Before the 17th century each sailor was allowed 1 gallon of beer per day.
Since the logistics of the storage of all this beer presented a problem, admirals introduced brandy instead of beer in the mid 1600's.
In 1655, Vice-Admiral William Penn captured Jamaica and began the use of the rum ration. Why? Well, the Jamaicans weren't big on beer and wine, but had plenty of rum for the taking.
In 1731, rum became part of the "Regulations and Instructions Relating to His Majesty's Service at Sea." The regulations specified that 1 half-pint of rum was equivalent to the 1 gallon of beer.
A rundlet was a seventh of a butt, or a fourteenth of a tun. At this time a tun was 252 wine gallons, so a rundlet is 252/14 -18 gallons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eng…...
And Tent is a Spanish wine of a deep red color, with low alcoholic content, often used as a sacramental wine.
TENT: 1612 in Halyburton's Ledger (1867) 335 Sackes Canareis Malagas Maderais ... Teynts and Allacants. c 1645 HOWELL Lett. (1650) II. lv. 74 The Vinteners make Tent (which is a Name for all Wines in Spain except white) to supply the place of it.
Pepys describes The Ship on Billiter Lane, off Fenchurch St. as a neighborhood tavern, which evidently had rooms where meetings could take place. Pepys didn't like the one he was in on http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
There were no dentists in London at this time that we would recognize as dentists. Barbers (later barber-surgeons) were 'operators for the teeth" who might ply their trade in a local market or at a fair. The first book written about dentistry in English was published in the mid-1680s
There was reluctance to extract teeth. Oil of cloves could be used to deaden the pain of a carious tooth and it was recognized cleaning teeth, notably to remove plaque, was a desirable practice. Cavities were thought to be caused by a 'worm.'
If you had an abscess, rich folk called in a practicing surgeon to consult on the matter, They may extract the tooth or lance an abscess to relieve the painful pressure. [Modern dentists, of course, will not remove a badly abscessed tooth until the infection has been reduced by the use of antibiotics].
It must have been agony waiting for the abscess to burst.
Apart from going to the local barber and getting the tooth pulled, what sort of care could Elizabeth expect? Did they know cloves deaden the pain? Did they have toothpaste and toothbrushes?
I checked our encyclopedia and was surprised to read of Holmes' orders, signed by James, Duke of York:
The second African expedition – 1663 - 1664 The objectives of the 1664 Guinea expedition are unclear. Although Capt. Robert Holmes was later charged with exceeding his orders by capturing Dutch forts and ships there, William Coventry talks of a "game" that was to be started there, which can only mean an Anglo-Dutch war (Bath MSS. CII, ff. 3-13). Capt. Robert Holmes' orders, drafted by Coventry and signed by James, Duke of York, were to 'promote the Interests of the Royal Company' in HMS Jersey and to 'kill, take, sink or destroy such as shall oppose you' (Bath MSS. XCV, ff.3-5) - especially the Goulden Lyon of Flushing, a Dutch West India Company ship that had given the English a lot of trouble.
The Navy Board better wake up ... they don't seem to have any sense of urgency to build a powerful fleet to meet this challenge. I know Pepys has received hints of what is to come, but I suspect he would be horrified to hear Holmes had already been sent out to specifically provoke trouble. http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
On December 1, 1663 Pepys attended an insurance trial, and while at the King's Bench heard Lord Chief Justice Robert Hyde correct several people from referring to William Crowe as "alderman" because he had paid a large fee to avoid service.
I checked the list of London alderman for the 1660's, and nowhere does Crowe's name appear, so I think he used the title incorrectly. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
"One wonders what others (Coventry, Carteret, etc.) have said that has left Sam so sure of his position that he'd recklessly go on tweaking Penn's tail."
Coventry was with Sam on the trip to Chatham where they pushed Pett to run the shipyard as well as the other yards. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… So Sam knows exactly what Coventry wants.
