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Bill
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Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
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Bill has posted 2,777 annotations/comments since 9 March 2013.
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Second Reading
About John Ogilby
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OGILBY, JOHN (1600-1676) author and printer; in early life taught dancing; employed by Strafford in Ireland, where he became deputy-master, and afterwards master of the revels; entrusted with 'poetical part' of Charles II's coronation, 1661; his house and booksellers' stock destroyed in fire of Loudon, 1666; afterwards set up large printing establishment and became 'king's cosmographer'; published verse translations of Virgil, AEsop's 'Fables,' and Homer, with plates by Hollar, and printed an edition of the bible (Cambridge, 1660), a folio Virgil, 'Entertainment of Charles II,' and many geographical works. He was ridiculed by Dryden and Pope, but utilised by the latter.
---Dictionary of National Biography: Index and Epitome. S. Lee, 1906.
About Mr Walton
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Son-in-law of Col. Thomas Pride (regicide) http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
About John Bradshaw
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BRADSHAW, JOHN (1602-1659), regicide; called to bar at Gray's Inn, 1627: judge of sheriffs' court, in London, 1643; chief-justice of Chester and judge in Wales, 1647; serjeant-at-law, 1648: lord president of parliamentary commission for trial of Charles I, 1649; presided at Charles's trial and pronounced sentence, and subsequently at trials of leading royalists; president of council of state, 1649-52; attorney-general of Cheshire and North Wales, 1649: chancellor of duchy of Lancaster, 1649-53: opposed Cromwell's gradual assumption of arbitrary power, and temporarily retired from political life; member of council of state and commissioner of great seal, 1659; buried in Westminster Abbey. In 1660 Bradshaw, Cromwell, Ireton, and Pride, though dead, were attainted, and their bodies exhumed, hanged, and reburied at Tyburn.
---Dictionary of National Biography: Index and Epitome. S. Lee, 1906.
About Henry Ireton
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IRETON, HENRY(1611-1651), regicide; B.A. Trinity College, Oxford, 1629; of the Middle Temple; fought at Edgehill, 1642; Cromwell's deputy-governor of the Isle of Ely; as quartermaster-general in Manchester's army took part in Yorkshire campaign and second battle of Newbury, 1644; supported Cromwell's accusation of Manchester; surprised royalist quarters before Naseby, 1646; as commander of the cavalry of the left wing was wounded and captured in the battle, but afterwards escaped, 1646; at siege of Bristol, 1646; a negotiator of treaty of Truro, 1646; received overtures from Charles I at Oxford, 1646; married Bridget, Cromwell's daughter, 1646; M.P., Appleby, 1645 ; justified the army petition and consequently quarrelled with Holles, 1647; one of the four commissioners to pacify the soldiers; sanctioned Joyce's removal of the king from Holdenby; drew up the 'engagement' of the army and 'Heads of the Army Proposals,' 1647, endeavouring to bring about an agreement between king and parliament; opposed the levellers' constitution and was denounced by them; led conservative party in the council of the army till the flight of Charles I to the Isle of Wight, after which he supported his deposition in favour of one of his sons; served under Fairfax in Kent aud Essex, and as commissioner for the surrender of Colchester (1648) defended the execution of Lucas and Lisle; with Ludlow concerted 'Pride's Purge,' 1648; attended regularly the high court of justice and signed the warrant for Charles I's execution; chief author of the 'Agreement of the People' drawn up by the council of war, 1649; went to Ireland as Cromwell's second in command, 1649, and remained as his deputy; captured Carlow, Waterford, and Duncannon, 1650, and Limerick, 1651; died of fever before Limerick. He carried out the Cromwellian policy with indefatigable industry and honesty. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, but his body was disinterred and dishonoured after the Restoration.
---Dictionary of National Biography: Index and Epitome. S. Lee, 1906.
About Lt-Gen. Charles Fleetwood
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Fleetwood, who, as well as Ireton, was son-in-law to Cromwell, was a very useful instrument to that artful man, who knew how to avail himself of family-connexions. The character of Fleetwood was very different from that of Ireton: he had no great skill as a soldier, and less as a politician; but he had a very powerful influence over the bigotted part of the army. He thought that prayer superseded the use of "carnal weapons" and "that it was sufficient to trust to the hand of Providence, without exerting the arm of flesh." He would fall on his knees and pray, when he heard of a mutiny among the soldiers; and was with the utmost difficulty roused to action, on several emergent occasions. In 1659 he was declared commander in chief of the army. This was done by the intrigues of Lambert, who intended to make the same use of him that Cromwell had done of Fairfax. He died soon after the Revolution.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1769.
About Henry Ireton
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Ireton, who on several occasions had signalized his valour and conduct in the field, approved himself a man of spirit and capacity in his government of Ireland. He proceeded upon Cromwell's plan, and gave abundant proof of his being every way qualified for that extensive command. Though naturally a lover of justice, he made little scruple of sacrificing even that to liberty, of which he was passionately fond. He died at the siege of Limerick, 26 November, 1651, sincerely lamented by the republicans, who revered him as a soldier, a statesman, and a saint. In Crull's "Antiquities of Westminster Abbey" is a curious panegyric, which was intended for his monument: it is written in a very exalted strain, far beyond the common cant of epitaphs.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1769.
