Friday 21 September 1660
(Office day). There all the morning and afternoon till 4 o’clock. Hence to Whitehall, thinking to have put up my books at my Lord’s, but am disappointed from want of a chest which I had at Mr. Bowyer’s. Back by water about 8 o’clock, and upon the water saw the corpse of the Duke of Gloucester brought down Somerset House stairs, to go by water to Westminster, to be buried to-night. I landed at the old Swan and went to the Hoop Tavern, and (by a former agreement) sent for Mr. Chaplin, who with Nicholas Osborne and one Daniel came to us and we drank off two or three quarts of wine, which was very good; the drawing of our wine causing a great quarrel in the house between the two drawers which should draw us the best, which caused a great deal of noise and falling out till the master parted them, and came up to us and did give us a large account of the liberty that he gives his servants, all alike, to draw what wine they will to please his customers; and we did eat above 200 walnuts. About 10 o’clock we broke up and so home, and in my way I called in with them at Mr. Chaplin’s, where Nicholas Osborne did give me a barrel of samphire, and showed me the keys of Mardyke Fort, which he that was commander of the fort sent him as a token when the fort was demolished, which I was mightily pleased to see, and will get them of him if I can.
Home, where I found my boy (my maid’s brother) come out of the country to-day, but was gone to bed and so I could not see him to-night.
To bed.
10 Annotations
First Reading
Paul Brewster • Link
to be buried tonight
L&M: "He was buried at about midnight in Henry VII's chapel, Westminster Abbey. ... Funerals especially of grand and wealthy personages, were commonly held at night, to the light of torches which were extinguished at the grave."
Paul Brewster • Link
Keyes of Mardyke Fort
L&M add the following info in their footnote: "Mardyke, in Flanders (four miles east of Dunkirk), having been taken from the Spaniards in 1657, the Council of State ordered it slighted in August 1659.... Sandwich had commanded the naval force at the time of its capture."
Barbara • Link
Fresh samphire has become a trendy vegetable and is available from, mainly, smart fishmongers.
Brian G McMullen • Link
Two drawers competing to serve the best wine.
I understand they are serving the wine but is the term 'drawer' significant? Are they also servers or not? If they are in addition to servers the Hoop Tavern must be a fairly large establishment.
Mary • Link
The drawing of the wine
Presumably this wine is being drawn from barrels, kegs, firkins or what you will and part of the drawers' expertise lies in drawing off the wine without disturbing the sediment or lees.
vincent • Link
"we did eat above 200 walnuts" I have found walnuts to be a good laxitive, I only need a couple. I wonder did it work then?
language hat • Link
I hope the effect was not proportional to the quantity consumed...
(Welcome back, vincent - we missed you!)
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
Fort-Mardyck
The fort of Mardyck was constructed in 1622 by architect Jean Gamel. It was built for the Spanish who ruled Flanders at the time. The fort was captured, lost, and captured again by the French between 1644 and 1658. After the Battle of the Dunes (June 14, 1658) the fort came under the control of the English Commonwealth, in accordance with the terms of their involvement. After having bought Dunkirk and the fort of Mardyck from the English in 1662, King Louis XIV of France ordered that the fort be dismantled. On 12 February 1867, a French imperial decree established Fort-Mardyck as an independent municipality. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort…
Terry Foreman • Link
"Home, where I found my boy"
L&M: Jane's brother, Wayneman Birch, who succeeded Will.
Terry Foreman • Link
"Nicholas Osborne did give me a barrel of samphire, and showed me the keys of Mardyke Fort, which he that was commander of the fort sent him as a token when the fort was demolished,"
L&M: Mardyke, in Flanders (four miles east of Dunkirk), having been taken fron the Spaniards in
September 1657, the Council of State ordered its fort slighted in August 1659: CSPD 1629-60, p. 142. Sandwick had commanded the naval force at the time of its capture.