Sunday 27 January 1666/67
(Lord’s day). Up betimes, and leaving my wife to go by coach to hear Mr. Frampton preach, which I had a mighty desire she should, I down to the Old Swan, and there to Michell and staid while he and she dressed themselves, and here had a ‘baiser’ or two of her, whom I love mightily; and then took them in a sculler (being by some means or other disappointed of my own boat) to White Hall, and so with them to Westminster, Sir W. Coventry, Bruncker and I all the morning together discoursing of the office business, and glad of the Controller’s business being likely to be put into better order than formerly, and did discourse of many good things, but especially of having something done to bringing the Surveyor’s matters into order also. Thence I up to the King’s closet, and there heard a good Anthem, and discoursed with several people here about business, among others with Lord Bellasses, and so from one to another after sermon till the King had almost dined, and then home with Sir G. Carteret and dined with him, being mightily ashamed of my not having seen my Lady Jemimah so long, and my wife not at all yet since she come, but she shall soon do it. I thence to Sir Philip Warwicke, by appointment, to meet Lord Bellasses, and up to his chamber, but find him unwilling to discourse of business on Sundays; so did not enlarge, but took leave, and went down and sat in a low room, reading Erasmus “de scribendis epistolis,” a very good book, especially one letter of advice to a courtier most true and good, which made me once resolve to tear out the two leaves that it was writ in, but I forebore it. By and by comes Lord Bellasses, and then he and I up again to Sir P. Warwicke and had much discourse of our Tangier business, but no hopes of getting any money. Thence I through the garden into the Park, and there met with Roger Pepys, and he and I to walk in the Pell Mell. I find by him that the House of Parliament continues full of ill humours, and he seems to dislike those that are troublesome more than needs, and do say how, in their late Poll Bill, which cost so much time, the yeomanry, and indeed two-thirds of the nation, are left out to be taxed, that there is not effectual provision enough made for collecting of the money; and then, that after a man his goods are distrained and sold, and the overplus returned, I am to have ten days to make my complaints of being over-rated if there be cause, when my goods are sold, and that is too late. These things they are resolved to look into again, and mend them before they rise, which they expect at furthest on Thursday next. Here we met with Mr. May, and he and we to talk of several things, of building, and such like matters; and so walked to White Hall, and there I shewed my cozen Roger the Duchesse of York sitting in state, while her own mother stands by her; he had a desire, and I shewed him my Lady Castlemayne, whom he approves to be very handsome, and wonders that she cannot be as good within as she is fair without. Her little black boy came by him; and, a dog being in his way, the little boy called to the dog: “Pox of this dog!” — “Now,” says he, blessing himself, “would I whip this child till the blood come, if it were my child!” and I believe he would. But he do by no means like the liberty of the Court, and did come with expectation of finding them playing at cards to-night, though Sunday; for such stories he is told, but how true I know not.1
After walking up and down the Court with him, it being now dark and past six at night, I walked to the Swan in the Palace yard and there with much ado did get a waterman, and so I sent for the Michells, and they come, and their father Howlett and his wife with them, and there we drank, and so into the boat, poor Betty’s head aching. We home by water, a fine moonshine and warm night, it having been also a very summer’s day for warmth. I did get her hand to me under my cloak … [and did oter sa gans, but ella ne voudroit tocar mi cosa today, whatever the matter was, and I was loath to contrendre her to faire, de peur qu’elle faisait son mari prendre notice thereof. – L&M] So there we parted at their house, and he walked almost home with me, and then I home and to supper, and to read a little and to bed. My wife tells me Mr. Frampton is gone to sea, and so she lost her labour to-day in thinking to hear him preach, which I am sorry for.
35 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
Ormond to Burlington
Written from: Dublin
Date: 27 January 1667
The Earl's letter of the 15th inst [ = of the present month http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/p… ], with the enclosed narrative of the manner of the passing of the Bill against Irish Cattle, came at the moment of closing the writer's dispatch of yesterday.
The narrative causes more surprise than the thing itself causes trouble ... Time, industry, peace, may recover the hurt ... It is to be hoped that the Commons will now think about securing the King, & preserving their Country from certain dishonour, and very probable ruin ...