In November Carteret, Coventry and Batten argued over contracts when Sam was there http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… ... he knows their standards.
And as recently as last week Sam was riding in Carteret's coach hearing with great pleasure about in what high regard he was held. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
The Sir Williams are under the gun now, not Sam. Not that he should go too far, but rattling Penn's cage is a good political move.
I wonder if Sam rethinks the decision not to get a velvet dress for Elizabeth after he settles his monthly accounts with so much satisfaction. Spare your "poor wife" a couple of the crumbs, Sam.
Sam's hat was probably made from Canadian beaver, because by 1600 most of the European beaver had been wiped out. To own one would be a status symbol. Pepys bought a beaver hat in June 1661 for 85 shillings. This one he found at Mrs. Holden's, but he didn't tell us the price this time. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Terry, in this case I read "estate" to mean general wealth more than just real estate. After all, Lady Batten had been married before, so what was hers became his. As I understand it, far-off estates like the one in Somerset were used to supply food to the London establishment, a place to hide your unwed pregnant daughter, a place to go for a summer break or if infections get too bad around London (plague, smallpox, typhoid, influenza -- all were killers).
Food was more valuable than money in famine times like this ... I wonder Pepys hasn't mentioned the bad harvest more, August 21 – Concerned about the wintry weather, the Parliament of England holds an intercessary fast. August 28 – Severe frost in England.
"My wife mightily pleased with my late discourse of getting a trip over to Calais, or some other port of France, the next summer,"
It's cold, it's dark, Elizabeth is trying not to appear "ill" but is probably still worried and resting, they are missing that rascal Will, there was an insurrection last month, and the plague is in Amsterdam.
To divert the conversation and cheer everyone up, Sam says he thinks he can swing a trip to France as a perk ... knowing full-well they could be at war with the Dutch by then, and he's one of the people responsible for supplying the response. He's talking through his new beaver hat, and pleased with the result.
"Considerable progress at this period was made in the science of navigation. In 1624 Mr. Gunter, professor of astronomy at Gresham College, Cambridge, published his scale of logarithms, sines, etc., and invented the scale which has since gone by his name."
"Back by coach to the Exchange, there spoke with Sir W. Rider about insuring, and spoke with several other persons about business, and shall become pretty well known quickly."
Sounds like Monday's experience with insurance is going to become part of Pepys' responsibilities -- and personal enrichment if possible. (See David G's explanation about the abuses of insurance allowed until the rule about needing an 'insurable interest' was added decades later http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… ).
"Carteret---Sandwich---the Duke of York---Mr. Coventry---Rider---Mr. Bland---Warren: a day of highly satisfactory networking, notable for the lack of spats, away from Batten and Penn."
Sandwich's activities -- and lack thereof -- for the last few months coincides with Penn/Batten and Pepys butting heads. Besides it being very gratifying to receive approval from your seniors, in this case it is essential. Sandwich's position is shaky, and Sam needs allies active at court -- especially if he's going to be more aggressive about making money on the side as well as doing his job -- and preparing the Navy for war.
I'm amazed to read how disorganized the Dutch "admiralty" was. The Admirals did a even better job than I previously understood!
The St. Olave, Hart Street church is typical of London — history layered everywhere. With its rich medieval history, it is a hidden London treasures, and the resting place of many luminaries.
While the records of this city church go back to the 13th century, legend asserts it was built on the site of the Battle of London Bridge in 1014. In the crypt is a well where, it is thought, King Olaf II of Norway rallied his troops to help drive the Vikings out of London.
As the city became a center of trade in the 15th and 16th centuries, the church flourished. As it was located next to the home of Francis Walsingham, many of Queen Elizabeth’s spies may have worshiped here, and two are buried in the church.
