Monday 31 August 1663

Up and to my office all the morning, where Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes did pay the short allowance money to the East India companies, and by the assistance of the City Marshall and his men, did lay hold of two or three of the chief of the companies that were in the mutiny the other day, and sent them to prison.

This noon came Jane Gentleman to serve my wife as her chamber mayde. I wish she may prove well.

So ends this month, with my mind pretty well in quiett, and in good disposition of health since my drinking at home of a little wine with my beer; but no where else do I drink any wine at all.

The King and Queen and the Court at the Bath, my Lord Sandwich in the country newly gone.

29 Annotations

First Reading

TerryF  •  Link

L&M complete this month's summing-up:thusly:

After the sentence about wine....
"My house in a way to be clean again, the Joyners and all having done; but only we lack a Cooke-maid and Jane our chambermaid is but new come to us this day.
The King and Queene and the Court at the Bath. My Lord Sandwich in the country [at Hinchingbrooke], newly gone, with my doubts concerning him having been debauched by a slut at his lodgings at Chelsy. My brother John with me, but not to me great content, because I do not see him mind his study or give me so good account thereof as I expected.
My Brother embarqued in building, and I fear in no good condition for it, for he sent to me to borrow more money, which I shall not lend him.
Myself in good condition in the office, and I hope in a good way of saving money at home."

------
We were given the usual monthly account of net worth yesterday.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

TerryF  •  Link

Typo - should be "not to my great content"

dirk  •  Link

Evelyn's diary entry for today --

"I was invited to the translation of Dr. Sheldon, Bishop of London, from that see to Canterbury, the ceremony performed at Lambeth. First, went his Grace's mace-bearer, steward, treasurer, comptroller, all in their gowns, and with white staves; next, the Bishops in their habits, eight in number; Dr. Sweate, Dean of the Arches, Dr. Exton, Judge of the Admiralty, Sir William Merick, Judge of the Prerogative Court, with divers advocates in scarlet. After divine service in the chapel, performed with music extraordinary, Dr. French and Dr. Stradling (his Grace's chaplains) said prayers. The Archbishop in a private room looking into the chapel, the Bishops who were Commissioners went up to a table placed before the altar, and sat round it in chairs. Then, Dr. Chaworth presented the commission under the broad seal to the Bishop of Winchester, and it was read by Dr. Sweate. After which, the Vicar-General went to the vestry, and brought his Grace into the chapel, his other officers marching before. He being presented to the Commissioners, was seated in a great arm-chair at one end of the table, when the definitive sentence was read by the Bishop of Winchester, and subscribed by all the Bishops, and proclamation was three times made at the chapel door, which was then set open for any to enter, and give their exceptions; if any they had. This done, we all went to dinner in the great hall to a mighty feast. There were present all the nobility in town, the Lord Mayor of London, Sheriffs, Duke of Albemarle, &c. My Lord Archbishop did in particular most civilly welcome me. So going to visit my Lady Needham, who lived at Lambeth, I went over to London."

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"...in good disposition of health since my drinking at home of a little wine with my beer..."

"Early nutritional research in the beneficial health effects of moderate doses of wine." Pepys, S.

(The technical assistance of E. Pepys is appreciated.)

Aqua  •  Link

Pomp,pomp went the old drum, the Presbys will be not be impressed, and the imprisoned Quakers be not a careing and Popists be upset that Rex Chas. has not restored them to all that splender.
See there be a nice disagreement on the Indy boats, no pay for the hammock crowd? and how ridiculous that they should complain about not getting their share of the spice and all things nice. When the ships be unloaded how many of the Investors will receive large returns for their coffee shop chits.

Michael Robinson  •  Link

Evelyn's Diary Entry

The ceremony being described, in Dirk's post of today, is the legal ceremony of a commission of bishops “Confirming the Election” of the archbishop; being already a bishop Sheldon did not require consecration in addition.

At the time the procedure was as follows: nomination by the Crown to the see, followed by a warrant, the issuance by the chancery of a letter of conge d'elire and letter missive (containing the name of the nominee) to the diocesan chapter, who then held an election within twelve days, and the result then confirmed. If the election of a diocesan bishop confirmation was by the metropolitan, if an archbishop elect by a commission of bishops. On confirmation, or within a few days, the temporalities of the see were restored by the Crown; if consecration was required after confirmation the spiritualities are restored at that time.

”Installation,” or in the case of an archbishop enthronement, in the cathedral of the diocese is purely symbolic,and if such ever took place at all would be generally be done with the use of deputies in the C17 – C19th.

jeannine  •  Link

Terry--Thanks for providing the missing sections of today's entry.

