Thursday 16 May 1667
Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and, among other things, comes in Mr. Carcasse, and after many arguings against it, did offer security as was desired, but who should this be but Mr. Powell, that is one other of my Lord Bruncker’s clerks; and I hope good use will be made of it. But then he began to fall foul upon the injustice of the Board, which when I heard I threatened him with being laid by the heels, which my Lord Bruncker took up as a thing that I could not do upon the occasion he had given, but yet did own that it was ill said of him. I made not many words of it, but have let him see that I can say what I will without fear of him, and so we broke off, leaving the bond to be drawn by me, which I will do in the best manner I can. At noon, this being Holy Thursday, that is, Ascension Day, when the boys go on procession round the parish, we were to go to the Three Tuns’ Tavern, to dine with the rest of the parish; where all the parish almost was, Sir Andrew Rickard and others; and of our house, J. Minnes, W. Batten, W. Pen, and myself; and Mr. Mills did sit uppermost at the table. Here we were informed that the report of our Embassadors being ill received in their way to Bredah is not true, but that they are received with very great civility, which I am glad to hear.
But that that did vex me was that among all us there should come in Mr. Carcasse to be a guest for his money (5s. a piece) as well as any of us. This did vex me, and I would have gone, and did go to my house, thinking to dine at home, but I was called away from them, and so we sat down, and to dinner. Among other things Sir John Fredericke and Sir R. Ford did talk of Paul’s School, which, they tell me, must be taken away; and then I fear it will be long before another place, as they say is promised, is found; but they do say that the honour of their company is concerned in the doing of it, and that it is a thing that they are obliged to do. Thence home, and to my office, where busy; anon at 7 at night I and my wife and Sir W. Pen in his coach to Unthanke’s, my wife’s tailor, for her to speak one word, and then we to my Lord Treasurer’s, where I find the porter crying, and suspected it was that my Lord is dead; and, poor Lord! we did find that he was dead just now; and the crying of the fellow did so trouble me, that considering I was not likely to trouble him any more, nor have occasion to give any more anything, I did give him 3s.; but it may be, poor man, he hath lost a considerable hope by the death of his Lord, whose house will be no more frequented as before, and perhaps I may never come thither again about any business. There is a good man gone: and I pray God that the Treasury may not be worse managed by the hand or hands it shall now be put into; though, for certain, the slowness, though he was of great integrity, of this man, and remissness, have gone as far to undo the nation, as anything else that hath happened; and yet, if I knew all the difficulties that he hath lain under, and his instrument Sir Philip Warwicke, I might be brought to another mind. Thence we to Islington, to the Old House, and there eat and drank, and then it being late and a pleasant evening, we home, and there to my chamber, and to bed. It is remarkable that this afternoon Mr. Moore come to me, and there, among other things, did tell me how Mr. Moyer, the merchant, having procured an order from the King and Duke of York and Council, with the consent of my Lord Chancellor, and by assistance of Lord Arlington, for the releasing out of prison his brother, Samuel Moyer, who was a great man in the late times in Haberdashers’-hall, and was engaged under hand and seal to give the man that obtained it so much in behalf of my Lord Chancellor; but it seems my Lady Duchess of Albemarle had before undertaken it for so much money, but hath not done it. The Duke of Albemarle did the next day send for this Moyer, to tell him, that notwithstanding this order of the King and Council’s being passed for release of his brother, yet, if he did not consider the pains of some friends of his, he would stop that order. This Moyer being an honest, bold man, told him that he was engaged to the hand that had done the thing to give him a reward; and more he would not give, nor could own any kindness done by his Grace’s interest; and so parted. The next day Sir Edward Savage did take the said Moyer in tax about it, giving ill words of this Moyer and his brother; which he not being able to bear, told him he would give to the person that had engaged him what he promised, and not any thing to any body else; and that both he and his brother were as honest men as himself, or any man else; and so sent him going, and bid him do his worst. It is one of the most extraordinary cases that ever I saw or understood; but it is true.
This day Mr. Sheply is come to town and to see me, and he tells me my father is very well only for his pain, so that he is not able to stir; but is in great pain. I would to God that he were in town that I might have what help can be got for him, for it troubles me to have him live in that condition of misery if I can help it.
