Thursday 22 March 1659/60
Up very early and set things in order at my house, and so took leave of Mrs. Crispe and her daughter (who was in bed) and of Mrs. Hunt. Then to my Lord’s lodging at the gate and did so there, where Mr. Hawly came to me and I gave him the key of my house to keep, and he went with me to Mr. Crew’s, and there I took my last leave of him. But the weather continuing very bad my Lord would not go to-day. My Lord spent this morning private in sealing of his last will and testament with Mr. W. Mountagu. After that I went forth about my own business to buy a pair of riding grey serge stockings and sword and belt and hose, and after that took Wotton and Brigden to the Pope’s Head Tavern in Chancery Lane, where Gilb. Holland and Shelston were, and we dined and drank a great deal of wine, and they paid all.
Strange how these people do now promise me anything; one a rapier, the other a vessel of wine or a gun, and one offered me his silver hatband to do him a courtesy. I pray God to keep me from being proud or too much lifted up hereby.
After that to Westminster, and took leave of Kate Sterpin who was very sorry to part with me, and after that of Mr. George Mountagu, and received my warrant of Mr. Blackburne, to be Secretary to the two Generals of the Fleet. Then to take my leave of the Clerks of the Council, and thence Doling and Luellin would have me go with them to Mount’s chamber, where we sat and talked and then I went away. So to my Lord (in my way meeting Chetwind and Swan and bade them farewell) where I lay all night with Mr. Andrews.
This day Mr. Sheply went away on board and I sent my boy with him. This day also Mrs. Jemimah went to Marrowbone, so I could not see her.
Mr. Moore being out of town to-night I could not take leave of him nor speak to him about business which troubled me much.
I left my small case therefore with Mr. Andrews for him.
22 Annotations
First Reading
Warren Keith Wright • Link
Pepys's generous drinking partners at the Pope's Head were all in trade. William Wotton was a shoemaker of Fleet Street; Richard Bridgen, also of Fleet Street, was a cutler, and Gilbert Holland may have been one too; while Robert Shelston was a grocer in Leadenhall Street.
(Cf. Companion's biographical notes.)
Derek • Link
'Marrowbone'='Marylebone'? Marylebone is a district of the City of Westminster, to the south and west of Regent's Park. The name derives from the old parish church of St Mary-by-the-Bourne, later St Maryburne.
For more information, see http://www.marylebone.net/
Eric Walla • Link
The question of swords and rapiers ...
... how much training would a man in Sam's position have in swordplay? Would I be correct in assuming the sword he purchased would be for more decorative/ceremonial purposes than as insurance against the unexpected?
I start to have visions of our good Mr. Pepys encountering not just Charles II, but D'Artagnan as well.
john simmons • Link
Eric...re swordplay and Sam...
Sam's wearing a sword is more then decoration, it is a symbol of his new status as a gentleman (in My Lord's service). It was a very important distinction, elevating him above the common run of scribes. D'Artagnan would have made short work of our Sam, having trained all his young life with an epee.
Spoiler of a sort, but related, when he receives his first letter addressed to Pepys, Esq., he has "arrived."
Pauline • Link
The swords of March 20
"...waiting for my Lord’s coming in till very late. Then...with our swords to bring my Lord home...."
We missed discussing this two days ago. A sense of it being late and some concern for Montagu's safety? Or did they strap on swords and go to escort him for the gallantry of it?
While Montagu may have retainers more specifically charged with his protection, Sam and others would add to the appearance of being well escorted.
Perhaps Sam borrowed a sword from the household that night and realized he should get one of his own--either for the protection of Montagu or, as john simmons says, for his new status.
The question of the danger in these times has been raised several time, but never quite discussed. What do you think?
john s. • Link
Gallantry and Protection...
Pauline...think they are all of a piece, My Lord would always want to make a brave show/of force as befitted his degree. Think with troops on the loose in London, some who were against a restoration, it would be only wise for Montagu to go out in public well attended/guarded.
Jenny Doughty • Link
Do we know who Kate Sterpin was, and why she would have been 'sorry to part' with Sam?
