Saturday 13 December 1662

Slept long to-day till Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten were set out towards Portsmouth before I rose, and Sir G. Carteret came to the office to speak with me before I was up. So I started up and down to him. By and by we sat, Mr. Coventry and I (Sir G. Carteret being gone), and among other things, Field and Stint did come, and received the 41l. given him by the judgement against me and Harry Kem;1 and we did also sign bonds in 500l. to stand to the award of Mr. Porter and Smith for the rest: which, however, I did not sign to till I got Mr. Coventry to go up with me to Sir W. Pen; and he did promise me before him to bear his share in what should be awarded, and both concluded that Sir W. Batten would do no less. At noon broke up and dined with my wife, and then to the office again, and there made an end of last night’s examination, and got my study there made very clean and put in order, and then to write by the post, among other letters one to Sir W. Batten about this day’s work with Field, desiring his promise also. The letter I have caused to be entered in our public book of letters. So home to supper and to bed.

10 Annotations

First Reading

Terry F  •  Link

"Field and Stint did come"

Stint was Field's Solicitor.

(Stint - a short-termer?)

Todd Bernhardt  •  Link

It's always interesting to me to see how much less regimented time was for people in Sam's day ... yes, he's in a priviledged position (good job, lives next to the office, etc.), but I envy his ability to mold his schedule to his liking -- sleeping late on days that he needs it, getting up with the birds (or before) when he's got the motivation, etc.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

I notice Sam seems rather relaxed about being caught abed even by Sir George, not to mention Sir John and Sir Will B. getting off to Portsmouth before he rose. Did he perhaps not wish to rise before they'd left, either not wishing to be teased about the Field incident or to be dragged off to do the real work for Minnes and Batten at Portsmouth?

Linda F  •  Link

When Sam rises late, he usually says why. Wonder if saying that he "started up" indicates being suddenly waked with the news that Sir GC was below. But Sam is diligent, often burning midnight oil and candle. This late day follows recent strains and crises, from Treasurer's letter to untimely flooding to the parade of household help to Elisabeth's reaction, and his, to all of it. The day brought its own concerns, and Sam met them. If he remains uneasy about the 500L due and its potential effect on his own pocketbook, despite precautions taken, he keeps it at present under his hat (or peruque).

Australian Susan  •  Link

Peruque - Sam is still wearing his own hair at this time!
Sam's had a few late nights recently, including the previous one, so it's not surprising his body is cashing in its cheques, so to speak. He can always get one of the household to call him up if needs be, so presumably he did not need to see Batten and Minnes formally off. The arrival of Sir G makes him jump to it. Interesting that he carefully records his precautions about the Field business and making sure he is not left "holding the baby" of the debt. He does not really trust the Sir Williams and presumably has the witness of Coventry and probably one or other of the office clerks (the business of the public letter book). Sam being careful.
All seems quiet on the domestic front. Wonder what Sunday will bring.

Second Reading

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

"Peruque": the English word was 'periwig':

"... it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters ..."

from Hamlet's famous speech giving advice to the players
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/hamlet/…

Chris Squire UK  •  Link

OED has:

‘peruke, n. < Middle French perrucque . .
. . 2. a. A skullcap covered with hair so as to imitate the natural hair of the head; a wig; a periwig. In early use freq. in false (also artificial) peruke. Now hist. In quot. 1662 apparently: a lovelock.

In quot. 1846 identified as a smaller wig than a periwig and belonging to the reign of Charles II, but peruke is in fact found much earlier than this, and other authors identify it in sense with periwig.
. . 1613 J. Hayward Liues III. Normans 281 When their owne hair failed, they set artificiall Peruques, with long locks upon their heades.
1662 S. Pepys Diary 24 Mar. (1970) III. 51 By and by comes la Belle Perce to see my wife and to bring her a pair of peruques of hair . . ‘

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"The letter I have caused to be entered in our public book of letters."

L&M: The official series of letter-books of the Navy Board (34 vols. , from July 1660 to March 1686) was listed on 12 October 1688 as being in the 'Great Presse' in the office of the Clerk of the Acts (BL, Add. 9303 f. 124r), but has disappeared. Pepys kept in addition a personal collection of official letters (now NMM, LBK/8), which begins on 10 July 1662.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"I got Mr. Coventry to go up with me to Sir W. Pen; and he did promise me before him to bear his share in what should be awarded, and both concluded that Sir W. Batten would do no less."

L&M: The members of the Board now entered into bonds to accept out-of-court settlement according to the advice given them on 20 November:
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
See Pepys's notes (13 and 15 December) in PRO, Adm. 106/3520, f.10v. Field now asked for £250: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

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