Ooooohhh ... William Watkins presumably died in 1662. He was replaced by:
Bickerstaffe, Charles (ktd by 25 Nov. 1671) 1662-1696 Gt. in reversion after unnamed persons 5 Sept. 1642 (Docquets, p. 336); possession of office acknowledged 7 July 1660 (C 66/2946, gt. to Francis Slingsby); displaced nonetheless by Hartgill Baron 16 July 1660 (Diary of Samuel Pepys, ed. R. L atham and W. Matthews (1970-83), i, 207, 208, 235, 236); warrant for admission in place of William Watkins 16 June 1662 (CSPD 1661-2, p. 409). Surrendered by 11 Dec. 1696 (C 66/3382, recited in gt. to Sir George Piers).
Pepys got to sit in the Privy Seal pew because Sandwich was one of four men allowed to carry it at the time -- possibly another reason he was missed at Court by his peers?
Men in charge of the Privy Seal at this time: Baron, Hartgill 1660-1673 Castle, John 1638-[1646]; 1660-1664 Montagu, Edward (Earl of Sandwich) 1660-1672 Watkins, William 1643-[1646]; 1660-1662 http://www.history.ac.uk/publicat… Clerks of the Privy Seal 1537-1851 "The four Clerks of the Privy Seal were appointed by the crown by letters patent under the great seal from 1537. Tenure was for life until 1814."
Comments
Second Reading
About Rum
San Diego Sarah • Link
Before the 17th century each sailor was allowed 1 gallon of beer per day.
Since the logistics of the storage of all this beer presented a problem, admirals introduced brandy instead of beer in the mid 1600's.
In 1655, Vice-Admiral William Penn captured Jamaica and began the use of the rum ration.
Why? Well, the Jamaicans weren't big on beer and wine, but had plenty of rum for the taking.
In 1731, rum became part of the "Regulations and Instructions Relating to His Majesty's Service at Sea." The regulations specified that 1 half-pint of rum was equivalent to the 1 gallon of beer.
For more information, see http://everything2.com/index.pl?n…
About Wine
San Diego Sarah • Link
On December 3, 1663 Pepys receives a "Runlett of Tent"
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
A rundlet was a seventh of a butt, or a fourteenth of a tun. At this time a tun was 252 wine gallons, so a rundlet is 252/14 -18 gallons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eng…...
And Tent is a Spanish wine of a deep red color, with low alcoholic content, often used as a sacramental wine.
TENT:
1612 in Halyburton's Ledger (1867) 335 Sackes Canareis Malagas Maderais ... Teynts and Allacants.
c 1645 HOWELL Lett. (1650) II. lv. 74 The Vinteners make Tent (which is a Name for all Wines in Spain except white) to supply the place of it.
About Ship (Billiter Lane, Fenchurch St)
San Diego Sarah • Link
Pepys describes The Ship on Billiter Lane, off Fenchurch St. as a neighborhood tavern, which evidently had rooms where meetings could take place. Pepys didn't like the one he was in on http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
About Wednesday 2 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Ah - I used the search tool and found some of the answers to my own questions -- highlights from http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… :
17th century dentistry.
There were no dentists in London at this time that we would recognize as dentists. Barbers (later barber-surgeons) were 'operators for the teeth" who might ply their trade in a local market or at a fair. The first book written about dentistry in English was published in the mid-1680s
There was reluctance to extract teeth. Oil of cloves could be used to deaden the pain of a carious tooth and it was recognized cleaning teeth, notably to remove plaque, was a desirable practice. Cavities were thought to be caused by a 'worm.'
If you had an abscess, rich folk called in a practicing surgeon to consult on the matter, They may extract the tooth or lance an abscess to relieve the painful pressure. [Modern dentists, of course, will not remove a badly abscessed tooth until the infection has been reduced by the use of antibiotics].
It must have been agony waiting for the abscess to burst.
Nothing about toothbrushes of toothpaste yet.
About Wednesday 2 December 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Apart from going to the local barber and getting the tooth pulled, what sort of care could Elizabeth expect? Did they know cloves deaden the pain? Did they have toothpaste and toothbrushes?
