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Second Reading

About Sir John Granville (1st Earl of Bath)

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John Granville, "Jack" as he was familiarly called, the eldest surviving son was not yet fifteen when Sir Bevill was killed. He had been a gentleman commoner at Gloucester Hall, Oxford, but if we are to accept Antony Payne's letter as authentic, he was with Sir Bevill when he fell, and there and then took command of the troops in his place. "Master John, when I mounted him upon his father's horse rode him into the war, like a young prince as he is, and our men followed him with their swords drawn and with tears in their eyes." Certainly a year previously the University and several Colleges had sent money and plate to the King, and on the 13th of August an order had been given for view of arms. Graduates and undergraduates had eagerly responded to the appeal. Books were flung away, and day after day some three or four hundred members of the University had diligently practised their drill (cf. Gardiner's "History of the Civil War," I., 33.) Very probably therefore Jack had joined his father, and was with him at the battle of Lansdowne. At any rate he was in command of his father's troop afterwards, and took part in several of the engagements, and particularly in Cornwall at the defeat of the Earl of Essex. At the second battle of Newbury he narrowly escaped meeting his father's fate. Being in the thickest of the fight, and having received several wounds in various parts of his body, he was at last felled to the ground with a most dangerous blow on the head from a halberd, and he lay there for some time in an unconscious state until a body of the King's Horse, charging the enemy afresh, beat them off the ground, where he was discovered afterwards amongst the dead, covered with blood and dust Upon being recognized, he was carried into that part of the field where the King and the Prince of Wales were, who sent him to Donnington Castle hard by, to be treated for his wounds. But it must have been long before tidings of hope could reach the anxious mother, for no sooner were the armies drawn off from the Field of Newbury than Donnington Castle itself was besieged by the Roundheads, and their bullets, it is said, constantly whistled through the room where he lay during the twelve days which elapsed before the defenders were relieved by the King at the third battle of Newbury.

---The History of the Granville Family. Roger Granville, 1895

About Sir George Downing

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Upon the death of Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet in 1749, the wealth left by his grandfather, Sir George Downing, who served both Cromwell and Charles II and built 10 Downing Street (a door formerly from Number 10 is in use in the college), was applied by his will. Under this will, as he had no direct issue (he was legally separated from his wife), the family fortune was left to his cousin, Sir Jacob Downing, and if he died without heir, to three cousins in succession. If they all died without issue, the estates were to be used to found a college at Cambridge called Downing.

---Wikipedia, 2013

About Sir George Downing

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ANECDOTE OF THE DOWNING FANIILY.

THE late Sir George Downing, of Gamlingay in Cambridge, bart. had left his estate to the late Sir Jacob Garrard, and his heirs male; and for want of such issue, to the Rev. Mr. Peters, late lecturer of St. Clements Danes, and his heirs male; both of whom having died without issue, the estate was to be applied towards founding a college in Cambridge. The original of the family was Dr. Calybeat Downing, one of the preachers in the rebel army, and a great man with the Rump; and his son, afterwards Sir George Downing, and the first baronet of the family, was made envoy from Cromwell to the States-General, and got a great estate, owing to the following incident. When King Charles the Second was travelling in disguise in Holland, to visit the queen mother, attended only by Lord Falkland, and putting up at an inn, after he had been there some time, the landlord came in to these strangers, and said there was a beggar man at the door, very shabbily dressed, who was very importunate to be admitted to them; on which the king seemed to be surprized, and after speaking to Lord Falkland, bid the landlord admit him. As soon as this beggar-man entered, he pulled off his beard, (which he had put on for a disguise) fell on his knees, and said he was Mr. Downing, the resident from Oliver Cromwell; that he had received advice of this intended visit from his majesty to the queen, and that if he ventured any farther, he would. assassinated; and begged secrecy of the king, for that his life depended upon it, and departed. The king was amazed at this, and said to Lord Falkland, how could this be known; there were but you and the queen knew of it; therefore the queen must have mentioned this to somebody, who gave advice of it to his enemies. However, the king returned back, whereby the design was prevented. Upon this, after the restoration, Mr. George Downing was rewarded, made a baronet, and farmer of the customs, &c. &c. whereby this large estate was raised.