18 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
The Royal Society today at Arundel House — from the Hooke Folio Online
May. 16. 1667. Bulliald Letter. Algebraick proposition of reducing a biquad: aequation into 2 quadr:
[ http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Biqu… ] they which may be effected in plaine Geometry. mr Collins sayd that problem was explained in the high duch algebra of Iohn Henry Rohm
Dr. Pells scoller. [ http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.… ]
The curator produced the 2 glasse tubes. one of 6 foot and another the new way by reflection being compared by exchanging the glasses the company Iudged the comon one to shew the obiect more cleer than the other did though both shewd the obiect of the same bignesse. vpon consideration it was found & declared by the Curator that the Reflecting box had seuerall defects. 1 that the intermediat glasse was too thick 2ly that the glasses were not ground smooth 3 that one of the glasses was conuex the other concaue of which defects he Iudging easy to be cured it was orderd that these defects be remedyd against next meeting
The great Loadstone of 60ll. weight was tryed. both peices being tyed together. it moued a needle at about 7 1/2 foot distance the great peice at about 7 foot distance, the little at neer 6 foot orderd that it should be tryd by the curator againe in priuate and an account of wt he obserud be brought in. as also it should be tryd how farr a good magnet moues Iron.
(Mr Boyles. to try the declination in the Ruines) orderd that the curator should take care to haue this done -
It was inquired how the quicksiluer stood about and at the time of the fire the curator affirmed that he Had found it very high but mr Boyle had not found his to be soe,. (colwall obseruation of [mercury] standerd for 7 months and at the time of the fire) the apparatus for obseruing variation at white hall to be made ready).
The curator mentiond that he had a way to handle the needle soe that it should moue with friction. The same was put in mind to prosecute the Expt of measuring the earth.
(D King account of cutting doggs spleen) expt. for next D: perfecting Reflecting tube. 2 magnetick needles 3 blowing wind into a dog. 4 Of breaking ductus thoracitus. iniecting fumes -
http://webapps.qmul.ac.uk/cell/Ho…
Terry Foreman • Link
John Finch to Ormond
Written from: Leghorn [ http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo… ]
Date: 16 May 1667
... On the 30th April certain [English] ships, Leopard, Centurion, Portsmouth, & others cast anchor in this harbour without saluting the fort; which was ill taken by the Grand Duke's Officers & afterwards resented by his Highness, in a letter from Count Bardi ...
The writer proceeds to describe, at length, the ulterior proceedings in the matter; the conferences held; and the communications interchanged. ...
He also adds some particulars of correspondence with the English College at Rome concerning an application from the English Factory in that City for "the enjoyment of the exercise of their Religion" ...
Choice fruits of Italy, designed to enrich the Duke's new Garden, were laden on the Diamond, - a vessel unfortunately captured, by the French, in the Riviera ...
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/s…
Australian Susan • Link
Sam is referring at the beginning of this entry to the ceremony of "beating the bounds". See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat… And an excuse for a Parish dinner!
Australian Susan • Link
For a history of St Paul's School, see http://www.stpaulsschool.org.uk/a…
Australian Susan • Link
"...where I find the porter crying..."
Doesn't seem to occur to Sam that the man might be genuinely sad at the death of his master and not just the loss of income. Outward displays of emotion always move Sam.
Larry Bunce • Link
"Laid by the heels" -- put in stocks. Sam is not using this phrase figuratively.
Australian Susan • Link
Better than being pilloried - you could dodge the rotten veg better!
Todd Bernhardt • Link
Could someone please explain exactly what's going on with the brothers Moyer? I'm afraid Sam lost me here...
Thanks.
Robert Gertz • Link
"...though, for certain, the slowness, though he was of great integrity, of this man, and remissness, have gone as far to undo the nation, as anything else that hath happened; and yet, if I knew all the difficulties that he hath lain under, and his instrument Sir Philip Warwicke, I might be brought to another mind. "
A decent "benefit of the doubt" consideration for the poor man's woes in office.
***
So the modern solution isn't practiced yet? I mean, bring in a gun and shoot everyone in the office.
Of course even the cynical jerks here in Georgia who arranged for North Georgia extremists to pass a "guns everywhere" bill (to cleverly allow the ruckus and media circus over that to mask quashing of a bill that would have better overseen tax/land/resources giveaway lures to out-of-state businesses)here made sure their disgruntled worker couldn't bring his gun to the office.
Seriously I suppose Sam is being rather brave, Carcasse could easily try to get dirt on him (not all that difficult) or hire thugs for a more permanent solution; Bruncker could try to have him turned out of office or that same permanent method.
language hat • Link
"Among other things Sir John Fredericke and Sir R. Ford did talk of Paul’s School, which, they tell me, must be taken away; and then I fear it will be long before another place, as they say is promised, is found; but they do say that the honour of their company is concerned in the doing of it, and that it is a thing that they are obliged to do."
