Friday 2 June 1665
Lay troubled in mind abed a good while, thinking of my Tangier and victualling business, which I doubt will fall. Up and to the Duke of Albemarle, but missed him. Thence to the Harp and Ball and to Westminster Hall, where I visited “the flowers” in each place, and so met with Mr. Creed, and he and I to Mrs. Croft’s to drink and did, but saw not her daughter Borroughes. I away home, and there dined and did business. In the afternoon went with my tallys, made a fair end with Colvill and Viner, delivering them 5000l. tallys to each and very quietly had credit given me upon other tallys of Mr. Colvill for 2000l. and good words for more, and of Mr. Viner too. Thence to visit the Duke of Albemarle, and thence my Lady Sandwich and Lord Crew. Thence home, and there met an expresse from Sir W. Batten at Harwich, that the fleete is all sailed from Solebay, having spied the Dutch fleete at sea, and that, if the calmes hinder not, they must needs now be engaged with them.
Another letter also come to me from Mr. Hater, committed by the Council this afternoon to the Gate House, upon the misfortune of having his name used by one, without his knowledge or privity, for the receiving of some powder that he had bought.
Up to Court about these two, and for the former was led up to my Lady Castlemayne’s lodgings, where the King and she and others were at supper, and there I read the letter and returned; and then to Sir G. Carteret about Hater, and shall have him released to-morrow, upon my giving bail for his appearance, which I have promised to do. Sir G. Carteret did go on purpose to the King to ask this, and it was granted. So home at past 12, almost one o’clock in the morning.
To my office till past two, and then home to supper and to bed.
28 Annotations
First Reading
Glyn • Link
Would the powder that someone obtained in Hayter’s name be gunpowder?
Meanwhile, both the English and Dutch fleets have now left their ports and there are 190 to 200 ships at sea, divided almost equally between the two fleets. The Dutch have a few more, including some huge merchant ships belonging to the “VOC” (the Dutch East India Company), but the English have more of the ones with the biggest guns. The two fleets are evenly matched.
Sir William Penn has escaped from the daily routine of the Navy Office and is in the Duke of York’s flagship as his second-in-command, as the Duke has no experience of naval warfare, Sandwich is in charge of one of the other two English squadrons, and Coventry is somewhere out there as well. Isn’t it a pity that none of them asked Pepys to come along for the ride.
Glyn • Link
I do like the way that Pepys and Carteret are willing to defend Hayter - good bosses to work for.
Robert Gertz • Link
Sam's come through for Hayter before regarding his Quaker leanings. Very kind. Odd that the poor man should find himself in such a predicament. I wonder if someone has learned of his religious inclination and wishes to do him ill. Certainly I can understand the government would be quick to jump on anything involving traffic in gunpowder, assuming it is gunpowder.
Of course perhaps Hayter is not merely a fine clerk but knows where a few bodies are buried. Some one must be around occasionally when Tangier and other matters are discussed and when Mrs. Bagwell or others show up...
***
"Isn’t it a pity that none of them asked Pepys to come along for the ride."
"Coventry...Why don't we have Pepys summoned out here? Bet he'd enjoy the chance to show his nautical knowledge on a ship on the high seas facing battle." smiling Jamie.
"A bit too cruel, your Grace. The lad has worked hard in the office."
Terry Foreman • Link
L&M, citing the indictment, say "the charge was one of embezzling powder from the King's stores," so each reader can decide whether the Merry Monarch might have been storing heaps of face-powder.
Paul Chapin • Link
"the misfortune of having his name used by one, without his knowledge or privity"
Identity theft, 17th century style (credit Susan Chapin for that observation)
Paul Chapin • Link
"which I doubt will fall"
Just a reminder, in case it's needed, that here "doubt" means "suspect."
CGS • Link
Pepys be too useful in getting the nuts and bolts and bunting ready for the Admirals for them to want Samuell along for the joy ryde. He has to get more cheddar and bacon rinds and other ails for the tars.
