Sunday 25 November 1660
(Lord’s day). In the forenoon I alone to our church, and after dinner I went and ranged about to many churches, among the rest to the Temple, where I heard Dr. Wilkins a little (late Maister of Trinity in Cambridge). That being done to my father’s to see my mother who is troubled much with the stone, and that being done I went home, where I had a letter brought me from my Lord to get a ship ready to carry the Queen’s things over to France, she being to go within five or six days. So to supper and to bed.
8 Annotations
First Reading
vincent • Link
"...forenoon ..alone,[no ladies],"...after dinner I went and ranged about to many churches..." 'tis the time the "bonnets " comeout after the dishes are put away. [no challenges?]
m.stolzenbach • Link
Sam is CHURCH SURFING! :)
vincent • Link
"ranging" Sunday afternoon no tennis no movies Oh! wot a too do, pubs closed during service, so wot's changed.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"I had a letter brought me from my Lord to get a ship ready to carry the Queen’s things over to France, she being to go within five or six days. "
The Queen Mother was to take Princess Henrietta to France for her marriage to the Duc d'Anjou (later Orleans. They did not in fact leave Whitehall for Portsmouth until January, and because of bad weather and the Princess's illness did not sail until the 25th. (Per L&M footnote)
Terry Foreman • Link
The Diary of Ralph Josselin
Nov: 25. The season somewhat more wintery than formerly. I observe how apt we are to account a harsh time the hardest we ever felt and a mild the best, letting slip of our mind what was formerly, and very commonly not eyeing god that gives both, god good to me in many mercies, a zeal in me in preaching that word, lord warm their souls in the love, and embracement of the truth as it is in Jesus. http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earl…
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
As today is pretty boring for Pepys, let's also think about the news from the Venetian Ambassador's point-of-view:
Dec. 3. 1660 N.S. -- Nov. 24 O.S.
Senate, Secreta.
Dispacci, Inghilterra.
Venetian Archives.
242. Francesco Giavarina, Venetian Resident in England, to the Doge and Senate.
Parliament continues to sit without intermission, watching carefully over internal affairs to consolidate the repose at present enjoyed by the people and to render durable the great gift which Providence has conferred on this nation after a long course of vexation and misery.
They keep their attention fixed on getting the money to pay off the troops, while aiming at burdening the people in the way they will feel it least, so that they may not have reason to complain, past scars being sensitive yet, although it is supposed that at present they will submit readily to any decree, in the assurance that all that is being done is to relieve them of heavier burdens, which used to be regular.
They do not lose sight of the establishment of the militia of the respective counties; many are already on foot and others are directed not to delay the execution.
The House of Peers has devoted all its time to restoring to certain lords the property (beni) lost by the usurpation of the rebels.
Yesterday it voted the restoration to the family of the earl of Arundel, now at Padua, of the dukedom of Norfolk, taken away under Queen Elizabeth, and now it only wants the concurrence of the Commons and the king's assent, which are matters of course.
[SEE https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… ]
Seeing that in the Lower House there are many members of unquiet spirit owing to differences over religion, who though unable to prevent decisions tending to quiet and the welfare of the nation, do their best to delay them, the king has decided to dissolve parliament and summon a new one.
He therefore sent word the day before yesterday that they shall issue the writs, which he has ready, with speed, because on the 20th inst., old style, he means to dissolve the present parliament, and that the members shall all go home. Meanwhile they are despatching the things begun in the short time left.
His Majesty's coronation is fixed for the 6/16 February, after which a new parliament will be summoned and as care will be taken to nominate persons entirely devoted to the king they will take many decisions which are required to clinch the royal authority, which cannot yet be called total and absolute, in the person of the present king who is compelled to depend in large part on the Presbyterians and not to offend them, seeing that they restored him to his throne, but by dissimulation and blandishment he will strengthen himself and consolidate for the future.
San Diego Sarah • Link
PART 2
The Lower House had prepared a declaration to cause all the laws against the Roman Catholics of the time of Queen Elizabeth to be put in force, but being sent to the Lords it has lain dormant, and is not expected to pass.
It seems the king does not want anything to be done against them, as he found them faithful and true during his misfortunes, and thinks it no more than a poor return to leave them undisturbed in their opinions and to shut his eyes to the private exercise of their faith.
Besides this the king shows such a propensity for Catholicism there is cause for hoping that with new influences Heaven will bless this nation and direct it into the true way, after so many thousands of sheep have wandered, in danger of falling into the jaws of a wolf which aspires to devour them without sparing one.
The marriage question between Princess Henrietta and the duke of Anjou seems to have progressed so favourably no doubt appears to remain about its conclusion.
The queen and princess are to leave here on Monday the 13th for France and Lord Jermin will go to Paris with her Majesty with full powers from the king to settle everything for these nuptials for which the duke and princess are both eager.
[HENRY JERMYN, EARL OF ST. ALBANS https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl… ]
The king having appointed commissioners to treat with the Catholic ambassador, he began his conferences with them yesterday, to treat about Dunkirk and Jamaica, wherein he will certainly meet with many difficulties. He has the king's promise that they shall not be incorporated with the crown, as parliament intended, but can obtain nothing substantial for their surrender.
[The Catholic ambassador is Spanish Ambassador Carlos, Baron de Watteville aka Bateville aka Vatteville; "the king" is Charles, and the crown represents Charles' English holdings as governed by Parliament -- keeping them apart simplifies negotiations. Batteville's name is spelled Vatteville in our Encyclopedia: https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl… ]
From recent conversation with his Excellency I gather that the Spaniards would be satisfied with the restitution of Jamaica, which costs England so dear and brings them no advantage.
For the time being they would say nothing about Dunkirk, but in the event of objections Batteville foretells not an open rupture, but a suspension of trade which would ensue in any case, with untold damage to this mart; so if they do not want to break the peace with the Catholic they must needs satisfy him in this particular.
Time will show and I will keep the Senate informed.
[I.E. the Spanish want Jamaica back -- Adm. Penn MP won't like that -- and have been offered Dunkirk as compensation.)
This also bears upon what the Spanish ambassador said to the Proveditore Cornaro, mentioned in the state missives of the 23rd October.
London, the 3rd December, 1660.
[Italian.]
San Diego Sarah • Link
Here's the citation for the aboveL
Citation: BHO Chicago MLA
'Venice: December 1660', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 32, 1659-1661, ed. Allen B Hinds (London, 1931), pp. 220-233.
British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/… [accessed 26 November 2023].