Wednesday 23 May 1666

Up by 5 o’clock and to my chamber settling several matters in order. So out toward White Hall, calling in my way on my Lord Bellassis, where I come to his bedside, and did give me a full and long account of his matters, how he left them at Tangier. Declares himself fully satisfied with my care: seems cunningly to argue for encreasing the number of men there. Told me the whole story of his gains by the Turky prizes, which he owns he hath got about 5000l. by. Promised me the same profits Povy was to have had; and in fine, I find him a pretty subtle man; and so I left him, and to White Hall before the Duke and did our usual business, and eased my mind of two or three things of weight that lay upon me about Lanyon’s salary, which I have got to be 150l. per annum. Thence to Westminster to look after getting some little for some great tallys, but shall find trouble in it. Thence homeward and met with Sir Philip Warwicke, and spoke about this, in which he is scrupulous. After that to talk of the wants of the Navy. He lays all the fault now upon the new Act, and owns his owne folly in thinking once so well of it as to give way to others’ endeavours about it, and is grieved at heart to see what passe things are like to come to. Thence to the Excise Office to the Commissioners to get a meeting between them and myself and others about our concernments in the Excise for Tangier, and so to the ’Change awhile, and thence home with Creed, and find my wife at dinner with Mr. Cooke, who is going down to Hinchinbrooke. After dinner Creed and I and wife and Mercer out by coach, leaving them at the New Exchange, while I to White Hall, and there staid at Sir G. Carteret’s chamber till the Council rose, and then he and I, by agreement this morning, went forth in his coach by Tiburne, to the Parke; discoursing of the state of the Navy as to money, and the state of the Kingdom too, how ill able to raise more: and of our office as to the condition of the officers; he giving me caution as to myself, that there are those that are my enemies as well as his, and by name my Lord Bruncker, who hath said some odd speeches against me. So that he advises me to stand on my guard; which I shall do, and unless my too-much addiction to pleasure undo me, will be acute enough for any of them. We rode to and again in the Parke a good while, and at last home and set me down at Charing Crosse, and thence I to Mrs. Pierces to take up my wife and Mercer, where I find her new picture by Hales do not please her, nor me indeed, it making no show, nor is very like, nor no good painting. Home to supper and to bed, having my right eye sore and full of humour of late, I think, by my late change of my brewer, and having of 8s. beer.

16 Annotations

First Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

The Royal Society today at Gresham College — from the Hooke Folio Online

May. 23. 1666. (grillo talpa [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole… ]).
Sandwich Letter) mr. Hooke here & Dr. wallis at oxford were pitched vpon for holding an astronomicall correspondency wth. Ld. Sandwich at madrid. mr. Hooke proposd that the Distance of the moons center from 2 or more fixt starrs when shee is full south as well as the other places mentiond by the Ld. Sandwich might be Obserued.

The same [Mr. Hooke ] was orderd to take the paper of mr Rooke [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawr… ] deliuerd by Sr. R moray [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robe… ] to Oldenburg. conteining some obseruations of the satellites of [ Jupiter ] and to deduce thence the periods of their Reuolutions.

There was read a paper of mr Hooks Explicating the Inflection of a direct motion into a curue by a supervening attractiue principle ([In margin]Vz. which was orderd to be Registred ] [ "Of the Inflection of a direct motion into a Curve by a supervening Attractive principle, by Mr. Hooke, May 23 1666" http://www.lexisnexis.com/documen… p.37 ] the Discourse conteind therein in an introduction to an Expt to shew that circular motion is compounded of an indeauour by a Direct motion by the tangent and of an other Indeauour tending to the center to which purpose there was a pendulum fastned to the Roof of a Room wth. a large wooden ball of Lignum Vitae [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lign… ] on the end of it and it was found that if the impetus of the Indeauour by the tangent at the first setting out was stronger then the indeauour to the center, there was then generated an ellipticall motion whose Longest was parrallell to the dis direct indeauour of the body in the first of the pulse, but if that impetus were weaker then that Indeauour to the center there was generated such an ellipticall motions whose shorter Diameter was parallell to the direct indeauour of the body in the first point of impuls, if both equall there was made a perfect circular motion.