Warren Keith Wright • Link
Amid the bustle of Shrove Tuesday (Tuesday 6 March 1659/60), after dinner at the Bell, Pepys “went home, where I found Kate Sterpin who hath not been here a great while before.” Today's entry marks but her second appearance. Westminster---Hall, Palace, Abbey, Stairs---lies not far south of Axe Yard. She is anonymous (absent from the Companion, Tomalin, and the "Shorter Pepys"), and grateful: unless Volume 1 offers some hypothesis, readers can draw their own portrait of Kate.
j a gioia • Link
on the subject of keys
on march 17, sam went
"...to my own house, where all things were put up into the dining-room and locked up, and my wife took the keys along with her."
since then however he's visited home several times (there's been a flood in the meantime) and today gives the house key to hawley.
maybe they have two sets, and s. was simply noting that one was with his wife. however the implication from the earlier entry is that he can't get to their things.
this raises an interesting, to me anyway, question: does this indicate a division of domestic rights? does the mrs. have domain over the 'stuff' while sam is proper lord of the 'keep'? or is it simply more secure to have the key to their posessions with her in the country?
helena Murphy • Link
Wearing a sword was the mark of a gentleman and an officer. In the reign of Louis XIV any man could gain entry to Versailles as long as he was suitably dressed and wore a sword. One was also free to defend one's honour with it but let us hope that Pepys will not be called upon to do this. Samuel's sword seems to be a more mundane model along with his practical clothes, whilst a dress sword would have been worn on ceremonial occasions
and with more elegant attire. The following letter written by Charles II on July 5 1655 to Sir Henry Bennet from Cologne may be of interest.
"My cloaths are at last come,and I like them very well but the sword, which is the worst I ever saw,I suspect very much that it was you that made the choice, therefore you have no other way to recover your judgement in that particular but to make choice of a better, and, if you go to the shop where I bought mine when I came out of Paris,you can hardly be mistaken. My brother can tell you where it is."
The new sword arrived the following October and Bennet writes back,"It hath the approbation of men of the profession, which makes me hope your Majesty will like it. The workman by the Louvre made it".
Scott,Eva, The Travels of the King, Constable, 1907
john s. • Link
Swords & Versailles...
You're correct helena...and if you were properly dressed but didn't have a sword, there was a stand outside where you could rent one for your jaunt through the palace to view the king and family at table etc.
Glyn • Link
Kate Sterpin
As WKW points out, we last met Kate - also spelt as Catau/Catan (for Katie?)- Sterpin on 6 March, and then previously in February.
13 February: on "the way met with Catan on foot in the street and talked with her a little, so home."
And on 13 January, Samuel and Elizabeth went out especially to visit Kate.
I imagine her as one of those casual friends whom who you don't meet every day but are glad to see when you do.
Hhomeboy • Link
Pepys is admiralty secretary to Monck as well:
"...received my warrant of Mr. Blackburne, to be Secretary to the two Generals of the Fleet. "
Bureaucratically, Sam has an even more influential position than first described in his diary...this may also explain Sam's recent administrative visits to Monck's office, as well as the pragmatic consensus seemingly arrived at of late between Montagu and Monck, whom, just a few weeks prior, Montagu had considered a potential threat and rival of uncertain loyalties to the King (given Montagu's own former allegiance, we can view Montagu's suspicions of Monck either as extreme hypocrisy or informed situational judgement).
Montagu's star is in the ascendant, however; because of the nature of Sam's position, he will be receiving/sending a lot of official correspondence and c.c.'s from/to Monck.
If anyone has ready access to any of the following, please feel free to post some commentary in the coming days re: the modalities and any intrigue or detailed clarifications of the arrangements concerning the return of Charles II...
1. General Monck, Maurice Ashley, Jonathan Cape, 1977.
2. The Journal of Edward Montagu, First Earl of Sandwich, R C Anderson,The Naval Records Society, 1929.
[A re-print of the journal of Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, covering his command of the English fleet in the Baltic between 1658 and 1659, the restoration, peacetime duties and the Second ADW....]
