Wednesday 29 May 1667
Up, and by coach to St. James’s, where by and by up to the Duke of York, where, among other things, our parson Mills having the offer of another benefice by Sir Robert Brookes, who was his pupil, he by my Lord Barkeley [of Stratton] is made one of the Duke’s Chaplains, which qualifies him for two livings. But to see how slightly such things are done, the Duke of York only taking my Lord Barkeley’s word upon saying, that we the officers of the Navy do say he is a good man and minister of our parish, and the Duke of York admits him to kiss his hand, but speaks not one word to him; but so a warrant will be drawn from the Duke of York to qualify him, and there’s an end of it. So we into the Duke’s closett, where little to do, but complaint for want of money and a motion of Sir W. Coventry’s that we should all now bethink ourselves of lessening charge to the King, which he said was the only way he saw likely to put the King out of debt, and this puts me upon thinking to offer something presently myself to prevent its being done in a worse manner without me relating to the Victualling business, which, as I may order it, I think may be done and save myself something.
Thence home, and there settle to some accounts of mine in my chamber I all the morning till dinner. My wife comes home from Woolwich, but did not dine with me, going to dress herself against night, to go to Mrs. Pierce’s to be merry, where we are to have Knepp and Harris and other good people. I at my accounts all the afternoon, being a little lost in them as to reckoning interest. Anon comes down my wife, dressed in her second mourning, with her black moyre waistcoat, and short petticoat, laced with silver lace so basely that I could not endure to see her, and with laced lining, which is too soon, so that I was horrid angry, and went out of doors to the office and there staid, and would not go to our intended meeting, which vexed me to the blood, and my wife sent twice or thrice to me, to direct her any way to dress her, but to put on her cloth gown, which she would not venture, which made me mad: and so in the evening to my chamber, vexed, and to my accounts, which I ended to my great content, and did make amends for the loss of our mirth this night, by getting this done, which otherwise I fear I should not have done a good while else. So to bed.
13 Annotations
First Reading
Robert Gertz • Link
Awww, Sam...Did the petulant widdle child win his point? How heartbreaking for Bess to have to lose a night of watching you flirt with Pierce and God knows what else with Knipp and any other available femaie.
Nicely done, Bess.
Mary • Link
It was only a couple of weeks ago (12th May) that Elizabeth struck a bargain with Sam on this question of lace and second mourning. She agreed that she would 'no more wear white locks' in his sight if she could have the money to 'lace her gown for second mourning.' Sam agreed to give her the money after further high words had been exchanged about Sam's fondness for Knipp's company and his undertaking not to see the actress any more.
No wonder Elizabeth has spent so long in preparing for this evening at Mrs. Pierce's (in company with Knipp and Harris and 'other good people'), wearing her new lace and all - and perhaps herein lies part of the reason for Sam's 'horrid' anger. He's been reminded about the bargain that was struck over the purchase of the lace and feels affronted by his wife's 'flaunting' of the evidence of her successful negotiation on that point. Though he's not admitting that, of course.
Andrew Hamilton • Link
Mary, a palpable hit, I think
JWB • Link
Nietzsche tragedy of human condition?
-bean counting:bean shooting::Apollo:Dionysus-
or in more modern vain, are we to see Pepys's personality more integrated and his resort to accounting as resort to an instrument of rhetoric, used to control politics of office just as he seeks to control his wife?
L. K. van Marjenhoff • Link
In the City of Westminster's blog of Nathaniel Bryceson's diary, which they call "The Life and Loves of a Victorian Clerk," Bryceson wrote on this day in 1846 that "Chelsea pensioners each wore an oak apple in commemoration" of the Restoration of Charles II.
An oak apple?
Michael Robinson • Link
An oak apple is a mutation of an oak leaf caused by chemicals injected by the larva of certain kinds of gall wasp. They are so called because the gall, which can measure up to 5 cm in diameter but is normally only approximately 2 cm, somewhat resembles an apple.
Continued: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_…
classicist • Link
The oak association is, of course, from the famous occasion on which Charles hid up an oak tree to escape Parliamentary soldiers after the Battle of Worcester. The incident was so famous that the 'Royal Oak' in question, at Boscobel House near Wolverhampton, was killed by souvenir hunters lopping off its branches after the Restoration. A 'Son of Royal Oak' is currently expiring at the property, which is open to the public, and a'Grandson of Royal Oak' is in line to inherit. (You can buy a certified royal oak sapling at the shop if you feel so inclined.) All the 'Royal Oak' pubs take their name from this.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"our parson Mills having the offer of another benefice by Sir Robert Brookes, who was his pupil, he by my Lord Barkeley [of Stratton] is made one of the Duke’s Chaplains, which qualifies him for two livings"
Milles was perhaps a private tutor to Brookes, conjecture L&M: Milles now became non-resident Rector of Wanstead, Essex (where Brookes was lord of the manor) until his death in 1689. An act of 1529 had exempted chaplains of members of the royal family and of noblemen from the usual rules controlling pluralism and non-residence.
Terry Foreman • Link
"this puts me upon thinking to offer something presently myself to prevent its being done in a worse manner without me relating to the Victualling business, which, as I may order it, I think may be done and save myself something."
Pepys, note L&M, resigned as Surveyor-General of Victualling in July: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Terry Foreman • Link
"my wife, dressed in her second mourning"
Half-mourning. L&M note the family was in mourning for Pepys's mother, who had died in March.
Batch • Link
So Sam's dearly beloved father is visiting him, and yesterday Elizabeth (his hostess) left Dad to go with Hewer and Jane overnight to Woolwich to gather dew for her complexion, and Sam (his son and host) left him to go meandering through Vauxhall to enjoy the sights and sounds of nightingales and musicians.
And today Dad is ignored again. Elizabeth heads for la Pierce's party wearing an outfit that so incenses Sam (unjustifiably, since he agreed to it) that he stays home in a sulk and works on accounts.
No mention of Dad at all. Strange.
Terry Foreman • Link
Dad (John Pepys Sen.) is in his element!
"As a boy of about 14 he went to London from Impington to serve his apprenticeship to a tailor in St Bride's parish, off Fleet St, and never moved from the parish until he surrendered his house and business to his son Tom in 1661 [about 46 years later]. It seems virtually certain therefore that he succeeded his own master there, eventually being made free [of the obligations of apprenticeship] of the Merchant Taylor's Company as a 'foreign' tailor (i.e. living outside the city boundaries) in 1653." (L&M Companion)
So, Batch, Dad was no doubt seeing old friends and colleagues, with whom he could dine, drink and lodge. https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
San Diego Sarah • Link
We will find out what Pops was (probably) doing on June 5. And I expect seeing his friends and relatives and the old neighborhood, now burned down, was on his agenda as well. I'm not giving you a spoiler!