---A Collection of Interesting Anecdotes, Memoirs, Allegories, Essays, and Poetical Fragments. Joseph Addison, 1793

About Sir George Downing

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George Downing went into the army, and was scoutmaster general of the English army in Scotland. He was afterwards in great favour with Cromwell, who sent him ambassador to the States, and upon the restoration he turned with the times, and was sent or kept by the King in the same employ, had the merit of betraying, securing and sending over several of the regicides (he had been captain under one of them, Col. Okey) was knighted and in favour at court, and died in 1684. His character runs low with the best historians in England; it was much lower with his countrymen in New-England; and it became a proverbial expression, to say of a false man who betrayed his trust, that he was an arrant George Downing. Oliver Cromwell, when he sent him agent or ambassador to the States, in his letter of credence says, "George Downing is a person of eminent quality, and after a long trial of his fidelity, probity and diligence in several and various negotiations, well approved and valued by us. Him we have thought fitting to send to your Lordships, dignified with the character of our agent," &c. (Milton's letters.) In his latter days he is said to have been very friendly to New-England, and when the colony was upon the worst terms with King Charles the second. An article of news from England in 1671, says, "Sir George Downing is in the Tower, it is said because he returned from Holland, where he was sent ambassador, before his time: As it is reported, he had no small abuse offered him there. They printed the sermons he preached in Oliver's time and drew three pictures of him. 1. Preaching in a tub, over it was wrote, This I was. 2. A treacherous courtier, over it, This I am. 3. Hanging on a gibbet, and over it, This I shall be." Prints of that sort were not so common in England in that day as they have been the last twenty years.

"Downing was sent to make up the quarrel with the Dutch, but coming home in too great haste and fear, is now in the prison where his master lay that he betrayed." MS. letter Lond. March 4, 1671-2. By his master, no doubt Okey is intended. His son was one of the Tellers in the Exchequer in 1680. Sir George died in 1684. He was brother-in-law to governor Bradstreet, and kept up a correspondence with him.

---The History of the Colony of Massachuset's Bay. T. Hutchinson, 1765 (discussing the first graduates of Harvard College in 1642)

About Thursday 3 May 1660

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G. Mountague at Sea, to whom the Letter to General Monk was also directed from the King, upon the receipt of it, and of the Declaration; he called together the Officers of the several Ships, and communicated the Letter and Declaration to them, who expressed great joy and satisfaction therein, and desired Mountague to represent the same with their humble thanks to his Majesty.

Then Mountague fired the first Gun himself, and all his Ships answered it round, with loud Acclamations as their General had done, crying God bless the King; and the General gave two Pipes of Canary to his men.

---Memorials of English Affairs. B. Whitelocke, 1682

About Ninepins

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Malherbe was the first poet in France in his day; but he appears to have little esteemed the art. He used to say that a good poet was not more useful to the state, than a good player of nine-pins.

---Curiosities of Literature. Issac Disraeli, 1698.

About Ninepins

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A sure way to play at Nine-Pins so as to strike all down.

The Nine-Pins standing in an equall square, a good Player striking the first Pin somewhat low, shall strike down the second and fifth; these in their violence may strike down three, six, and nine; the Boule being in motion, may strike down four and seaven, which four may strike down the eighth, and so all nine may be struck down. Often tryed.

---Eighteen Books of the SECRETS of Art and Nature. J.J. Wecker, 1661

About Wednesday 2 May 1660

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"This gracious Message, with the Letter to his Excellencie, and the Declaration, were read in the House of Commons, with most extraordinary Ceremony and Reverence, as if some strange awe had seized upon the minds of the Parliament; every man at the Speakers naming of the King rising up and uncovering himself, desiring the Letters might be forthwith read; the like also was done in the House of Lords; In the House of Commons, remarkable was that of Mr. Luke Robinson, who being a great Commonwealths-man, first of all spoke to the Letters, and acknowledged his conviction.
...
"This was seconded by the Navy under the General Montague, now Earl of Sandwich, to whom (and the Fleet under him) the King had sent the like Letters and Declaration; the Sea ringing with the peals of Ordnance, upon the communication of the said Papers."

