Wednesday 4 October 1665
Up and to my office, where Mr. Andrews comes, and reckoning with him I get 64l. of him. By and by comes Mr. Gawden, and reckoning with him he gives me 60l. in his account, which is a great mercy to me. Then both of them met and discoursed the business of the first man’s resigning and the other’s taking up the business of the victualling of Tangier, and I do not think that I shall be able to do as well under Mr. Gawden as under these men, or within a little as to profit and less care upon me.
Thence to the King’s Head to dinner, where we three and Creed and my wife and her woman dined mighty merry and sat long talking, and so in the afternoon broke up, and I led my wife to our lodging again, and I to the office where did much business, and so to my wife.
This night comes Sir George Smith to see me at the office, and tells me how the plague is decreased this week 740, for which God be praised! but that it encreases at our end of the town still, and says how all the towne is full of Captain Cocke’s being in some ill condition about prize-goods, his goods being taken from him, and I know not what. But though this troubles me to have it said, and that it is likely to be a business in Parliament, yet I am not much concerned at it, because yet I believe this newes is all false, for he would have wrote to me sure about it.
Being come to my wife, at our lodging, I did go to bed, and left my wife with her people to laugh and dance and I to sleep.
7 Annotations
First Reading
Michael Robinson • Link
" ... reckoning with him I get 64l. of him. By and by comes Mr. Gawden, and reckoning with him he gives me 60l. ... , which is a great mercy to me. "
Its been several days now and still no ritual 'end of the month reckoning' by SP; perhaps there is some substance to Creed's gossip, "I being much troubled to hear from Creed, that he was told at Salsbury that I am come to be a great swearer and drinker, though I know the contrary; ..."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Terry Foreman • Link
Michael R, it is a strange time; he did sum things up the last day of the previous month (30 September) this way:
"So to sleep with a good deal of content, and saving only this night and a day or two about the same business a month or six weeks ago, I do end this month with the greatest content, and may say that these last three months, for joy, health, and profit, have been much the greatest that ever I received in all my life in any twelve months almost in my life, having nothing upon me but the consideration of the sicklinesse of the season during this great plague to mortify mee. For all which the Lord God be praised!" http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Not a sum of money, but perhaps -- given a certain financial security -- what may matter as much.
Robert Gertz • Link
"...and says how all the towne is full of Captain Cocke’s being in some ill condition about prize-goods, his goods being taken from him, and I know not what. But though this troubles me to have it said, and that it is likely to be a business in Parliament, yet I am not much concerned at it, because yet I believe this newes is all false, for he would have wrote to me sure about it."
Yeah...Uh, huh. Keep telling yourself that, Sam.
Boys, you are busted.
Robert Gertz • Link
Geesh, what did Cocke do? Run around town, boozing his good fortune, waving his goods in everyone's face?
Uh-oh....There is one man who might have learned the details about Sam's and the good Capt's little deal...Who would be clever enough to make the blustering Cocke, and thereby our boy, a target for the building wrath as the Sandwich-sanctioned looters run about with their goods.
And that man is...Arrgh...
"Charming fellow, that Dr. Gertz, eh Howe?"
"I knew him too slightly to make a full account of his character, Mr. Creed. However, I did sense he had the usual worthy qualities."
"Yes. A pity. Pity too about our poor Pepys' downfall over the prize goods matter. Unfortunate he had to choose a man like Cocke for his associate."
"Some people...Like the late Dr here...Will be talking in the wrong places, Mr. Creed."
CGS • Link
Always have to watch to whom you say "psst, Psst dothe thy want want some silk stockings , youse knows they be 15 bob a pair, at the exchange, and you knows that the maydes luv to try them on, looking over the castle wall" .
Those puritans will always tell on yer, those blind inns have big ears.
Terry Foreman • Link
John Evelyn's Diary (in lieu of Dirk's posting it)
4 Was the monethly fast, Mr. Plume on: 16: Numb: 46, of the sinn of rebellion against Magistrates & Ministers:
***
Num.16
[46] And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"how the plague is decreased this week 740, for which God be praised! but that it encreases at our end of the town still"
L&M: Plague burials during 19-26 September had decreased from the previous week by 604; 740 was the decrease in death from all causes. Plague deaths in St Olave's, Hart St, had gone up from 11 to 19.