Mary • Link
Lady Castlemayne's lodgings.
Just imagine how thrilled Pepys would have been a couple of years ago if he had been provided with the opportunity to visit Lady C's lodgings. He'd have been all a-flush at being so close to her love-nest. Now he has overshadowing, weightier issues on his mind.
That 2 a.m. supper: poor servants! I presume they didn't just leave a plate of bread and cheese and a mug of ale on the table for him, but were obliged to wait for his coming. Just time to snatch 3 or 4 hours' sleep before they're up again with the sun.
Pedro • Link
And the battle draws ever closer…
“And at 8 this night Southwold bore WbN 7 leagues off, the Hollanders fleet being ESE, and EbS from us about 3 leagues…The enemy still having the weather guage on us, but did not bear up on us. About an hour before sunset a fireship of the enemy’s took fire by accident and burnt all night (which we spent standing to the westward).”
(Journal of Edward Montagu edited by Anderson)
Robert Gertz • Link
"... fleete is all sailed from Solebay, having spied the Dutch fleete at sea, and that, if the calmes hinder not, they must needs now be engaged with them."
"Wars and lechery...Nothing else holds fashion."
Ought to be quite a nerve-racking day tomorrow for Sam, awaiting the news as he remembers he has made himself the face of the Naval Office, even to the King.
"There 'E is, dressed all in finest silk stolen from our purses, the man wot didn't send provisions and gunpowder to our boys at sea and caused 'em to lose the great battle!"
"Yes." Charles who'd been surrounded by the mob in his coach. "That's the man who let us all down! Samuel Pepys! Nice suit, Pepys, by the way. Take out your proper justice on him, my good people!"
"Adulterer!" the fairest flower cries. "Wasting his time with me..." ("And me..." "And me..." Betty and Mrs. B cry from the mob.) "...whilst he shoulda been looking after his business for our boys!"
"Might I offer you a lift?" Charles, gallantly to the fairest flower...As the mob turns to charge on a startled Sam and family, coachman abandoning them.
"Sam'l?"
"Run, run!...And don't let go of Mother!"
"What? Sam'l? Another bad dream?" Bess, staring.
***
Wim van der Meij • Link
A visit to "the flowers" again, but no taking out to Tothill Fields.
Todd Bernhardt • Link
So, it seems that Sam has convinced that "impertinent fool" Colvill to take some of the tallys after all ... I wonder what made the difference?
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Sam's energy continues to astound me. What a day. Running on adrenaline and the buzz you get from being a Power Player, I guess.
Bradford • Link
Paul, does L&M read "my Tangier and victualling business, which I doubt will fall" or "fail"? "Fall" is of course possible, but one expects "fail."
Have we had the Flowers at the Harp & Ball before? A designation suitable for inclusion in an early Kingsley Amis novel.
Terry Foreman • Link
Bradford, absent Paul, L&M read "fall" as well. Habits change, evidently.
CGS • Link
"...which I doubt will fall..."
fall: Pepys fell into the OED verb 5 times.
there be 101 major ways to use the verb fall and 30 ways plus make the noun work.
CGS • Link
fall "...20. What befalls or happens to a person; one's fortune, ‘case’ or condition, lot, appointed duty, etc. Obs...." OED
jeannine • Link
Have we had the Flowers at the Harp & Ball before?
As a follow on to yesterday, L& M don’t note a definitive id on the ‘flower’ either. They suggest Betty Lane, or a girl at the Rose Tavern. They also suggest it might be Mary of the Harp and Ball. They also cite Sir George Etherege’s letter dated 1668 which says “Remember me to all of my friends at the Rose and do not forget the Lilly at the bar”.
CGS • Link
"...where I visited “the flowers” in each place,..."
nowt in OED of flower referring to a lass ,only indirect like flower girl, maybe a association of one profession with another. Did Rochester ever use the term??
Maybe it be one for an entry into the OED,
the meaning be clear, someone ready for an assignation.
