction.[45] By this time many castles were in a state of ruin, and Rochester was amongst those in need of repair, although still in use.[46] In 1610 James I granted Sir Anthony Weldon control of the castle. During the English Civil War, Weldon declared for the Parliamentarian cause. The castle did not see fighting during the war, even though the city was captured by Royalists in 1648; this may indicate that the castle was not a serviceable fortification by this point. Weldon's support for the Parliamentarians may have spared the castle from slighting (demolition) in the aftermath, a fate shared by many other castles. Walker Weldon inherited the castle and carried out the destruction of part of the outer wall in the 18th century to sell off the building material; he had originally intended to dismantle more of the castle, but the plans were abandoned.
About Wapping
San Diego Sarah • Link
Capt. John Taylor was one of the foremost shipbuilders of his day. He built the London in 1657 and her successor the Loyal London 1666. Like many shipbuilders he was unversed in theory of naval architecture. He served as Master-Shipwright at Chatham under the Commonwealth until he was replaced in 1660 at the instigation of the Duchess of Albemarle by Phineas Pett. He then resumed business as a private shipbuilder and timber merchant with a yard at Wapping. So apparently he lived at or near the yard.
About Tuesday 15 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"So homeward, calling upon Mr. Fen, by Sir G. Carteret’s desire, and did there shew him the bill of Captain Taylor’s whereby I hope to get something justly."
Capt. John Taylor -- one of the foremost shipbuilders of his day. He served as Master-Shipwright at Chatham under the Commonwealth until he was replaced in 1660 at the instigation of the Duchess of Albemarle by Phineas Pett. He then resumed business as a private shipbuilder and timber merchant with a yard at Wapping.
This seems to refer to the 21 February 1663 entry: "Capts. Taylor and Bowry, whose ship we have hired for Tangier ... and after some difference about their prices we agreed, ... and discoursed of something about freight of a ship that may bring me a little money" http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… which was referred to last Saturday http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
About Tuesday 15 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"So home to dinner, and thither came to me Mr. Mount and Mr. Luellin, I think almost foxed ..."
Peter Llewellyn was apparently quite "happy." From Webster Dictionary, 1913
Fox (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foxed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Foxing.] [See Fox, n., cf. Icel. fox imposture.]
1. To intoxicate; to stupefy with drink.
"I drank ... so much wine that I was almost foxed." -- Pepys.
About Tuesday 15 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"At dinner comes a messenger from the Counter with an execution against me for the 30l. 10s., given the last verdict to Field. The man’s name is Thomas, of the Poultry Counter. I sent Griffin with him to the Dolphin, where Sir W. Batten was at dinner, and he being satisfied that I should pay the money, I did cause the money to be paid him"
A couple of weeks ago the questions was raised about how the office was run. Here is an example. The Clerk of the Acts, Pepys, runs the office and keeps an enormous "petty cash". Someone presents an invoice. Pepys cannot approve it. Another member of the Navy Board must do so ... Batten, the surveyor, is close by so he gets the request. Pepys must trust William Griffith, who count out the money.
I'm surprised the payee didn't beg for an escort -- 300 pounds in pieces of 8 or sovereigns must have weighed a ton. Perhaps they put it in a wheelbarrow? Did they even have wheelbarrows then? Maybe in sacks, or money belts, or ... ?
Why should they all trundle over to Sir Richard Ford? I imagine he was acting as a referee so Edward Field doesn't get a black eye at the exchange, and he would count the money on Field's behalf. Pepys says a receipt and referee shouldn't be necessary as there are so many impartial witnesses to the payment.
How interesting the collector is employed by a prison ... I suppose Pepys would have been dragged to the debtor's prison (Poultry Counter) if he hadn't paid up. So probably there were more men outside to either drag away Pepys or guard the payment.
Certified checks, credit cards and direct deposit certainly make our lives easier.
About Friday 11 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Thank you Terry! Merry Christmas
.
About Saturday 12 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... a great dispute between Mr. Gauden, Victualler of the Navy, and Sir J. Lawson and the rest of the Commanders going against Argier, about their fish and keeping of Lent; ..." On second thoughts, this says Lawson and the Commanders are going AGAINST Algiers, meaning they are getting ready to sail for a fight next Spring. So the English do not occupy Algiers now. Are they off to fight those pirates again? Part of Holmes annoying the Dutch strategy? Or are they rescuing slaves? Since the tars can fish for food during Lent, this reduces the amount of supplies the Victuallers have to send, which somehow benefits Mr. Gauden, but that's disputed by Lawson and the Commanders who must want more food, just in case. Think I've got it now.
About Saturday 12 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
As I understand the situation, Sandwich's expedition in August 1661 to control the Barbary Pirates in the Mediterranean enjoyed little success; fortunately later that year a storm reduced Algiers' mole. The Algerians lost 11 men-o'-war and several merchantmen as well as the use of their mole. The English decided to build a new mole at Tangier instead of repairing the one at Algiers. The Wikipedia article makes no mention of the English occupying Algiers as well as Tangier, but that would appear to be the case. If I've got it wrong, can someone explain why the Navy Board is supplying Algiers.
About Sunday 6 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"What did Sam need a boy to do to help him dress?" -- "Sam is coming up in the world, he need a servant to confirm his status."
While this is undoubtedly true, I think there's more to it than that. One, dressing was more difficult. I've seen a film about putting on a dress in the 17th century, and it took two servants to hold the skirt cage while the Lady folded herself inside. I haven't seen a film about men putting on their pants (presumably one leg at a time, just like today) but I suspect there was lacing and other things to be done to make everything fit so snugly. And there were layers of clothes because it was so cold. Having help with the "go fetch" and the "hold this while I button that" part of dressing would be helpful. Obviously Sam can do it, but prefers not to. It's so hard brushing fluff off the back of your coat by yourself.
Two, the orphans of the parish needed the employment, and a place to stay and three meals a day. It was the duty of those who could to take them in, teach them manners and to read, and how to be good Christians.
And three, extended family, living cooperatively, and having a large household created security on many levels. Just cleaning took a lot more effort than today. No one could do it all alone. Sam seems to have gotten used to being the only man in a house full of women, but even that wasn't usual.
About Friday 11 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
In the encyclopedia for Capt. Taylor the best notes we have say "Capt. John Taylor -- L&M Companion -- (Up to Feb 1663 in Diary) ..."
Terry -- or anyone with the Companion -- could you complete this entry please? Thanks.