About Saturday 21 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
I checked our encyclopedia and was surprised to read of Holmes' orders, signed by James, Duke of York:
The second African expedition – 1663 - 1664
The objectives of the 1664 Guinea expedition are unclear. Although Capt. Robert Holmes was later charged with exceeding his orders by capturing Dutch forts and ships there, William Coventry talks of a "game" that was to be started there, which can only mean an Anglo-Dutch war (Bath MSS. CII, ff. 3-13).
Capt. Robert Holmes' orders, drafted by Coventry and signed by James, Duke of York, were to 'promote the Interests of the Royal Company' in HMS Jersey and to 'kill, take, sink or destroy such as shall oppose you' (Bath MSS. XCV, ff.3-5) - especially the Goulden Lyon of Flushing, a Dutch West India Company ship that had given the English a lot of trouble.
The Navy Board better wake up ... they don't seem to have any sense of urgency to build a powerful fleet to meet this challenge. I know Pepys has received hints of what is to come, but I suspect he would be horrified to hear Holmes had already been sent out to specifically provoke trouble. http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
About Ald. William Crowe
San Diego Sarah • Link
On December 1, 1663 Pepys attended an insurance trial, and while at the King's Bench heard Lord Chief Justice Robert Hyde correct several people from referring to William Crowe as "alderman" because he had paid a large fee to avoid service.
I checked the list of London alderman for the 1660's, and nowhere does Crowe's name appear, so I think he used the title incorrectly.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
About Monday 30 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"One wonders what others (Coventry, Carteret, etc.) have said that has left Sam so sure of his position that he'd recklessly go on tweaking Penn's tail."
Coventry was with Sam on the trip to Chatham where they pushed Pett to run the shipyard as well as the other yards. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… So Sam knows exactly what Coventry wants.
In November Carteret, Coventry and Batten argued over contracts when Sam was there http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… ... he knows their standards.
And as recently as last week Sam was riding in Carteret's coach hearing with great pleasure about in what high regard he was held. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
The Sir Williams are under the gun now, not Sam. Not that he should go too far, but rattling Penn's cage is a good political move.
About Sunday 29 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
I wonder if Sam rethinks the decision not to get a velvet dress for Elizabeth after he settles his monthly accounts with so much satisfaction. Spare your "poor wife" a couple of the crumbs, Sam.
About Sunday 29 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Sam's hat was probably made from Canadian beaver, because by 1600 most of the European beaver had been wiped out. To own one would be a status symbol. Pepys bought a beaver hat in June 1661 for 85 shillings. This one he found at Mrs. Holden's, but he didn't tell us the price this time. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
About Sunday 29 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Terry, in this case I read "estate" to mean general wealth more than just real estate. After all, Lady Batten had been married before, so what was hers became his. As I understand it, far-off estates like the one in Somerset were used to supply food to the London establishment, a place to hide your unwed pregnant daughter, a place to go for a summer break or if infections get too bad around London (plague, smallpox, typhoid, influenza -- all were killers).
Food was more valuable than money in famine times like this ... I wonder Pepys hasn't mentioned the bad harvest more,
August 21 – Concerned about the wintry weather, the Parliament of England holds an intercessary fast.
August 28 – Severe frost in England.
About Friday 27 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Yup ... remember who was moving the beds after the flood? Elizabeth. Not Sam.
About Friday 27 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"My wife mightily pleased with my late discourse of getting a trip over to Calais, or some other port of France, the next summer,"
It's cold, it's dark, Elizabeth is trying not to appear "ill" but is probably still worried and resting, they are missing that rascal Will, there was an insurrection last month, and the plague is in Amsterdam.
To divert the conversation and cheer everyone up, Sam says he thinks he can swing a trip to France as a perk ... knowing full-well they could be at war with the Dutch by then, and he's one of the people responsible for supplying the response. He's talking through his new beaver hat, and pleased with the result.
