Monday 4 June 1660
Waked in the morning at four o’clock to give some money to Mr. Hetly, who was to go to London with the letters that I wrote yesterday night. After he was gone I went and lay down in my gown upon my bed again an hour or two. At last waked by a messenger come for a Post Warrant for Mr. Hetly and Mr. Creed, who stood to give so little for their horses that the men would not let them have any without a warrant, which I sent them.
All the morning getting Captain Holland’s commission done, which I did, and he at noon went away. I took my leave of him upon the quarter-deck with a bottle of sack, my Lord being just set down to dinner.
Then he being gone I went to dinner and after dinner to my cabin to write.
This afternoon I showed my Lord my accounts, which he passed, and so I think myself to be worth near 100l. now. In the evening I made an order for Captain Sparling of the Assistance to go to Middleburgh, to fetch over some of the King’s goods. I took the opportunity to send all my Dutch money, 70 ducatoons and 29 gold ducats to be changed, if he can, for English money, which is the first venture that ever I made, and so I have been since a little afeard of it. After supper some music and so to bed.
This morning the King’s Proclamation against drinking, swearing, and debauchery, was read to our ships’ companies in the fleet, and indeed it gives great satisfaction to all.1
19 Annotations
First Reading
Rita • Link
Considering Charles II's reputation for debauchery, this proclamation is highly ironic!
vincent • Link
Note 1 goosy gander?
Paul Brewster • Link
King's Proclamation
a different take from L&M
“‘A proclamation against debauched and profane persons, who, on pretence of regard to the King, revile and threaten others, or spend their time in taverns and tippling houses, drinking his health … ‘(30 May) … a copy was sent to Pepys on 2 June … It had been occasioned by loyal excesses committed on the King’s birthday (29 May).”
Steve Pillar • Link
Any one know what the Post Warrant required for Mr. Hetly and Mr. Creed is all about?
klai • Link
Middleburgh -
"The port of Middelburg, on Walcheren Island at the mouth of the Wester Schelde, was an important staging harbour for the trans-shipment of cargoes, particularly English cloth and French wine."
(from Anthony Farrington, "The English Factory in Japan, 1613-1623" p. 251 n.1)
Mike Hudak • Link
Post Warrant - "authority to employ posthorses" from Select Glossary - L&M Vol 1 - page 344
helena murphy • Link
The King's Proclamation , a copy of which is sent to Pepys ,is received with satisfaction by all as it is an extra tool with which to impose discipline on board ship. A drunken sailor, irrespective of his loyalties, is of little use to the fleet in the now growing professionalism of the Royal Navy.
JonTom Kittredge • Link
Post Warrant
I'm still a little unclear on the passage, "[They] stood to give so little for their horses that the men would not let them have any without a warrant". It sounds like if Messrs Hetly and Creed had been able to pay more, the post house would have given them the horses without a warrant. Does that mean the Post Warrant is a requisition to use a government transport for free (or at a discount)?
Nix • Link
The post warrant is a guarantee by a government official of payment for, and return of, the horses. It serves the same purpose as giving a credit card impression when you are renting a car -- assurance that the property will be returned, or that there is some source to pay for it beyond your charming smile. The alternative was to leave a large cash deposit, which Hetley and Creed wouldn't or, more likely, couldn't do.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
" I took the opportunity to send all my Dutch money, 70 ducatoons and 29 gold ducats to be changed, if he can, for English money, which is the first venture that ever I made, and so I have been since a little afeard of it."
L&M note the "venture" failed and the change be made in London at Blackwell's on 23 June:.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Terry Foreman • Link
In Commons
Members take Oaths.http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=26206#s2
THIS Day the Right honourable James, Marquis and Earl of Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Lord Steward of the King's Majesty's Houshold, came into the Lobby, at the Door of the House of Commons; where a Table being set, and a Chair prepared, his Lordship being attended by the Clerk of the Crown, and Wm. Jessop, Esquire, Clerk of the Commons House of Parliament, with the Rolls of such Names of the Commons, as were returned to serve in this present Parliament; his Lordship gave the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance to several Members of the House, (now called by a Cryer) whom he had by his Commission, or Warrant, bearing Date this Day, deputed to administer the same to other Members in his Absence; the Clerk of the Commons House writing down the Names of those to whom the Oaths were so administered; and each Person, so written down, answering to his Name as he was called; the Clerk of the Commons also reading, in the first Place, publickly, the Oath of Supremacy, and, afterwards, the Oath of Allegiance by Parts; and each Member repeating the same.