I can't help but be annoyed with Sam regarding the gossip surrounding Lord Sandwich. "My Lord Sandwich in the country [at Hinchingbrooke], newly gone, with my doubts concerning him having been debauched by a slut at his lodgings at Chelsy" and the previous entries on this subject.
When Sam turned his maid Sarah out, both he and Elizabeth were upset and angered that she "blabbed" their business outside of their house. Every time I read a reference to the Sandwich-Chelsy "slut" I can't help but think that Sam is no better than Sarah, relishing at the gossip, snooping around to see what he can find out and then passing a judgment on the situation. I also get the feeling that when a subject (Pembleton, the Chelsey "slut") hits a little too close to home for Sam, that he tends to let his imagination get the best of him and run wild.
There are reasons why Sandwich has spent so much time away from the "office". He has been sick and he did re-coup at Chelsey. He has also been busy with his family and his sons schooling, etc. In addition, he isn't the type of person to relish the back-biting, sneering, gossiping nasties of the Court of Charles II (at this point, Pepys may have reduced himself to this group). Sandwich just isn't cut from that cloth. In addition, in the role assigned to him Sandwich is now expected to do work that he doesn't like and isn't really suited for. He also has a rivalry with James, Duke of York, who is constantly trying to undermine him because he's jealous of him. We can't forget that Sandwich is a wonder at sea, and a fearless naval commander, but the administrative world, where Sam thrives, is a flat out bore to him. Perhaps in the same situation most of us would be trying to take off tot he country too.

Joe  •  Link

"the mutiny the other day"

Have we heard about this piece of news before, or did Pepys just not get around to mentioning it until now? It seems like such a casual gloss of a minor incident.

TerryF  •  Link

"the mutiny the other day"

L&M trace this to another "short allowance money" pay day Thursday last, and, when assaulted "in or near Fenchurch" by discontented sailors, Mennes, a magisrate (as were the other Principal Officers of the Navy Office, including Pepys), with assistance, arrested the leaders and sent them to prison. An investigation was ordered by the Privy Council - the upshot yet to come.

TerryF  •  Link

Off-stage events

Joe, no, we didn't hear about "the mutiny the other day" - one of those things that took place on a day that Pepys didn't see Mennes, and was concerned about personal matters. There are a lot of these events, about which we find out from notes in Latham and Matthews, and some of the erudite among our fellow-annotators.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

The Mutiny on the Short Allowance...

"Down you mutinuous dogs!! The first man forward dies!!!" Sir John bellows, one gun pointed, shaking fist with the other...Or perhaps the whole body, as the wild and raving horde, persuaded in their wretched simplicity by shrewd and evil demagoges to assault the most noble King's most glorious kingdom's peace, advance on him and the stout Sir Will Batten at his side. Sir Will likewise cocking gun at the mad dogs daring to offend against God and the proper moral and social order His support of the Restoration has re-established.

"There they are, mates!" One leader in the front rank calls. "There be the knights of the Royal Naval Office who grow fat encouragin' the king in his foul pleasures as they oppress the sailor!! Take 'em, lads!!! They can't kill us all!!!"

"You damned rascal!!" Sir John points his gun at the man who blanches and falls back like the godless coward he must be to oppose his better.

The men rather cowed by Sir Will's first warning shot...And now, noting their leader's lack of staunchness, increasingly uncertain.

"Lads!! Lets go!!" a braver man in the front row takes command and moves forward toward Sir John. Only to find himself alone by the two knights.

"Leave him to me, Will." Sir John sneers, grabbing the varlet with one hand. The crowd of miscreants, halted, eyeing each other...

"Rogue! I'll teach you to respect your King and Country!!" a hard blow sends the would-be leader to his knees...Another on the neck with the butt of Sir John's pistol, brings the hapless radical down.

"And then, Sir John?" Sam tries to maintain a solemnly attentive stare, a glare to one or two clerks...Hewer...Who cannot suppress a smile.

"Ah, the City Marshall arrived and he and his men took the two rascals into custody, the rest fled off but are slinking back to their posts one by one."

Interesting how Sir Will's account featured him taking the leaders single-handedly, Hewer quietly notes to a colleague, an overhearing Sam giving sharp look...

Aqua  •  Link

The classic Layers of Society. Now name issued by mother with name of parents, " ...came Jane Gentleman to serve my wife as her chamber mayde...." not hired as scullery or slops mayde but as personnal Mayde, thereby given the full courtesy of Christian and Family moniker not like the the poor scared to death Ninny, whom dothe not have the a family Reference used. Later in life Jinny could end being endowed with a handle of Ninny Bride or Ninny Fleet.

A. Hamilton  •  Link

Sanm and Sandwich

I see no evidence that Sam is spreading rumors to Sandwich's disadvantage. Rather, he's recording gossip he's been told, probably by Moore, that must be of concern to all of Sandwich's retinue. I have no doubt Sam is, like Moore, also concerned about Sandwich's relative standing at court. Especially, for Sam, the earl's standing with James of York, and its implications for him. In this connection, note that Sandwich goes to the country on the day that the court, including George Monck, his colleague in leading the armed forces into the exiled king's camp three-and-a-half-years earlier, are all at a magnificent feast to celebrate the installation of a new Archbishop of Cantebury. Sandwish is in eclipse, no doubt about it

Aqua  •  Link

Those that have a some wisdom may put down in their Kalendarum 'hear [here] says', but keep lips sealed, Sam'll has been an eaves [Eves] dropper of long standing, full knowing that where be smoke, the flame should be near by but where ? So he be wary of fanning said flame.
besides he read his Seneca the younger Proverbs, 74
"Magna res est vocis et silentii temperamentum"
The big thing is to have the right proportion of being vocal to keeping the tongue from waging.
another, be it be easy to criticize anothers's fooleries and not see thy own.

