Saturday 7 October 1665
Up and to the office along with Mr. Childe, whom I sent for to discourse about the victualling business, who will not come into partnership (no more will Captain Beckford ), but I do find him a mighty understanding man, and one I will keep a knowledge of. Did business, though not much, at the office; because of the horrible crowd and lamentable moan of the poor seamen that lie starving in the streets for lack of money. Which do trouble and perplex me to the heart; and more at noon when we were to go through them, for then a whole hundred of them followed us; some cursing, some swearing, and some praying to us.
And that that made me more troubled was a letter come this afternoon from the Duke of Albemarle, signifying the Dutch to be in sight, with 80 sayle, yesterday morning, off of Solebay, coming right into the bay. God knows what they will and may do to us, we having no force abroad able to oppose them, but to be sacrificed to them. Here come Sir W. Rider to me, whom I sent for about the victualling business also, but he neither will not come into partnership, but desires to be of the Commission if there be one. Thence back the back way to my office, where very late, very busy. But most of all when at night come two waggons from Rochester with more goods from Captain Cocke; and in houseing them at Mr. Tooker’s lodgings come two of the Custome-house to seize them, and did seize them but I showed them my ‘Transire’. However, after some hot and angry words, we locked them up, and sealed up the key, and did give it to the constable to keep till Monday, and so parted. But, Lord! to think how the poor constable come to me in the dark going home; “Sir,” says he, “I have the key, and if you would have me do any service for you, send for me betimes to-morrow morning, and I will do what you would have me.” Whether the fellow do this out of kindness or knavery, I cannot tell; but it is pretty to observe.
Talking with him in the high way, come close by the bearers with a dead corpse of the plague; but, Lord! to see what custom is, that I am come almost to think nothing of it.
So to my lodging, and there, with Mr. Hater and Will, ending a business of the state of the last six months’ charge of the Navy, which we bring to 1,000,000l. and above, and I think we do not enlarge much in it if anything. So to bed.
14 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
I showed them my 'Transire'."
Trans`i´re
n. 1. (End. Law) A customhouse clearance for a coasting vessel; a permit.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, published 1913 by C. & G. Merriam Co. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/…
tg • Link
"Did business, though not much, at the office; because of the horrible crowd and lamentable moan of the poor seamen that lie starving in the streets for lack of money. Which do trouble and perplex me to the heart; and more at noon when we were to go through them, for then a whole hundred of them followed us; some cursing, some swearing, and some praying to us."
What a scene that must have been. A hundred men following the periwigged dandies of the Naval Office cursing and swearing at them. It's a wonder they weren't set upon and robbed. Couldn't Sam have bought a meal for them and paid with a tally?
Robert Gertz • Link
"Here, boys. 5000Ls in prize goods to relieve your sufferings compliments of Mr. Pepys and Captain George Cocke. Three cheers for the gallant gentlemen. And I should add, Mr. Pepys is working with Mr. John Evelyn to have another 10,000Ls released to ease the sufferings of our sick and wounded and those of our gallant prisoners."
"Sir John...That is not amusing." Sam frowns at the grinning Minnes.
***
Reminds me of the Lehman CEO bonuses conversation just after they appealed for government intervention that came to light during Congressional hearings this week.
"Maybe we should consider deferring management bonuses?"
Hmmn? "What are we putting in the water?"
Though of course these poor men were suffering far worse fates than the average US taxpayer.
***
"Bess...What a day..."
"Sam'l? Mr. Evelyn stopped by, poor man, so concerned about the poor dying seamen and prisoners and I told him you and Captain Cocke had got that 5000L in prize goods from Lord Sandwich that I knew you'd want him to take for the men. He sent two men to pick them up. Did you meet them?"
"What?!!!"
C.J.Darby • Link
What! Have all the annotators succumed to the plague, I get as much diversion and knoweledge from the annotations and it usually takes me all Lunch time to read them.
djc • Link
"What! Have all the annotators succumed to the plague, "
Times's 'ard
too busy trading our wallets for wheelbarrows.
Don McCahill • Link
> Couldn’t Sam have bought a meal for them and paid with a tally?
100 meals is probably more than Sam would care to donate to charity. And if you feed 100, 500 more will appear around the corner. As for using the tally without authorization ... I think they offer rooms in the Tower for that.
Don McCahill • Link
What a great idea. Maybe all houses of government and government offices should be located in slums rather than in the tony parts of town. It would do the politicians and civil servants good to have to walk through the misery of the poor for a change, instead of dealing only with the well-heeled lobbyists.
CGS • Link
‘Transire’ OED version.
[L. transire to go across, pass over, f. trans across + ire to go.]
A warrant issued by the custom-house, permitting the passage of merchandise.
1599 NASHE Lenten Stuffe (1871) 70 They would grant him his coquet, or Transire.
1656 in Misc. Sc. Burgh Rec. Soc. 30 Receiveing moneys for writeing bills, cocquetts, and transires.
1662 Order Ho. Com. as to Customs (1663) 9 A Transire or Let-passe from Port to Port in England.
Obs. rare.
[irreg. f. L. trans ire (see prec.), the inf. form being taken instead of the ppl. stem transit- (TRANSIT v.).]
intr. To go or pass across; in quot. 1665, ? to lie transversely.
1592 W. WYRLEY Armorie 121 Pretended iorney if they onward hould, Transierd they were, as it was to me tould.
1665 D. DUDLEY Mettallum Martis (1854) 31 If the work be set transhaw and transiring from the blast.
cgs • Link
Nutin' has change , man dothe like to promise the whole earth when he needs your money [ Cash up front] but like all payers , the cheque is in the mail for the payees. Chits galore.
This day it takes a week to clear a bankers draft.
strange stuff credit and debt. Oh yes it be there but now snails must be used not the eagle.
Ruben • Link
"Maybe all houses of government and government offices should be located in slums rather than in the tony parts of town. It would do the politicians and civil servants good to have to walk through the misery of the poor for a change, instead of dealing only with the well-heeled lobbyists."
Next thing: meter of slum floor goes up to the stratosphere, poor are evicted and nice offices spring like mushrooms around new Gov offices.
A. Hamilton • Link
Don Macahill's remark reminds me that I made a similar suggestion in a book on the defense budget circa 1972. It was called "Helpless Giant" and in the introduction, which I wrote but which was signed by Rep. Les Aspin D Wis., I suggested, as I recall, that members of Congress take down the photographs and models of new weapons systems on their office walls and replace them with pictures of the poor.
Terry Foreman • Link
John Evelyn's Diary (in lieu of Dirk's posting it)
7: I went to see my Wife.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"the last six months’ charge of the Navy, which we bring to 1,000,000l."
L&M: The account (covering 1 April-30 September, amounting to £1,006.075) was drawn up in preparation for the parliamentary session due to begin on 10 October, at the request of Sir P Warwick. The Commons granted £1 1/4 m. (17 Car. II c.i) but asked for more accounts: CJ, viii. 623,
Louise Hudson • Link
A. Hamilton: “Don Macahill's remark reminds me that I made a similar suggestion in a book on the defense budget circa 1972. It was called "Helpless Giant" and in the introduction, which I wrote but which was signed by Rep. Les Aspin D Wis., I suggested, as I recall, that members of Congress take down the photographs and models of new weapons systems on their office walls and replace them with pictures of the poor.”
Did they do it? (Rhetorical question)