About Nathaniel Fiennes
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Nathanael Fiennes, second son to lord Say, engaged with zeal in the service of the Parliament. But his courage was by no means proportioned to his zeal, as he surrendered the city of Bristol, of which he was governor, after a siege of two days. He was tried and condemned for cowardice, but found means to procure his pardon. He soon after attached himself to the Independents, and was one of the most considerable leaders of that party. He was a frequent and copious speaker in parliament, to which his talents were much better adapted than to the field. Many of his speeches and pamphlets relative to the civil war are in print. Ob. 16 December, 1669.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1769.
About Richard Cromwell
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It was impossible that the feeble and unskilful hand of Richard should long hold the reins of a government, which his father, with all his vigour and dexterity, found so difficult to retain. He succeeded him in the protectorate; but as he was heir to none of his great qualities, he was presently deposed from that dignity, which he quitted without reluctance; and probably experienced more solid happiness in retirement and obscurity, than Oliver did at the height of his glory. He passed the last years of his life, in great privacy, at Cheshunt in Hertfordshire. He is said to have carefully preserved a trunk full of addresses, which were sent to him on his accession to the protectorate, and to have bequeathed them to his friends. Ob. 13 July, 1712. Æt. 86.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1769.
About Oliver Cromwell
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This great man, whose genius was awakened by the distractions of his country, was looked upon as one of the people, till he was upwards of forty years of age. He is an amazing instance of what ambition, heated by enthusiasm, restrained by judgment, disguised by hypocrisy, and aided by natural vigour of mind, can do. He was never oppressed with the weight, or perplexed with the intricacy of affairs : but his deep penetration, indefatigable activity, and invincible resolution, seemed to render him a master of all events. He persuaded without eloquence; and exacted obedience, more from the terror of his name, than the rigour of his administration. He appeared as a powerful instrument in the hand of Providence, and dared to appeal to the decisions of Heaven for the justice of his cause. He knew every man of abilities in the three kingdoms, and endeavoured to avail himself of their respective talents. He has always been regarded by foreigners, and of late years by the generality of his countrymen, as the greatest man this nation ever produced. It has been disputed which he deserved most, "a halter or a crown;" and there is no less disparity betwixt the characters drawn of him, and the reports propagated by his enemies and his friends. Colonel Lindsey affirmed that he saw him enter into a formal contract with the Devil; and Dawbeny has drawn a Parallel "betwixt Moses the Man of God, and Oliver the Protector." He died in his bed, on the 3d of September, a day which he had long esteemed fortunate, in the year 1658. The French court went into mourning for him; but the famous Mademoiselle de Montpensier disdained to pay that respect to the memory of an usurper.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1769.
About Lt-Adm. Cornelis Tromp
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Cornelius Van Tromp was son of the famous Martin Van Tromp, who was shot through the heart with a musket ball, in an engagement with Monck. He did not at all degenerate from his heroic father, who seemed to live over again in his no less heroic son. In the first engagement with the English, in 1665, he continued to fight after several of the Dutch admirals were killed, and fought retreating. In the battle between the English and French, and the Dutch fleets, in 1672, De Ruyter went to his assistance, after he had shifted his flag to four different ships. This put an end to the animosity which had before subsisted betwixt these great commanders. His father never fought or acted more like a hero, than he did in that memorable engagement with sir Edward Spragge, on the 11th of August, 1673. He was created an English baronet 25 Mar., 1674.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.
About James Turner ("Col.")
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"Turner so famous for his shifting arts,
Pragmatic buslings, and Protean parts,
Through city, camp, or country, to the state,
Took his last turn from the full swing of fate."
James Turner, a goldsmith, in London, and lieutenant-colonel of the city militia, was, for some time, esteemed a man of a genteel spirit, which was always observed to carry him far beyond the limits of his fortune. His vices and extravagancies not only exhausted his patrimony, which was very considerable, but also involved him in debt. Hence he betook himself to the lowest arts and most villanous practices to maintain the figure of a gentleman. He was executed for robbing the house of Mr. Francis Tryton, a merchant, of jewels, and other things of value, to the amount of about six thousand pounds. He was executed for this burglary, in Lime-street, London, 22 Jan. 1663-4. He expressed a true sense of his guilt at the place of execution, and desired the minister who attended to read to him the 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 verses of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. He left forty shillings to be distributed among the poor of the parish where he suffered, and eighteen shillings and six-pence only to his wife.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.
About Jacob Hall
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There was a symmetry and elegance, as well as strength and agility, in the person of Jacob Hall, which was much admired by the ladies, who regarded him as a due composition of Hercules and Adonis. The open-hearted dutchess of Cleveland was said to have been in love with this rope-dancer and Goodman the player at the same time. The former received a salary, from her grace.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.
