Thursday 2 August 1666
[Up] and to the office, where we sat, and in discourse at the table with Sir W. Batten, I was obliged to tell him it was an untruth, which did displease him mightily, and parted at noon very angry with me. At home find Lovett, who brought me some papers varnished, and showed me my crucifix, which will be very fine when done. He dined with me and Balty’s wife, who is in great pain for her husband, not hearing of him since the fight; but I understand he was not in it, going hence too late, and I am glad of it. Thence to the office, and thither comes to me Creed, and he and I walked a good while, and then to the victualling office together, and there with Mr. Gawden I did much business, and so away with Creed again, and by coach to see my Lord Bruncker, who it seems was not well yesterday, but being come thither, I find his coach ready to carry him abroad, but Tom, his footman, whatever the matter was, was lothe to desire me to come in, but I walked a great while in the Piatza till I was going away, but by and by my Lord himself comes down and coldly received me. So I soon parted, having enough for my over officious folly in troubling myself to visit him, and I am apt to think that he was fearfull that my coming was out of design to see how he spent his time [rather] than to enquire after his health. So parted, and I with Creed down to the New Exchange Stairs, and there I took water, and he parted, so home, and then down to Woolwich, reading and making an end of the “Rival Ladys,” and find it a very pretty play. At Woolwich, it being now night, I find my wife and Mercer, and Mr. Batelier and Mary there, and a supper getting ready. So I staid, in some pain, it being late, and post night. So supped and merrily home, but it was twelve at night first. However, sent away some letters, and home to bed.
14 Annotations
First Reading
Mr. Gunning • Link
Told him WHAT was an untruth?
What is post night?
TIA
Terry Foreman • Link
"post night" is a night when mail goes out of London by carriage and/or courier.
As to what the "untruth" might have been, not even L&M offer a clue.
Todd Bernhardt • Link
Did Sam bust Brouncker for "calling in sick"?
Martin • Link
"it was an untruth" would seem to refer to the passage two days ago, in which the gents at the office "were mightily joyed with newes brought by Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten of the death of De Ruyter, but when Sir W. Coventry come, he told us there was no such thing, which quite dashed me again..." [De Ruyter lived another 10 years.] So it could be that after Batten brought the newes, he departed, and wasn't informed of the untruth until today. Sam tends to write several days worth of entries in one sitting, so he sometimes leaves a dangling antecedent of this kind.
Mary • Link
"very angry with me"
Why? Is it because Sam has not taken care to inform Batten of the true situation earlier that this?
First Batten, then Brouncker: Sam seems to be rubbing people up the wrong way this morning.
Terry Foreman • Link
"At home find Lovett, who brought me some papers varnished, and....He dined with me...."
What? A mere craftsman at your dinner-table?!
andy • Link
who brought me some papers varnished
I wonder if varnishing a written paper was a means of making it impossible to alter without detection? if you got a varnished note then you would know its veracity.
am just catching up, I am in Belarus, just south of the forest where the Princes of Lithuania used to cavort in Sam's day
cgs • Link
just the unvarnished truth:
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"Lovett, who brought me some papers varnished, and showed me my crucifix"
See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... Balty’s wife, who is in great pain for her husband, not hearing of him since the fight; but I understand he was not in it, going hence too late, and I am glad of it."
Does anyone know if Balty "missed the boat", or if his ship left too late to join the fleet?
San Diego Sarah • Link
Don't bother to answer the above question ... you'll find out tomorrow.
Peach • Link
Poor Mrs. Balty. Her husband was only home for, what?, two days in the last several months? And in that time she went from almost ready to "lie in" to tripping, falling, and miscarrying, presumably after a long and painful labor. Sure, Bess visited a couple times, but it must have been a terrible, lonely time for her. Now she is afraid her husband might be dead too...
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... Tom, his footman, whatever the matter was, was lothe to desire me to come in, but I walked a great while in the Piatza till I was going away, but by and by my Lord himself comes down and coldly received me. So I soon parted, having enough for my over officious folly in troubling myself to visit him, and I am apt to think that he was fearful that my coming was out of design to see how he spent his time [rather] than to enquire after his health."
Well, yes, Pepys. You and Creed had been told by Tom that now wasn't a good time to visit. Doesn't matter if you were there to enquire about his health, or to do business -- bad timing is bad timing.
You two had no business walking "a great while" in Covent Garden Piazza watching the coach and house. Did you two ambush him when he came out of the house, or did he have to walk across the Piazza to shame you two stalkers?
If you'd gone back to the office and written your letters you could have avoided burning the midnight oil -- and thus would have pissed off only one fellow Commissioners for no good reason in one day. Two in one day is a record.
"... my over officious folly in troubling myself to visit him ..." -- how childish can you get, even if it's just to Dear Diary?
"Manners maketh man." -- 14th-century bishop William of Wykeham.
San Diego Sarah • Link
Lady Pickering to Sandwich
Written from: [Written from Northamptonshire]
Date: 2 August 1666
Shelfmark: MS. Carte 74, fol(s). 341
Document type: Holograph
Congratulations on his Lordship's safety. He has been well remembered in all places, without exception.
My Lord Peterborough has raised a troop of volunteers hereabouts [in Northamptonshire] who are gone to be added to the Duke's Life-Guard.
Adds, in a P.S., that "the Plague has been very sore at Oundle, & in many little towns round about it". ...
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/s…