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/s…
Terry Foreman • Link
“After walking up and down the Court with him, it being now dark and past 6 at night, I walked to the Swan in the Palace yard and there with much ado did get a waterman; and so I sent for the Michells and they came, and their father Howlett and his wife with them, and there we drank; and so into the boat poor Betty’s head akeing. We home by water, a fine moonshine and warm night, it having been also a very summers day for warmth. I did get her hand to me under my cloak and did oter sa gans, but ella ne voudroit tocar mi cosa today, whatever the matter was, and I was loath to contrendre her to faire, de peur qu’ell faisait son mari prendre notice thereof. So there we parted at their house, and he walked almost home with me; and I to supper, and to read a little and to bed.”
http://www.pepys.info/bits5.html
language hat • Link
"I did get her hand to me under my cloak and did oter sa gans, but ella ne voudroit tocar mi cosa today, whatever the matter was, and I was loath to contrendre her to faire, de peur qu’ell faisait son mari prendre notice thereof."
"I did get her hand to me under my cloak and did remove her glove, but she didn't want to touch my thing today, whatever the matter was, and I was loath to force her to to it, for fear that she would cause her husband to take notice thereof."
Good for you, Betty!
Robert Gertz • Link
Wonder if Roger would whip Sam till the blood came if he knew of his little game today.
Poor Betty, though it strikes me as likely she's been counseled by someone (Mom?) to say nothing but simply resist. Sam is lucky in his choice of poor family to exploit, some would have gutted him and thrown him overboard.
***
"Mighty desire" she should hear the apparently fashionable preacher-star, eh? Of course we know why he wanted her out of the way but was Frampton's message one that he felt would be good for Bess?
"And if thee do come across thy husband and lord fondling a guest actress' breast in thy best chamber, the Lord doth say that it is best to put thine eye in the way of blindness..."
language hat • Link
And good for Sam for not tearing out those pages of Erasmus.
Robert Gertz • Link
Mitchell doesn't seem a Bagwell, at least Sam seems to fear his finding out about his little "attentions" to Betty.
***
Heaven...
"Mr. Pepys..." curt growl. "Pepys." curter growl.
"Mitchell? Knipp? Pardon me, urgent business."
"Now, now. Mr. Pepys. This is Heaven. We are here for reconcilation not violence." St. Peter, reassuringly. "You have nothing to fear. Lets remember you are in on probation."
"Well...If I may then, gentlemen, I hope a sincere apology...And my best wishes to your wives."
Pow. Ooof. Pow. Body slam. Pow. Kick.
Groan...To Peter desperately trying not to chuckle as Knipp and Mitchell stroll off for a pint together.
"'Saint' Peter, they call you? You lied to me?"
"Only twice...I'm getting better." Peter grins. "We're all on probation, Samuel. And only human, even here."
"Ohhh..."
"Nothing you didn't deserve, you know." Bess steps forward, offering hand. "Come on. At least you know they read your Diary."
CGS • Link
"...being by some means or other disappointed of my own boat..."
His regular [on retainer?] Oarsman sitting in his Sunday pew not on the bench to-day.???
strange words!
CGS • Link
Whervnto is added a declamacion,
That chyldren euen strayt frõ their
infancie should be well and gent-
ly broughte vp in learnynge.
Written fyrst in Latin
by the most excel-
lent and
famous Clearke, Erasmus
of Rotero-
dame.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/28…
CGS • Link
"...Her little black boy came by him;..."
so controversial a statement......
Bryan M • Link
"I thence to Sir Philip Warwicke, by appointment, to meet Lord Bellasses, and up to his chamber, but find him unwilling to discourse of business on Sundays; ... By and by comes Lord Bellasses, and then he and I up again to Sir P. Warwicke and had much discourse of our Tangier business..."
Sam goes to see Sir Philip to do business "by appointment" but is told no dice it's Sunday. Then Lord B arrives and it's down to business. A strange situation but Sam makes no comment.
It seems that Warwick's religious (?) concerns about working on Sunday applied to commoners like Sam but did not extend to those further up the pecking order than himself.
Robert Gertz • Link
"“Now,” says he, blessing himself, “would I whip this child till the blood come, if it were my child!”..."
Bad moment in parenting; great moment in racial equality...I try to picture the look on some Klansman's face reading Roger's casual view of the boy as bratty kid first.
The American South, 1948...
"But daddy, is this seventeenth century guy saying he has no problem seein' this black person as his own kid?"
"Ummn...That tain't fit reading for you, son." Strom Thurmond nervously grabs Diary.
"...And if those Jewish folks was so nice to Mr. Pepys before that time he visited their synagogue..."
"When I'm President this kind of filth'll be burned, son."
A. De Araujo • Link
"her little black boy"
Well, he had some Medici in him.
Susan Scott • Link
"Her little black boy"
Most likely this is Lady Castlemaine's first son by the king. Charles Fitzroy (1662-1730) will in time become both Duke of Southampton and Duke of Cleveland, but here he's just a foul-mouthed four-year-old. Charles doted on his (many) illegitimate children, and visiting them was a regular part of his day. It's not surprising that this son is here now, or, given the company of his parents' friends, that he swears at the dog.
As A.De Araujo noted, he did have his father's Medici coloring, qualifying him as "black" in the parlance of the day. He's the lovely 'child' in Lely's "Madonna & Child" with Lady Castlemaine as the Madonna:
http://tinyurl.com/ylngqgq
arby • Link
Error, "Bad title" on the link, Susan.
Susan Scott • Link
Sorry about that bad link! That's what comes of being lazy and trusting Wikipedia too much. *g* Here's the painting from the National Portrait Gallery site, which should be more reliable:
http://www.npg.org.uk/collections…
arby • Link
Neat, thankee!
Terry Foreman • Link
This also works.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File…
ONeville • Link
Looks as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth
Australian Susan • Link
Lady C makes a very smug-looking Madonna!
Sam's remarks about the Poll Tax and the complexities and problems associated with it, reminded me very much of the debates in the 80s in the UK about the Community Charge, which everyone called the Poll Tax: a most unwelcome tax.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"(being by some means or other disappointed of my own boat)"
CGS, L&M say this is the office boat, which could be used on Sundays, when other boats were hard to come by.
Terry Foreman • Link
"Thence I up to the King’s closet"
L&M: See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
-------------
I wonder if this "closet" may be a large viewing chamber which overlooks the performance of the service -- the Choir's Anthem, etc.
Terry Foreman • Link
"reading Erasmus “de scribendis epistolis,” a very good book, especially one letter of advice to a courtier most true and good, which made me once resolve to tear out the two leaves that it was writ in, but I forebore it. "
L&M : Pepys kept a copy of De conscribendis epistolis ((Leyden, 1645; PL 27) in which this letter ('Scribis te nolenten...') under the title Aliud exemplum de vita aulica begins at p. 480. The mutilation of books and MSS was not uncommon: Pepys made up the medieval section of his 'Calligraphical Collection'(PL 2981) largely fron snippets cut from MSS.
Terry Foreman • Link
"met with Roger Pepys, and he and I to walk in the Pell Mell. I find by him that the House of Parliament continues full of ill humours, and he seems to dislike those that are troublesome more than needs, and do say how, in their late Poll Bill, which cost so much time, the yeomanry, and indeed two-thirds of the nation, are left out to be taxed,"
L&M: The poll bill had provoked lengthy debates as to who should be included. An explanatory act (18-19 Var. II c. 6) was passed on 8 February a few days before it was to come into effect, but did not covrer all the criticisms(esp. of sect. xix) which Pepys here reports. Roger Pepys had been appointed one of the poll-tax commissioners for Cambridgshire.
Terry Foreman • Link
"I shewed my cozen Roger the Duchesse of York sitting in state, while her own mother stands by her"
L&M: The rules governing the rare situation resulting from the marriage of a commoner into the royal family were strictly enforced. Ailesbury later wrote that the Duchess never called Clarendon father, and that the Earl himself was guilty of a solecism in addressing her in letters as daughter: Memoirs (ed. Buckley), i. 346.
Terry Foreman • Link
"But he do by no means like the liberty of the Court, and did come with expectation of finding them playing at cards to-night, though Sunday; for such stories he is told, but how true I know not."