About Thomas Venner
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Thomas Venner, a wine-cooper, who acquired a competent estate by his trade, was reputed a man of sense and religion, before his understanding was bewildered with enthusiasm. He was so strongly possessed with the notions of the Millenarians, or Fifth Monarchy Men, that he strongly expected that Christ was coming to reign upon earth, and that all human government, except that of the saints, was presently to cease. He looked upon Cromwell, and Charles II. as usurpers upon Christ's dominion, and persuaded his weak brethren, that it was their duty to rise and seize upon the kingdom in his name. Accordingly a rabble of them, with Venner at their head, assembled in the streets, and proclaimed king Jesus. They were attacked by a party of the militia, whom they resolutely engaged; as many of them believed themselves to be invulnerable. They were at length overpowered by numbers, and their leader, with twelve of his followers, was executed in January, 1660-1. They "affirmed to the last, that if they had been deceived, the Lord himself was their deceiver."
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.
About Peg Hughes
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Margaret Hughs was mistress to prince Rupert. He bought for her the magnificent seat of Sir Nicholas Crispe, near Hammersmith, which cost 25,000 l. the building. It was afterwards sold to Mr. Lannoy, a scarlet-dyer. The prince had one daughter by her, named Ruperta, born in 1671. She married Emmanuel Scroope Howe, esq. brigadier-general in the reign of Anne, and envoy extraordinary to the house of Brunswick Lunenburg. He was brother to Scroope, lord viscount Howe, of the kingdom of Ireland. Captain Alexander Radcliffe, in his "Ramble," evidently points at Mrs. Hughes,
Shou'd I been hang'd I could not chuse
But laugh at Whores that drop from Stews,
Seeing that Mistris Marg'ret ---
So fine is,
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.
[stews = brothel-houses]
About Nell Gwyn
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Eleanor Gwynn, better known by the familiar name of Nell, was, at her first setting out in the world, a plebeian of the lowest rank, and sold oranges in the playhouse. Nature seems to have qualified her for the theatre. Her person, though below the middle size, was well turned; she had a good natural air, and a sprightliness that promised every thing in comedy. She was instructed by Hart and Lacy who were both actors of eminence; and, in a short time, she became eminent herself in the same profession. She acted the most spirited and fantastic parts, and spoke a prologue or epilogue with admirable address. The pert and vivacious prattle of the orange-wench, was, by degrees, refined into such wit as could please Charles II. Indeed it was sometimes carried to extravagance: but even her highest flights were so natural, that they rather provoked laughter than excited disgust. She is said to have been kept by lord Dorset, before she was retained by the king, and to have been introduced to the latter, by the duke of Buckingham, with a view of supplanting the dutchess of Cleveland. Nell ,who knew how to mimic every thing ridiculous about the court, presently ingratiated herself with her merry sovereign, and retained a considerable place in his affection to the time of his death.—She continued to hang on her cloaths with her usual negligence when she was the king's mistress: but whatever she did became her. Ob. 1687.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.
About Isabella Bennet (Countess of Arlington, b. van Beverweerd)
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Isabella of Nassau, daughter of lord Beverweert, a natural son of the famous prince Maurice, and wife to Henry Bennet, earl of Arlington. She was sister to lady Emilia Nassau, countess of Ossory, and mother of the dutchess of Grafton. Ob. 18 Jan. 1718, Æt. 87.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.
About Tuesday 15 January 1660/61
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Royal Oak
In 1679 Halley (of comet fame, but never mentioned in the diary) made up a new constellation which he called the Royal Oak. It didn't catch on.
About Royal Oak
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ROBUR CAROLINUM, the Royal Oak, or King Charles's Oak; or, not to omit so notable a name, the Carolina Oak, as one of the English astronomers calls it. One of the constellations of the southern hemisphere. This is not one of the old forty-eight, but has been since devised by the modern astronomers to take in some of the unformed stars of that hemisphere.
...
The figure, understood by this constellation, is that of the oak in which King Charles II. was, while his enemies were in pursuit of him; and this the modern astronomers have raised up into the heavens, as the early authors, in the same study, did the Scorpion that killed Orion, or the monster that was to have devoured the unfortunate Andromeda.
---Urania: Or, a Compleat View of the Heavens. J. Hill, 1754.
About Elizabeth Stanhope (Countess of Chesterfield, b. Butler)
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Elizabeth Butler was eldest daughter of James, duke of Ormond, and second wife to Philip Stanhope, earl of Chesterfield.—It has been observed that a man could not turn round without being struck with beauties in the court of Charles II. The countess of Chesterfield was one of the most striking in the circle. Her husband did not know what a treasure he had in his possession, and treated her, at first, with disregard: but when every body else admired her, he became her admirer too, and was sufficiently slighted in his turn. He rightly concluded, that when the eyes of all the world were turned upon her, there were among them the eyes of some lovers. This naturally excited his jealousy, and he appears to have felt the most unhappy part of the passion of love in a more exquisite degree than any other. His suspicion particularly fell upon the duke of York, who, it seems, was not insensible of her charms, and was far from being the most cautious of men in the conduct of his amours. The name of Lady Ch ... d often occurs in the "Memoires de Grammont."
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1775.
About Louise de Querouaille
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Her son by Charles II., Charles Stuart (3rd Duke of Richmond and 6th Duke of Lennox)
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…