Monday 15 April 1667
Lay long in bed, and by and by called up by Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me that my Lord Middleton is for certain chosen Governor of Tangier; a man of moderate understanding, not covetous, but a soldier of fortune, and poor. Here comes Mr. Sanchy with an impertinent business to me of a ticket, which I put off. But by and by comes Dr. Childe by appointment, and sat with me all the morning making me bases and inward parts to several songs that I desired of him, to my great content. Then dined, and then abroad by coach, and I set him down at Hatton Garden, and I to the King’s house by chance, where a new play: so full as I never saw it; I forced to stand all the while close to the very door till I took cold, and many people went away for want of room. The King, and Queene, and Duke of York and Duchesse there, and all the Court, and Sir W. Coventry. The play called “The Change of Crownes;” a play of Ned Howard’s, the best that ever I saw at that house, being a great play and serious; only Lacy did act the country-gentleman come up to Court, who do abuse the Court with all the imaginable wit and plainness about selling of places, and doing every thing for money. The play took very much. Thence I to my new bookseller’s, and there bought “Hooker’s Polity,” the new edition, and “Dugdale’s History of the Inns of Court,” of which there was but a few saved out of the fire, and Playford’s new Catch-book, that hath a great many new fooleries in it. Then home, a little at the office, and then to supper and to bed, mightily pleased with the new play.
8 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
L&M note Pepys's estimate of "my Lord Middleton" is confirmed by Clarendon (Hist.) and Burnet.
Michael Robinson • Link
" ... but a soldier of fortune, and poor. "
Might SP be described in similar terms as a 'bureaucrat-of-fortune'; though doesn't have the same air of romance.
Robert Gertz • Link
"Lay long in bed, and by and by called up by Sir H. Cholmly..."
Imagine what an investigating committee at least nowadays would make of such a line, let alone the all morning music session, followed by play...And eventually, a little at the office...Especially in wartime. Somehow I don't think "but we had no money anyway" would work as an excuse.
***
Lord Middleton certainly sounds like an inspiring choice for governor. "Moderate understanding"?...Perhaps for an aristocrat that's not bad.
He's poor because he's not covetous, Sam. Now if we apply that principle to you...
cape henry • Link
Another leisurely Monday.Sounds like Ned Howard wrote this play after seeing "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
Don McCahill • Link
> Imagine what an investigating committee at least nowadays would make of such a line
No problem from me, if I were on the committee. The man works on all seven days of the week, and into the evening. I suspect this is similar to the modern business man making time to go golfing during the week. Salary slaves can't do it, but SP has worked up past that level.
jmacg • Link
>Here comes Mr. Sanchy with an impertinent business to me of a ticket, which I put off.
What is a ticket?
Terry Foreman • Link
"What is a ticket?"
Click the link to the word in the entry and you'll see a definition.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"Lacy did act the country-gentleman come up to Court, who do abuse the Court with all the imaginable wit and plainness about selling of places, and doing every thing for money."
L&M note John Lacy played Asinello. The topical satire in this part had serious consequences for Lacy and the Theatre Royal: see http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…