_____
The form of the Oath of Supremacy and Oath of Allegiance.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
Adam • Link
I'm not sure that sailors who enjoy drinking, swearing and debauchery (probably most of them) would be satisfied by this proclamation.
Dick Wilson • Link
The explanation that the proclamation was aimed at people drinking the King's Health and threatening folks who had better things to do, makes sense.
Otherwise, It is Charles II here, no stranger to ardent spirits, who excelled at debauchery, taking dead aim at two of Pepys' favorite pastimes.
Dick Wilson • Link
The explanation that the proclamation was aimed at people drinking the King's Health and threatening folks who had better things to do, makes sense.
Otherwise, It is Charles II here, no stranger to ardent spirits, who excelled at debauchery, taking dead aim at two of Pepys' favorite pastimes.
Terry Foreman • Link
Proclamation against debauched and profane persons, who, on pretence of regard to the King, revile and threaten others, or spend their time in taverns and tippling houses, drinking his health; ordering magistrates to be strict in discovering and punishing the same, Printed. [Proclamation Collection, Charles II., p. 3.] https://books.google.com/books?id…
San Diego Sarah • Link
http://brittlebooks.library.illin…
John Evelyn's Diary – he and Mary Browne Evelyn live at Saye's Court, Deptford.
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4 June, 1660.
I received letters of Sir Richard Browne's landing at Dover, and also letters from the Queen, which I was to deliver at Whitehall, not as yet presenting myself to his Majesty, by reason of the infinite concourse of people.
The eagerness of men, women, and children, to see his Majesty, and kiss his hands, was so great, that he had scarce leisure to eat for some days, coming as they did from all parts of the nation; and the King being as willing to give them that satisfaction, would have none kept out, but gave free access to all sorts of people.
Addressing myself to the Duke, I was carried to his Majesty, when very few noblemen were with him, and kissed his hands, being very graciously received.
I then returned home, to meet Sir Richard Browne, who came not till the 8th, after nineteen years exile, during all which time he kept up in his chapel the Liturgy and Offices of the Church of England, to his no small honor, and in a time when it was so low, and as many thought utterly lost, that in various controversies both with Papists and Sectaries, our divines used to argue for the visibility of the Church, from his chapel and congregation.
I was all this week to and fro at court about business.
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This Sir Richard Browne was John Evelyn’s father-in-law, the former owner of Sayes Court, and now the former Resident of the King in Paris. https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
The Queen here was Queen Mother Henrietta Maria.
Hand-carrying the mail was common in these days. There was sporadic international mail services, but you never knew who read it along the way, or when it would arrive. That made the use of cyphers and letter-locking a necessity. More on all of this later. Much safer for the Royals to find someone trustworthy to carry letters over directly.
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
"At last waked by a messenger come for a Post Warrant for Mr. Hetly and Mr. Creed, who stood to give so little for their horses that the men would not let them have any without a warrant, which I sent them."
This must have given Pepys a chuckle.
First, Creed as Fleet Treasurer must have inherited the problem of how to pay all the sailors a month's pay when Charles II only gave them 700/. to do it with. Plus Pepys never said he was on board, being handed this "opportunity".
And second, here is Pepys with twice as much money as when he came on board, approving a warrant so Creed can hire a horse because he hasn't enough to pay on his own.
Very gratifying all around, eh Pepys? You won this round.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"I took the opportunity to send all my Dutch money, 70 ducatoons and 29 gold ducats to be changed, if he can, for English money, which is the first venture that ever I made, and so I have been since a little afeard of it."
I feel the same way about currency exchange. But how nice to be able to extend such a service to the royals and their staff. "You only have ducats? Here, let me held you out -- give me 20 of those and I can let you have 10/.."
But now he has a pocket full of ducats to get rid of.
Terry Foreman • Link
A link that works : The oaths of allegiance & supremacy
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo…