Tuesday 7 October 1662
At the office all the morning, dined at home with my wife. After dinner with her by coach to see Mr. Moore, who continues ill. I took his books of accounts, and did discourse with him about my Lord’s and my own businesses, and there being Mr. Battersby by, did take notice of my having paid him the 100l. borrowed of him, which they both did confess and promise to return me my bond. Thence by water with Will. Howe to Westminster, and there staying a little while in the Hall (my wife’s father and mother being abroad, and so she returning presently) thence by coach to my Lord’s, and there I left money for Captain Ferrers to buy me two bands. So towards the New Exchange, and there while my wife was buying things I walked up and down with Dr. Williams, talking about my law businesses, and thence took him to my brother’s, and there gave him a glass of wine, and so parted, and then by coach with my wife home, and Sir J. M. and Sir W. B. being come from Chatham Pay I did go see them for complaisance, and so home and to bed.
18 Annotations
First Reading
Pedro • Link
"and there I left money for Captain Ferrers to buy me two bands."
A bit over the top for Elizabeth's dancing lessons!
Tony Eldridge • Link
"Mr Battersby, the 100l. borrowed of him"
This may have been mentioned before I discovered this splendid site but, 100l.! A serious sum of money when he considers himself well off with 600l.. Why did he borrow it and what collateral could he have given?
dirk • Link
Battersby's loans
3 October 1661:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
"and there I signed a bond to Mr. Battersby, a friend of Mr. Moore's, who lends me 50£, the first money that ever I borrowed upon bond for my own occasion"
18 November 1661:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
"I went to Mr. Battersby's ... and there I received 50£ more, which make up 100£ that I now have borrowed of him, and so I did burn the old bond for 50£, and paying him the use of it did make a new bond for the whole 100£."
dirk • Link
Posting error
In the above the "£" should of course read just "£". Something strange happened to the posting on its way from my keyboard to the blog...
Cumgranissalis • Link
Wot be they, bands of ? "...there I left money for Captain Ferrers to buy me two bands...."
Pauline • Link
Bands
They've come up before, not that we got real clear about them:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Michael Robinson • Link
BANDS: Decoration worn at the throat, usually under the gown and usually made from white linen or cotton. Bands may be long and narrow and divided into two sections or they may be square and undivided. The undivided type may be trimmed with white lace and may be either plain or pleated. Copied from:-
http://www.harcourts.com/academic…
In addition to being a part of formal accademic dress still today, bands are seen worn by English barristers & some clergy on occasions.
Australian Susan • Link
So why is Sam getting Capt F to buy items of sartorial elegance for him?
Michael Robinson • Link
Capt Ferrers and the sartorial ...
To quote part of the L&M comanion bio. posted on this site:-
"In Dec. 1668 he was given the place as yeoman tailor in the Great Wardrobe which Pepys had once hoped to obtain for his father."
Which suggests the good Captain had skills in this department sufficient to be recognised by third parties other then Pepys.
Robert Gertz • Link
"And Pepys..." Moore gasps for breath.
Bess looking anxiously at Sam...
"Should I die, you will see to my wife and..."
"Yes, yes. Now, Moore." Sam plops on the edge of the bed. "I have here the last account of the court at Brampton and I was wondering..."
Pauline • Link
'the good Captain had skills in this department'
Or access to good buys in quality materials. He may, in turn, come to Sam for his hemp needs.
language hat • Link
Why would he have repaid such a sum without getting his bond back on the spot?
Pauline • Link
One possible reason...
Moore and Battersby are two people he trusts explicitly. Battersby probably doesn't have the bond on him; Sam and Moore (sick in bed) are looking at Sam's accounts. Some sense that they are attesting to payment that was made in past. Seems the bond would have been given over in that case. Might it happen that your bond could be in someone else's hand for a further financial transaction and if you are ready to pay you might need to give warning so the bond can be called in?
Conrad • Link
Do we know what Sam needed this money for in the first place ie., the first fifty & then the second fifty?
Cumgranissalis • Link
1 years interest: 8% [8 quid] or there abouts unless the Minister believes interest be usury [which I gather it was not so]first . It is Samuell's first dabble at borrowing monies for his own account [I wonder? does Samuell put this loan in his account as part of his wealth i.e. cash in hand less wot be owed ] NB he burnt his first Bond, [the one that says if he don't pay up he be of interest to the Dungerness crabs...just kidding] on [first loan before consolidating]] which he paid the interest due, months worth or would that be 3 mths worth i.e. 2% or 1 libre.
[see background; this be my sum min' up]
Cumgranissalis • Link
The minister be a man of the Cloth, Ideally trustworthy, otherwise there be Hell to pay, then Moore be melords man and co-worker on the Sandwiches wealth. It sounds like The Minister came at the right time, not expecting monies then and there, the IOU be tucked away in his den back at the Vicarage?
Roy Feldman • Link
Re: Conrad: Do we know what Sam needed this money for...?
Perhaps for all the recent renovations and expansions of his house?
dirk • Link
What Sam needed this money for?
The "Story so far" (see link on top of this page) notes for November 1661:
"Life is becoming expensive for Pepys. On top of his upwardly mobile lifestyle (including buying books and visiting the theatre) he has commissioned a painter to produce portraits of himself and his wife. Lady Mountagu also 'earnestly' suggested Pepys should spend more money on Elizabeth..." -- which he does.
This seems to suggest that it's mainly Sam's expensive lifestyle at the time which forces him into borrowing money. Remember also that this was one of the reasons that Sam will eventually cut down on theatre etc, and resort to his "oaths".