There was also made an other Expt. by fastning another small pendulous body by a shorter string on the lower part of the wire which the greater was suspended by that It might freely make a circular or Ellipticall motion round about the bigger. whilst the bigger moued circularly or Elliptically about another center. the Intention whereof was to Explicate
the manner of the moons motion about the Earth It appearing Euidently thereby that whe^/nei/ther the bigger ball which represented the earth nor the lesse which represented the moon were moued in soe perfect a circle or ellipsis as otherwise they would haue moued in if either of them had been suspended & moued singly. but that a certaine point which seemd to haue been the center of grauity of these two bodys howsoeuer posited considerd as one seemd to be regularly moued in such a circle or Ellipsis the two balls hauing other peculiar motions in small epicycles about the sd. point (wallis answer to Objections) Dr. Godderd objection) other objections)

mr Hook brought in his thoughts of mor. Petits dissertation of the nature of Comets, the substance of whose sense was that he found that mor Petits obseruations of the two last comets did in the generall agree wth those he had made himself and wth. the best he had met wth of others. and that the hypothesis therein argued for were very Ingenious & some of them not improbable, but whether the comet were moued in equall spaces of a curue line in equall spaces of time which mor. petit seems inclined to beleiue did deserue to be further Examined by such obseruations as haue been made accurate enough to determine the Distance or paralax of it in seuerall places of its Appearance to determine the Paralax of the Comet [ Newton will find this of interest! ]

Sr. Theod. Meyerns paper about Coloration). [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo… ] orderd that the Persons following. Sr G Ent Sr. [ http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo… ] Theodore deVaux Dr. Godderd, Dr. Quatremaine, Dr. merrit Dr. whistler, Dr. Clark Dr. charleton of the rest of the rest of the Physitians of the Society as also mr Dan Cox mr Hook mr oldenburg or any two or more of them should be a committe to consider of the said papers & to gett them Englished they being most in french. that soe they might be the better digested after the place & time of meeting at Sr. Georg Ents house on munday next after noon
(Colwall sharks head)

Sr. Gilbert talbots swedish stone yealding Sulphur vitrioll allum & minime
[ http://rstl.royalsocietypublishin… ]
(mr Dan: Cox said we had the same kind of stone but it yealded noe minium.
(mr. Hoskins paper of man killd by lightning)

Coll Blunt [ http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo… ] & mr Hooke were orderd to appear on saturday next in the afternoon in St. Georges fields wth their new Chariotts to compare them together and it was desired that as many of the society as could be present would be there.

It was orderd mr Hooke should giue those expts. wth. the pendulum before mentiond in writing at large together wth. the Discourses he made of it. Dr. wilkins proposed that those balls might be soe orderd as to putt some sand in them which by running out might shew the lines of those motions It was orderd this should be done against next Day.

- - The end of the Second Iournall Booke.

http://webapps.qmul.ac.uk/cell/Ho…

Mary  •  Link

8s. beer.

L&M note that the price indicates that this was strong beer, which could sell for between 6s. and 10s. a barrel. Small beer, on the other hand, cost from 5s.-6s. Sam tries to explain his rheumy eye to himself by recourse to the theory of the four humours, the stronger beer having provoked an increase in the 'wet' humour in his body.

JWB  •  Link

"...will be acute enough for any of them."

Brave talk for a man with rhummy shooting eye.

A. Hamilton  •  Link

Brave talk

A hit. A palpable hit!

Mary, many thanks for unriddling this entry re 8s beer and the rheumy eye.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"my Lord Bruncker...hath said some odd speeches against me"

No wonder Pepys is this day not at Gresham College, where Lord Brouncker, recently his frequent companion, presides over the Royal Society meeting.

One wonders what "odd speeches" Pepys has been the subject of.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"Friends, Englishmen, countrymen, and assorted yokels of varying description...I come to bury Sam Pepys...God knows, not to praise him. The evil men do catches up with them, the good is (hopefully) intered with their bones. So let it be with Pepys."

("Get to the point, Will..." Abigail hisses, pulling at Bruncker's coat.)

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"After that to talk of the wants of the Navy. [ Sir Philip Warwicke ] lays all the fault now upon the new Act, and owns his owne folly in thinking once so well of it as to give way to others’ endeavours about it, and is grieved at heart to see what passe things are like to come to."

