Tuesday 15 September 1663
Up pretty betimes and rode as far as Godmanchester, Mr. Moore having two falls, once in water and another in dirt, and there ’light and eat and drunk, being all of us very weary, but especially my uncle and wife. Thence to Brampton to my father’s, and there found all well, but not sensible how they ought to treat my uncle and his son, at least till the Court be over, which vexed me, but on my counsel they carried it fair to them; and so my father, cozen Thomas, and I up to Hinchingbroke, where I find my Lord and his company gone to Boughton, which vexed me; but there I find my Lady and the young ladies, and there I alone with my Lady two hours, she carrying me through every part of the house and gardens, which are, and will be, mighty noble indeed. Here I saw Mrs. Betty Pickering, who is a very well-bred and comely lady, but very fat. Thence, without so much as drinking, home with my father and cozen, who staid for me, and to a good supper; after I had had an hour’s talk with my father abroad in the fields, wherein he begun to talk very highly of my promises to him of giving him the profits of Sturtlow, as if it were nothing that I give him out of my purse, and that he would have me to give this also from myself to my brothers and sister; I mean Brampton and all, I think: I confess I was angry to hear him talk in that manner, and took him up roundly in it, and advised him if he could not live upon 50l. per ann., which was another part of his discourse, that he would think to come and live at Tom’s again, where 50l. per ann. will be a good addition to Tom’s trade, and I think that must be done when all is done. But my father spoke nothing more of it all the time I was in the country, though at the time he seemed to like it well enough. I also spoke with Piggott too this evening before I went in to supper, and doubt that I shall meet with some knots in my business to-morrow before I can do it at the Court, but I shall do my best.
After supper my uncle and his son to Stankes’s to bed, which troubles me, all our father’s beds being lent to Hinchingbroke, and so my wife and I to bed, she very weary.
15 Annotations
First Reading
Pedro • Link
"and there I alone with my Lady two hours, she carrying me through every part of the house and gardens, which
are, and will be, mighty noble indeed."
Up to Hinchingbroke, and there with Mr. Sheply did look all over the house, and I do, I confess, like well of the alteracions, and do like the staircase, but there being nothing to make the outside more regular and modern, I am not satisfied with it, but do think it to be too much to be laid out upon it.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Aqua • Link
Sam should have said "Mr Moore ye be oozing again'" "...Mr. Moore having two falls, once in water and another in dirt..." As they wended along the old Ermine way, was it Buckland or be it Kneesworth, or again The River Ouse that gave Mr Moore his bruising.
Robert Gertz • Link
"After supper my uncle and his son to Stankes’s to bed, which troubles me, all our father’s beds being lent to Hinchingbroke..."
(Hmmn...What happened to the son-in-law?)
"Sam'l, why be ye seemin' so troubled, son?"
"Who knows what those two scheming devils are up to at Stankes, Father!" a pacing Sam stops, stamping foot.
"Son? At 50L per annum, we can't afford to have the floors scratched by your fine court shoes."
"Oh. Yes, sorry Father."
"Fine shoes indeed. Must have cost you what? 30Ls?"
"Oh, something like that, Father. But to think of those two plotting and scheming against tomorrow. You know I found Uncle Thomas to be quite a learned and clever man after all."
"30Ls...For shoes?" John, muttering...
"Cheap bastard..." breathed...
"He's far more capable than I thought. What was that, Father?"
"Oh, nothing. As I said, 'deep matters', son...Deep matters."
30 stinking pounds for a miserable pair of shoes...Which Tom could have got him at a discount. And for his own father...
"And Sir Robert's sure to be on their side...I'd bet they'll be meeting at Stankes tonight. They'll try to cut us to bone, be sure of it."
"Runs in the family..." Muttered...
"I mean, in their branch, son, such scheming ways..."
"Yes, yes." Impatient wave... "Lord, if only I could find an excuse to go over and see if Sir Robert is there now."
"What and risk your 30L shoes? I mean, in that muddy road, son. You might come to harm."
"Yes, yes. Well, I'll be off to check on my poor Bess." with wave, Sam is out the door.
Wish we had a pint or two of that particular beer handy right now, John glowers after him.
