Sunday 14 October 1666
(Lord’s day). Lay long in bed, among other things, talking of my wife’s renewing her acquaintance with Mrs. Pierce, which, by my wife’s ill using her when she was here last, hath been interrupted. Herein we were a little angry together, but presently friends again; and so up, and I to church, which was mighty full, and my beauties, Mrs. Lethulier and fair Batelier, both there. A very foul morning, and rained; and sent for my cloake to go out of the church with. So dined, and after dinner (a good discourse thereat to my brother) he and I by water to White Hall, and he to Westminster Abbey. Here I met with Sir Stephen Fox, who told me how much right I had done myself, and how well it is represented by the Committee to the House, my readinesse to give them satisfaction in everything when they were at the office. I was glad of this. He did further discourse of Sir W. Coventry’s, great abilities, and how necessary it were that I were of the House to assist him. I did not owne it, but do myself think it were not unnecessary if either he should die, or be removed to the Lords, or any thing to hinder his doing the like service the next trial, which makes me think that it were not a thing very unfit; but I will not move in it. He and I parted, I to Mrs. Martin’s, thinking to have met Mrs. Burrows, but she was not there, so away and took my brother out of the Abbey and home, and there to set some accounts right, and to the office to even my Journall, and so home to supper and to bed.
9 Annotations
First Reading
Robert Gertz • Link
"Lay long in bed, among other things, talking of my wife’s renewing her acquaintance with Mrs. Pierce, which, by my wife’s ill using her when she was here last, hath been interrupted. Herein we were a little angry together, but presently friends again..."
How could Bess be so silly as to refuse such a generously intended request?
Though actually, Bess...Betty Pierce and her brood can handle Sam and then some...She's probably the best of the bunch to allow near him. I mean the alternative is poor desperate Knipp, after all.
Jesse • Link
"it were not a thing very unfit; but I will not move in it"
Surprised no mention of why and I doubt he's being coy. Expensive, dangerous, too much politics? Would this be considered a promotion - or where does Pepys ambition towards his career lie?
Paul Chapin • Link
"I did not owne it, but do myself think it were not unnecessary if either he should die, or be removed to the Lords, or any thing to hinder his doing the like service the next trial, which makes me think that it were not a thing very unfit; but I will not move in it."
This sentence, with its multiple interacting negatives, and no clear antecedent for "which", is way too convoluted for me to parse. I *believe* the "he" here is Coventry and not Fox, but beyond that I'm adrift. Anybody have some light to shed?
Robert Gertz • Link
I think he wants it (a seat in Parliament) so much he dares not raise his own hopes. Plus he senses danger should Coventry not be quite so eager to have him there as Fox suggests that he's trying to temper his enthusiasm.
Phoenix • Link
“I did not owne it, but do myself think it were not unnecessary if either he should die, or be removed to the Lords, or any thing to hinder his doing the like service the next trial, which makes me think that it were not a thing very unfit; but I will not move in it.”
In the context of Fox praising Coventry's abilities I'm reading the above as follows:
Fox suggests that if Pepys "were of the House" (a member) he could be of great assistance to Coventry. Should Coventry die or be moved to the Lords or otherwise not be able to assist the members when next they examine the books then Sam thinks it might be useful/better (not unnecessary) if he (Sam) was a member. Sam does not acknowledge this to Fox and does not intend to follow up on it.
Yet.
Margaret • Link
Thank you, Robert & Phoenix. Like Paul, I hadn't much idea what our boy Sam was talking about.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
L&M note Coventry already had the assistance in the House of Commons of Batten, Carteret and Penn.
Pepys did not try to enter Parliament until late in 1669 (when he unsuccessfully contested Aldeburgh, Suff.) and did not become a member until 1673, when he was elected for Castle Rising, Norf.
There had been a rumor in May 1666 that Coventry would be made a peer.
Tonyel • Link
"So dined, and after dinner (a good discourse thereat to my brother)"
Note "to" my brother, not "with". Poor John has to pay for his dinner.
San Diego Sarah • Link
Good catch, Tonyel - I had missed that one.