Does anyone understand what this is about? What place? What company?
JWB • Link
St. Paul's, operated by the Mercer's Company, had to be rebuilt after the fire.
Terry Foreman • Link
Moyers
L&M say Samuel Moyer, imprisoned since 1661, had been a leading republican under the Commonwealth ( "the late times") and chair of the committee for dealing with delinquent estates when it met at Haberdashers’ Hall. His brother Laurence now secured an order for his release from Tynemouth Castle at a cost (it was said) of 500l.
Nix • Link
“Laid by the heels”
OED --
19. lay, set, clap by the heels. To put in irons or the stocks; to fetter, arrest, or confine; also, fig. to overthrow, disgrace. So to have by the heels; and, of the person confined, to lie or be tied by the heels.
c1510 Hickscorner in Hazl. Dodsley I. 170, I will go fetch a pair of gyves, For in good faith he shall be set fast by the heels. 1584 R. SCOT Discov. Witchcr. III. xv. (1886) 51 One of Q. Maries justices..laid an archer by the heeles. 1654 G. GODDARD Introd. Burton's Diary (1828# I. 160 When they had seized upon him and clapped him by the heels. 1700 LUTTRELL Brief Rel. #1857# IV. 638 The lord cheif justice..will lay the undersherif by the heels. 1781 F. BURNEY Diary Aug., I supposed you would have finished it [a play] in your last fit of sickness..pray go on with it when you are tied by the heel next. 1865 KINGSLEY Herew. II. xvi. 274 Tell him Hereward has..half a dozen knights safe by the heels. 1889 Baltimore #Md.) Sun 19 Nov., The bold offender..would have been quickly set by the heels.
Robert Gertz • Link
Basically Moyer is fed up and rightly so. He paid a bribe to get his brother out of prison after years and now a growing number of corrupt officials and aristocratic "connections" have their hand out, each demanding more. This happened with much greater frequency at the Restoration in '60, even Sam getting a few payoffs to "assist" poor schmos who didn't turn their coat fast enough, including I think, Sir Gilbert Pickering, in-law of Lord Sandwich. If I remember right Sam was slipped 5Ls by Pickering's wife to help with his rehabiliation.
Something awful in Albemarle being involved in this sordid business with such a relatively small sum at stake. But the don must see that the little clients are getting theirs I suppose. Rather makes Sam look fairly noble by comparison.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
". Algebraick proposition of reducing a biquad: aequation into 2 quadr: they which may be effected in plaine Geometry. mr Collins sayd that problem was explained in the high duch algebra of Iohn Henry Rohm, Dr. Pells scoller"
A note about a forthcoming publication of the English translation of the book about prime numbers by John Henry Rohm (a student of Dr. John Pell) will be published in the Philosophical Transactions: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Pa…
mountebank • Link
Pepys is like a dog with a bone over Carcasse isn't he? The Pepys of the diary isn't a particularly courageous sort but he seems to be going out on a limb over this. Maybe Pepys is so confident of the case, and that friends of Carcasse won't fight hard enough on his behalf, that he sees he's onto a winner and there will be credit for dealing with a rogue. Or maybe he's doing damage limitation for the Board, and for himself, naturally.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"The Pepys of the diary isn't a particularly courageous sort ..."
I agree Pepys reports no redeeming qualities in Mr. Carkasse, and that others stick with him does indicate we are not getting the full story in the Diary. I would love to know why Pett sticks up for him, for instance. Maybe all will be revealed later.
But I cannot agree with Pepys not being the courageous sort. I have been struck by the number of times he has told truth to power in the last couple of years ... mostly about the need for funds for victualing, fleet repairs, pay, care for seamen, the Chatham Chest, and for Tangier. He knows his turf and sticks to it. He's not telling the Stuart Brothers directly that they need to mend their wicked way -- it isn't his place to do that, yet. But he did tell cousin Sandwich to leave the Chelsea ladies alone when the other retainers feared to do so, and lost favor for a couple of years.
However, when there's a loud noise in the middle of the night, it is true Pepys sends a mayde to see what's happening.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"Something awful in Albemarle being involved in this sordid business with such a relatively small sum at stake."
Money is drying up for everyone. The plague and fire destroyed property and goods and businesses. The war is being lost, and the prize committee makes sure that captured ships are no longer cash cows for their backers. Taxes have just been taken, and I suspect not everyone got off as lightly as Pepys. There is famine in the countryside because crops were not either planted or harvested. Coal is prohibitively expensive. It's every man for himself, as much as he can get away with it.