Australian Susan • Link
What a tiring day! made me weary just to read about all this walking and talking and riding about! Sam has amazing energy.
The son-in-law: I think he was at Bishop's gate in London just to see them off. (maybe he needs to ingratiate himself with his pa-in-law?)
Pedro • Link
On this Day...
15th September 1663 Holmes’ commission on the Reserve ends. The Reserve had been chosen by Prince Rupert to test the pendulum watch of Huygens at sea. On his return Holmes submitted “An account of Going of the two watches at sea from 28th April to 4th September 1663.” Sir Robert Moray would present the report to the Royal Society on October 21st.
(Man of War…Ollard)
TerryF • Link
A "very" day, 5 in all -
2 of "weary", one of how fat *this* Betty is.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
And "vexed", 2 -- close together.
Marquess • Link
I wonder how nice Hinchinbroke looks today, it is still in the earl of Sandwich's family.
Terry Foreman • Link
"Hinchinbroke...is still in the earl of Sandwich's family."
Alas, no more: The Ninth Earl died in 1962. By 1963 there was no alternative. The house would have to be sold... from Houseful at Hinchingbrooke - Mary Stuart
The House
By the 1960's The House had fallen into decay and the Montagu family could not afford its upkeep. It was sold to the Local Authority where there was great discussion about the re-use of the house and its extensive grounds
http://www.hinchhouse.org.uk/down…
Today: http://www.hhpac.co.uk/default.htm
San Diego Sarah • Link
Sir Sydney Montagu, who was married to Paulina Pepys and one of the Master of Requests to Charles I, bought Hinchingbrooke House from Sir Oliver Cromwell (the Protector's uncle) on 20 June 1627. Oliver Cromwell (Protector) hated the Montagu family for living in what he considered his birthright.
Sir Sydney Montagu’s brother, Edward Montagu was 1st Lord Montagu of Boughton, Northamptonshire, and his other brother, Henry Montagu, was 1st Earl of Manchester with his seat at Kimbolton Castle.
So when he hear that the Earl of Sandwich has gone to Boughton, it's reasonable to assume he was visiting his family.
Sasha Clarkson • Link
"Oliver Cromwell (Protector) hated the Montagu family for living in what he considered his birthright"
I have read this assertion before, but never any evidence for it. Apart from the fact that as a descendant of a younger son, it was never *his* birthright, pursuing petty grudges was not part of Cromwell's character. Indeed, Sandwich, as mere Edward Mountague, was trusted and well treated by Cromwell. This was obviously reciprocated as Mountague was one of those who urged Protector Cromwell to accept the crown. In contrast, the Protector did not have particularly good relations with his namesake Sir Oliver, a royalist.
Cromwell certainly had differences with the Manchester branch of the Montagus (the Earldom is likely to be named after Godmanchester in Huntingdonshire, mentioned above, not Manchester in Lancashire), but that was for a multiplicity of other reasons, described in detail in Antonia Fraser's biography.
David G • Link
I can't help but wonder why Hinchingbrooke was short of beds -- an extremely large house party? -- and why the housekeeper decided to borrow beds from Mr. Pepys -- was he the closest neighbor? because he is a (distant) relation? -- and why, when Sandwich and his "company" left for Boughton, the beds weren't returned.
StanB • Link
http://enterifyoudare.wixsite.com…
One of the more recent additions for the use of Hinchingbrooke House , I have a friend who went on this event she was suitably scared, With Halloween fast approaching check it out fellow Pepysians it's certainly a novel way to experience the House.
Wonder what Sam would have made of it ?
Louise Hudson • Link
". . . and so my wife and I to bed, she very weary."
I should think so, too.
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ’ . . not sensible how they ought to treat my uncle and his son . .’
‘sensible, adj. and n. < French . .
11. a. Cognizant, conscious, aware of something. Often with some tinge of emotional sense: Cognizant of something as a ground for pleasure or regret . .
. . 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 200 The Birds, which were not yet sensible of the Cold,..continued their Chirping and Singing till near the middle of December.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 14 Feb. (1974) VIII. 62 Which shows how little we are sensible of the weight of the business upon us . . ‘