---A Chronicle of the Late Intestine War in the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland. James Heath, John Phillips, 1676

About Luke Robinson

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The RUMP Carbonado'd: or A New
BALLAD.
To the Tune of the Black-smith.

Luke Robinson wants both his Bristles and Aule
To stitch up his lame Legge, and help him to
craule, Who down-right hath halted betwixt God and Baal,
Which no body can deny.

Ibid.

About Luke Robinson

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Chipps of the Old Block; or, Hercules
Cleansing the Augæan Stable.
To the Tune of The Sword.

23
Luke Robinson that Clownado,
Though his heart be a Granado,
Yet a High-shooe with his hands in his Poke,
Is his most perfect shadow.

--Rump: or An Exact collection of the choycest poems and songs, 1662

About Tuesday 1 May 1660

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"This day I do count myself to have had full two years of perfect cure for the stone, for which God of heaven be blessed."

He celebrated the two year anniversary of the actual operation on March 26. Five weeks of recovery from a bladder operation.

About Bladder and kidney stones

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Any surgery before anaesthesia was surely amazingly painful and I can't image bladder surgery then. The Neal Stephenson novel "Quicksilver" has already been mentioned in this blog, Here is a conversation in the book, later in Pepys life, between Pepys and a man in pain from a "stone".

"Did you bring it?"
"I always have it with me," Pepys said, producing an irregular nodule about the size of a tennis ball, "as you have all your parts."
"To remind you of your mortality?"
"Once a man's been cut for the stone, 'tis hardly necessary."
"Why, then?"
"It's my conversation starter of last-resort. It gets anyone talking: Germans, Puritans, Red Indians . . ." He handed the object to Daniel. It was heavy. Heavy as a stone.
"I cannot believe this came out of your bladder," Daniel said.
"You see? Never fails!" Pepys answered.

About Friday 27 April 1660

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The Emperor shared in the general satisfaction; and presented the impostors with the riband of an order of knighthood, to be worn in their button-holes, and the title of "Gentlemen Weavers". (from the Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Anderson)

About Friday 27 April 1660

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RIBBAND, or Ribbon, a narrow sort of silk, chiefly used for head ornaments, badges of chivalry, &c.
---The Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, 1766

About Tuesday 24 April 1660

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More info on "Turn Amaryllis" recently in the Encyclopedia>Entertainment>Music>Songs

About Monday 23 April 1660

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"song made upon the Rump, with which he played himself well, to the tune of “The Blacksmith.”

Such songs, to that tune, must have been popular! Or maybe it was just the tune that was popular. Here's another from "Rump: or an exact collection of the choycest poems and songs relating to the late times. By the most eminent wits, from anno 1639 to anno 1661" London, 1662. Part 1, Page 361 (!)

The RUMP
December 26, 1659
To the Tune of the Blacksmith

Now Master and Prentice for Rimes must pump
On Hab, Noll, Arthur, and Lawson Vantrump,
A Long Parliament of a Short Rump
Which no body can deny

For Wits and No-Wits now have an Itch
To prepare some damnable tearing Switch
For them whose very Face is a Breech.
Which, &c

Twelve years they sate above Kings and Queens,
Full twelve, and then had enter'd their teens
When Oliver came to out-sin their Sins.
Which, &c

(This continues for 13 more verses)

About Wednesday 25 April 1660

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"not a little contented to see how I am treated, and with what respect made a fellow to the best commanders in the Fleet"

It's not hard to imagine how those naval officers felt about having to "respect" a government bureaucrat who felt at "home" among them. Our Sam is indulging in a bit of self-deception, I think.

About Turn Amaryllis

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Shirley does have "pry" and not "spy" in line four.