3. Cromwell's Earl: The life of Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, Richard Ollard.Hodder & Stoughton, 1992.
P.S. Can anyone describe the nature and extent of Montagu's journals?
michael f vincent • Link
cravat,rapier,ESQ ;English signs of you have made it:
school badges colors eton tie etc veddy important for the ".."
When I failed to salute a man in a blazer I was Up on a charge for failing to salute an Hofficer, for Which I could receive 14 days " when I said I do not salute the man only the representative of the Queen and fancy badge dose not tell me that, as I had a even fancier badge and that it did not make me an " " as I was a lowly private.
Then I was posted to the worse spot in the Empire. Glad things have changed now
Second Reading
Tonyel • Link
Strange to post a reply ten years late but, surely Bess kept the dining room keys and Sam had the keys to the house until the last moment.
I like his dawning realisation of how many ways his elevation may benefit him in the future - and his insurance of asking God not to let him get carried away by it.
Bridget Davis • Link
Hi Tonyel, you are not alone. I just started about one month ago. I appeciate your insight.
jeannine • Link
Sandwich’s Journals
From the comment above re: the journals of Lord Sandwich, and with some spoilers.
Journal of the Earl of Sandwich; Navy Records Society, edited by R.C. Anderson
Introduction: “From September 1659 to March 1659/60 Mountagu (Sandwich) was ashore, for the most part in retirement at Hinchingbrooke. Of the troubles and intrigues of the autumn and winter his Journal says nothing; in fact, even for the final scenes of the Restoration it adds little to what was already known. Mountagu’s place in command of the fleet had been taken by Lawson and Vice-Admiral and the new commander, by bringing the fleet up the Thames at a critical moment and by declaring firmly for the return of Parliament, had a great share in the series of events that which made the Restoration inevitable. “
John Matthew IV • Link
From Latham-Matthews on Kate Sterpin:
"'Catau' (Kate) Sterpin, a maid-servant to Elizabeth Pye of New Palace Yard." - 1/16 & n.6
SPOILER ALERT:
On August 8, 1660, she married Henri Petit, who was a French educator.
We'll learn more later!
Third Reading
MartinVT • Link
"Strange how these people do now promise me anything; one a rapier, the other a vessel of wine or a gun, and one offered me his silver hatband to do him a courtesy. I pray God to keep me from being proud or too much lifted up hereby."
"Too much" is the key here. Sam and his company have just had "a great deal of wine, and they paid all" — free rounds at the tavern are all right, but rapiers, guns and silver hatbands perhaps are "too much." One the other hand, last week (18th), he was not too proud to accept a piece of gold and 20s. in silver from Captain Williamson as compensation for getting him "him his commission to be Captain of the Harp." A fine balancing act. (As well, there is a moral component to "being proud" or "lifted up". Even when Sam begins, later on, to take much satisfaction each month in tallying his growing net worth, it is always accompanied by an expression of thanks to God.)
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Strange how these people do now promise me anything; one a rapier, the other a vessel of wine or a gun, and one offered me his silver hatband to do him a courtesy." These were bribes, trying to obligate Pepys to do something for them.
'One the other hand, last week (18th), he was not too proud to accept a piece of gold and 20s. in silver from Captain Williamson as compensation for getting him "him his commission to be Captain of the Harp."' This was a gratuity for services rendered.
I suspect Pepys made a differential here -- as he usually does later in the Diary. His "enemies" were not above sending shills to test his ethics, and he was always careful not to step over the line.
Francois • Link
There is also a Marrowbone Lane in Dublin, probably named after Marylebone in London
Stephane Chenard • Link
Thomas Rugg will later reminisce, in his summary of the Mercurius Politicus (for July, oddly snuck'd at page 105 between a rundown of appointments and proclamations) how "in this month [July] came up a fashion that woemen did ware satin and taffety gloves and men silver band strings". Could "band-strings" be anything but hatbands? Anyway, Rugg says, "the silver band-strings did take but littl fancy", so perhaps not so compelling as a bribe.