About Mathematics
San Diego Sarah • Link
for more information: http://www.hotfreebooks.com/book/…
see CHAPTER SEVEN JAMES I — 1567 TO 1625.
"Considerable progress at this period was made in the science of navigation. In 1624 Mr. Gunter, professor of astronomy at Gresham College, Cambridge, published his scale of logarithms, sines, etc., and invented the scale which has since gone by his name."
About Wednesday 25 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Back by coach to the Exchange, there spoke with Sir W. Rider about insuring, and spoke with several other persons about business, and shall become pretty well known quickly."
Sounds like Monday's experience with insurance is going to become part of Pepys' responsibilities -- and personal enrichment if possible. (See David G's explanation about the abuses of insurance allowed until the rule about needing an 'insurable interest' was added decades later http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… ).
About Wednesday 25 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Carteret---Sandwich---the Duke of York---Mr. Coventry---Rider---Mr. Bland---Warren: a day of highly satisfactory networking, notable for the lack of spats, away from Batten and Penn."
Sandwich's activities -- and lack thereof -- for the last few months coincides with Penn/Batten and Pepys butting heads. Besides it being very gratifying to receive approval from your seniors, in this case it is essential. Sandwich's position is shaky, and Sam needs allies active at court -- especially if he's going to be more aggressive about making money on the side as well as doing his job -- and preparing the Navy for war.
I'm amazed to read how disorganized the Dutch "admiralty" was. The Admirals did a even better job than I previously understood!
About St Olave, Hart Street
San Diego Sarah • Link
The St. Olave, Hart Street church is typical of London — history layered everywhere. With its rich medieval history, it is a hidden London treasures, and the resting place of many luminaries.
While the records of this city church go back to the 13th century, legend asserts it was built on the site of the Battle of London Bridge in 1014. In the crypt is a well where, it is thought, King Olaf II of Norway rallied his troops to help drive the Vikings out of London.
As the city became a center of trade in the 15th and 16th centuries, the church flourished. As it was located next to the home of Francis Walsingham, many of Queen Elizabeth’s spies may have worshiped here, and two are buried in the church.
For more plus pictures http://www.atlasobscura.com/place…
About Sunday 15 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Yes, Clark Kent ... we need you in your flying suit right now. More than Gotham is in peril.
About Sunday 22 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Ooooohhh ... William Watkins presumably died in 1662. He was replaced by:
Bickerstaffe, Charles (ktd by 25 Nov. 1671) 1662-1696
Gt. in reversion after unnamed persons 5 Sept. 1642 (Docquets, p. 336); possession of office acknowledged 7 July 1660 (C 66/2946, gt. to Francis Slingsby); displaced nonetheless by Hartgill Baron 16 July 1660 (Diary of Samuel Pepys, ed. R. L atham and W. Matthews (1970-83), i, 207, 208, 235, 236);
warrant for admission in place of William Watkins 16 June 1662 (CSPD 1661-2, p. 409). Surrendered by 11 Dec. 1696 (C 66/3382, recited in gt. to Sir George Piers).
http://www.history.ac.uk/resource…
You can find short bios on all the Clerks at this website
About Sunday 22 November 1663
San Diego Sarah • Link
Pepys got to sit in the Privy Seal pew because Sandwich was one of four men allowed to carry it at the time -- possibly another reason he was missed at Court by his peers?
Men in charge of the Privy Seal at this time:
Baron, Hartgill 1660-1673
Castle, John 1638-[1646]; 1660-1664
Montagu, Edward (Earl of Sandwich) 1660-1672
Watkins, William 1643-[1646]; 1660-1662
http://www.history.ac.uk/publicat… Clerks of the Privy Seal 1537-1851 "The four Clerks of the Privy Seal were appointed by the crown by letters patent under the great seal from 1537. Tenure was for life until 1814."