Australian Susan  •  Link

Mutiny

Arson in Her Majesty's Shipyards is still a hanging offence in the UK. And mutiny remained a crime which caused more serious repressions than some other similar ones. For example, after the French revolution of 1789, other European Govts became very anxious about any kind of unrest (espec in the UK after the 13 Colonies had been lost)and paranoia was rampant. However, a mutiny over pay at Spithead was put down far more severely than similar types of unrest in the Army and also in civilian society (although members of the London Coressponding Society were very harshly dealt with as suspected revolutionaries). If sailors mutinied at sea, the officers were at their mercy (cf The Bounty), so any hint of this behavious had to be quelled - often viciously.

Aqua  •  Link

Last Known Mutiny RN be 1931 Invergordon Mutiny, Pay between 185x and 1917 had not change, the Labour Government wanted to reduce pay 25% so that it be below Trafalgar pay?
The death penalty in Britain for treason was abolished, and replaced by life imprisonment, by Section 36 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. This came into force on 30 September 1998.
http://
www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/w…
RIN 1947 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomb…
WWI produced a nice series of Mutinies that changed history; many only know now due the freedom of Information act.
http://www.geocities.com/cordobak…

Australian Susan  •  Link

Sorry, I was wrong - arson in Royal Dockyards ceased to be a capital offence in 1971. see interesting timeline of capital punishment - contains such items as last women hanged for witchcraft in England were despatched as late as 1682.
http://www.richard.clark32.btinte…

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes did pay the short allowance money to the East India companies"

These East Indamen had taken part in Marlborough's vexed voyage to take possession of Bombay from the Portuguese reported by Pepys 15 May: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… For a time their crews had been supplied with only four-fifths of their rations. They received so-called "short allowance" (what sailors called called "pinch-gut") money in compensation.
(Per L&M footnote)

PINCH-GUT PAY. The short allowance money.
The Sailor's Word-Book, by William Henry Smyth
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"by the assistance of the City Marshall and his men, did lay hold of two or three of the chief of the companies that were in the mutiny the other day, and sent them to prison."

The city marshals and their men

In 1570s, the Court of Aldermen introduced the "provost marshals" when the haphazard police force could not control the city's large population of beggars. In the 17th century, they acquired a regular salaried status, with duties very much like of those of constables, beadles and Watchman (law enforcement) watchmen, and later also executed warrants of arrest later throughout England and in America. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cha…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"the mutiny the other day"

L&M note that, on the 27th, Mennes had been attacked 'in or near' Fenchurch St. by sailors discontented with their pay. The Privy Council ordered the Principal Officers to use their authority as magistrates, and required the Lord Mayor -- whose deputy the City Marshal was -- to lend his assistance.

For the Navy Office's Principal Officers' authority as magistrates see: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"This noon came Jane Gentleman to serve my wife as her chamber mayde. I wish she may prove well."

She stayed until March 1664. (L&M)

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Recording things on shorthand in a personal diary is not gossip. There's no evidence that Sam is anything but a loyal member of "Team Sandwich", unlike, say, Ned Pickering whom he rather despises.

Louise Hudson  •  Link

Sasha Clarkson, do you really think Pepys never spoke the thoughts he recorded in his diary? They sound very gossipy to me.

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Hi Louise: I'm sure Pepys enjoyed gossip, but he was very loyal to Sandwich, and kept doubts about his actions private, except to his most trusted confidants, eg Moore.

He had to protect Sandwich by being publicly loyal to Creed over his accounts, and he didn't like it. His diary helped him let off steam safely! :)

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Sasha Clarkson. shall we supply "rumor" (what other people say, what they say is said) for "gossip", if you dislike this term?

Pepys gets a frequent supply of this from James Pearse (surgeon to the Duke of York), John Creed and Captain Cocke. Pepys himself is a frequently-skeptical listener: a search for "how true I know not" yields
http://www.pepysdiary.com/search/…
L&M run a pretty careful fact-check of what is said (by others to Pepys) has happened or what is said will happen, which are often untrue or mistaken. (I do try to post what L&M say so others can also know.)

Chris Squire UK  •  Link

Re: ‘pinchgut’

‘pinch-gut, adj. and n. Naut. slang. That pinches the stomach; mean or scanty, esp. regarding food. Obs.
. . 1682 Heraclitus Ridens 25 Apr. 2/2 'Twas..promised that the poor Prisoners should have amends..for that pinch-gut Year they had . .

B. n. A person who deprives another of sufficient food; (Naut. slang) a miserly purser.
. . a1659 Lady Alimony ii. ii. sig. B4, A Mundungo's Monopolist, a paltry-penurious-pecking pinchgut . .

pinch-gut money n. Naut. slang Obs. an allowance given to sailors when their provisions are not sufficient.
1660 in 7th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1879) 141 John Price..complains that Richard Hutchinson has wronged him by paying £16, besides Pinchgutt mony, to a wrong person . . ‘

(OED)

Third Reading

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