The Act for an Additional Aid of £1 1/4 m. (17 Car. II c.i) would be “a new venture in English public finance” (L&M) in which bills would be paid by the Exchequer on credit. Pepys was initially sceptical of financing on credit (a concern he will share with Carteret and the bankers), but the scheme is a success. http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

mr. Hooke here & Dr. wallis at oxford were pitched vpon for holding an astronomicall correspondency wth. Ld. Sandwich at madrid. mr. Hooke proposd that the Distance of the moons center from 2 or more fixt starrs when shee is full south as well as the other places mentiond by the Ld. Sandwich might be Obserued.

The scheme was to calculate the distance of heavenly bodies by parallax
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Par…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"calling in my way on my Lord Bellassis, where I come to his bedside, and did give me a full and long account of his matters, how he left them at Tangier."

Per L&M: Bellasis' rapacity was well-known: cf. [? Marvell] Third Advice to a Painter (1666), ll. 79-86:

Let Bellasis' autumnal face be seen,
Rich with the spoils of a poor Algerine, 80
Who, trusting in him, was by him betrayed;
And so should we, were his advice obeyed.
The hero once got honour by the sword;
He got his wealth by breaking of his word;
He now hath got his daughter great with child,
And pimps to have his family defiled.

Prizes in Tangier (though technically subject to H.M.'s Principal Commissioners at Whitehall) were at the disposal of the Governor. acting through power of admiralty given to him by the Lord High Admiral. In theory, proceeds from their sale went to defray government expenses on the spot. A reorganization was made in July of this year whereby a commission for prizes was set up in Tangier: Routh, p. 85.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

June 2. (New Style) Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Spagna. Venetian Archives.
Marin Zorzi, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
The earl of Sandwich, ambassador extraordinary of England, entered this city late on Thursday. With three [coaches] of the king the introducer of ambassadors accompanied by other gentlemen, met him three leagues out. He paid his respects on behalf of his Majesty and then caused the ambassador to enter one of the places and brought him to the house, gorgeously decorated with costly furnishings. That same evening they began to entertain him at a sumptuous banquet, those of the royal household serving. A hundred doubles a day have been set apart to provide everything with magnificence and splendour. He keeps seventeen companions at his table, persons of quality and of distinguished name. The rest of his people will amount to seventy persons. He is now arranging the liveries for his public audience and seems desirous of entering upon his embassy soon and beginning his functions....He did not send the ordinary compliment to any ambassador when he arrived and no one wished to be the first with him. It seems very strange to the ambassador of Germany that he does not observe the usual style and ceremonies. I will watch to see what happens, to be guided by it later, in accordance with the decorum and service of the state....The ordinary ambassador [ Sir Richard Fanshaw ] went two leagues out from Madrid to welcome him. It was noticed that at their first meeting few words were exchanged and they looked ill-pleased, an indication of very strained relations and an unfriendly disposition. The reason for this is that the one tried to prevent the other from coming, while the other did his utmost to come. The moment he arrived he began not only to speak openly about the departure of his predecessor but to make sure that a start was made. He has already begun to pack a lot of his goods, taken from the cart, and in his house may be seen all the indications of an approaching journey. Those of the household of the earl of Sandwich confirm it, adding that he has to leave, to his great disgust. In effect, [ Sir Richard's ] distress is apparent, his face being overshadowed with great sadness and in a few days he has lost his colour and become very pale....
Madrid, the 2nd June, 1666.
[Italian.] http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Thence to Westminster to look after getting some little for some great tallys, but shall find trouble in it."

Apparently the money lenders are not yet comfortable with this new system. Change takes time, and Pepys needs his money now.

Jonathan V  •  Link

I sometimes wish I really knew what it means when people visit each other in their chambers, "at (the) bedside." It's always a powerful or senior person - Do they stay in bed, having breakfast, perhaps, while Sam fills them in on business? Or are they up and getting ready for the day with servants' assistance, etc. This phrase, or practice, has mystified me for years.

Al  •  Link

"unless my too-much addiction to pleasure undo me'. - I love Pepys' honesty and awareness of his own weaknesses.

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