Some offbeat meanings
b. pl. The menstrual discharge; the menses; = CATAMENIA. Obs. [After F. fleurs: but this is regarded by French scholars as a corruption of flueurs: see FLUOR.]
c
c. Virginity. Obs.
a1300
11. Of persons: The period or state of ‘bloom’, vigour, or prosperity.
a. The prime (of life), the bloom (of youth); esp. in phrases, in youth's flowers, in the flower of one's age.
1647-8 SIR C. COTTERELL Davila's Hist. Fr. (1678) 4 In the first flower of his age.
otherwise
flower, n.
1. a. A complex organ in phenogamous plants, comprising a group of reproductive organs and its envelopes. In the popular use of the word, the characteristic feature of a flower is the ‘coloured’ (not green) envelope, and the term is not applied where this is absent, unless there is obvious resemblance in appearance to what is ordinarily so called. In botanical use, a flower consists normally of one or more stamens or pistils (or both), a corolla, and a calyx; but the two last are not universally present.
c. trans. To spice (wine). Obs.
1682 Art & Myst. Vintners I. §28 To flower a Butt of Muskadine.
CGS • Link
So glad that Samuell did not tally too long or leave any tallies behind at Mrs Crofts.
A shop?? or or be there a special room for evaluating merchandise.
.
Terry Foreman • Link
John Evelyn's Diary (in lieu of Dirk)
[June] 2. returnd to Canterbury.
***
Evelyn's mission to inspect the the wounded & prisoners is winding down.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
" Another letter also come to me from Mr. Hater, committed by the Council this afternoon to the Gate House, upon the misfortune of having his name used by one, without his knowledge or privity, for the receiving of some powder that he had bought. "
The charge was one of embezzling powder from the King's stores. On the payment of bonds, Hayter was released on the 3rd, and five others on the 25th. Those involved were Philip Jones, of Winchester, grocer,; Nathaniel Whitfield of London, gent.; Hugh Sallisbury and Thomas Browne, of Portsmouth, gentlemen; and John Daniels, of Portsmouth, widow. PRO, OC 2/58, ff. 81v, 88v, 93r. (L&M note)
Athena • Link
Might the powder obtained in Hayter’s name have been pepper or some like condiment?
Sasha Clarkson • Link
Although Hayter was some kind of nonconformist, there is little evidence that he was a Quaker:
Evidence for: on 9 May 1663 Hayter confessed that he'd been arrested at a meeting of "some Friends". "Friends" with a capital F could imply Quakers (Religious Society of Friends), but equally it need not. Quakers were a small minority of the many nonconformist sects/tendencies.
Evidence against: although the language is convoluted, Pepys' conversation with Coventry on 15 May 1663 implies that Hayter was some kind of Anabaptist.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Does L&M shed any light upon the matter?
San Diego Sarah • Link
"That 2 a.m. supper: poor servants! I presume they didn't just leave a plate of bread and cheese and a mug of ale on the table for him, ..."
Pepys' maids were lucky; they had their own bedroom on the top floor. In many households they would have a pallet on the kitchen floor, under the table, in a closet, by the fire. So if one of them occasionally had to snooze in the kitchen waiting for him, they still had a good deal for the times. And for a letch, Pepys hasn't taken advantage of anyone, or beaten anyone, recently (that we know of).
mountebank • Link
I do have a recollection of "flower" being used as a term of endearment for "girl" in British English. The word "petal" was and is used in that sense. Both being applied to young girls, hopefully much younger than Sam's "fairest flower".
mountebank • Link
Actually, having just searched for "petal" I'm reminded it is also used for grown up women, particularly when referring to a partner.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... each reader can decide whether the Merry Monarch might have been storing heaps of face-powder."
Gunpowder more like it.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Thence home, and there met an expresse from Sir W. Batten at Harwich, that the fleete is all sailed from Solebay, ..."
I wonder why Batten sent the information to Pepys and not to Monck or Charles II directly?