L&M: On Sunday 17 February, Pepys himself saw gaming at court.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Terry Foreman • Link
"My wife tells me Mr. Frampton is gone to sea"
L&M: Robert Frampton was on his way to Aleppo, where he served as chaplain to the Levant Company (with intervals at home), 1665-70. He had just been married in England, but now chose to return to Aleppo on hearing that the plague had broken out there: DNB.
arby • Link
In the footnote, "Six days after was all in the dust." Um, what?
Mary K • Link
"All was in the dust"
Charles II died in February 1685. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes........
arby • Link
Ah, thanks, MK, I missed the "at a later time".
James Little • Link
I seem to remember that in L&M a “black girl” was a girl with black hair.
San Diego Sarah • Link
Correct, James. As the word "black" in the text is displayed in blue, you can hover your curser over it and see words to that effect from L&M. Click on "black", and you'll find the 1893 text says "The old expression for a brunette." And there are 9 further annotations on the subject for you to explore. It also tells you how many times the word "black" in this context is shown in the Diary, and makes it easy for you to view those dates.
In short, our Encyclopedia is a very helpful tool so we don't have to endlessly repeat the same information, or so you can easily explore a specific reference (I use this a lot for people). Keep on annotating!
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... but especially of having something done to bringing the Surveyor’s matters into order also."
This isn't a new conversation between Pepys and Coventry:
Saturday 23 August 1662
… After sitting, Mr. Coventry and I did walk together a great while in the Garden, where he did tell me his mind about Sir G. Carteret’s having so much the command of the money, which must be removed. And indeed it is the bane of all our business. He observed to me also how Sir W. Batten begins to struggle and to look after his business, which he do indeed a little, but it will come to nothing.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
And indeed it came to nothing for four and a half years ... now the House of Commons enquiry means they have to make some corrective moves.
San Diego Sarah • Link
Besides the Chappell links Terry gives above, I found this description of the set-up:
Sunday 14 October 1660
"To White Hall chappell, ... Here I also observed, how the Duke of York and Mrs. Palmer did talk to one another very wantonly through the hangings that parts the King’s closet and the closet where the ladies sit."
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
I also recall reading about a devout Queen who was dying, and insisted on attending a service every day. Since she couldn't dress and go to Church, she had a bed set up in her Closet which overlooked the Alter so she could hear and see everything. When I find the link, I'll add it.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"I thence to Sir Philip Warwicke, by appointment, to meet Lord Bellasses, and up to his chamber, but find him unwilling to discourse of business on Sundays; so did not enlarge, but took leave, and went down and sat in a low room, reading Erasmus ... By and by comes Lord Bellasses, and then he and I up again to Sir P. Warwicke and had much discourse of our Tangier business, but no hopes of getting any money."
'Sam goes to see Sir Philip to do business "by appointment" but is told no dice it's Sunday. Then Lord B arrives and it's down to business. A strange situation but Sam makes no comment.'
The comment Pepys makes is that he didn't take cranky old Warwick seriously ... he knew Brouncker would be there soon, and the meeting would happen, so he settled down to wait in an excellent library and had a good read.
Pepys had met Warwick before, and held him in high regard. "I honor the man with all my heart, and think him to be a very able and right honest man." (24 November, 1666). And I recall Warwick saw Pepys as a young man worthy of a couple of hours of instruction, even if they were both busy at the time.
(However, Sir John Denham -- another old cranky Cavalier -- classified Sir Philip Warwick with certain high officials of the day, some of whom were admittedly corrupt, in the following lines:
"Museovy sells us pitch and hemp and tar,
Iron and copper Sweden,
Munster war;
Ashley prize,
Warwich custom,
Carteret pay;
But Coventry doth sell the fleet away." [Coventry will be accused of selling commissions.])
So maybe Warwick is in his closet doing some fancy bookkeeping before the Navy boys get to see his books??? Who knows ... Maybe he had an actress up there?
https://books.google.com/books?id…
Third Reading
Trevor M Randall • Link
"I did get her hand to me under my cloak and did remove her glove, but she didn't want to touch my thing today, whatever the matter was, and I was loath to force her to to it, for fear that she would cause her husband to take notice thereof."
This seems to clear up whether or not Betty Michell’s husband was aware of Pepys lascivious shenanigans.