Wednesday 3 July 1667

Up, and within most of the morning, my tailor’s boy coming to alter something in my new suit I put on yesterday. Then to the office and did business, and then (my wife being a little ill of those in bed) I to Sir W. Batten’s and dined, and there comes in Sir Richard Ford, tells us how he hath been at the Sessions-house, and there it is plain that there is a combination of rogues in the town, that do make it their business to set houses on fire, and that one house they did set on fire in Aldersgate Streete last Easter; and that this is proved by two young men, whom one of them debauched by degrees to steal their fathers’ plate and clothes, and at last to be of their company; and they had their places to take up what goods were flung into the streets out of the windows, when the houses were on fire; and this is like to be proved to a great number of rogues, whereof five are already found, and some found guilty this day. One of these boys is the son of a Montagu, of my Lord Manchester’s family; but whose son he could not tell me. This is a strange thing methinks, but I am glad that it is proved so true and discovered. So home, and to enter my Journall of my late journey to this hour, and then to the office, where to do a little business, and then by water to White Hall (calling at Michell’s in my way, but the rogue would not invite me in, I having a mind para voir his wife), and there to the Council-chamber, to deliver a letter to their Lordships about the state of the six merchantmen which we have been so long fitting out. When I come, the King and the whole table full of Lords were hearing of a pitifull cause of a complaint of an old man, with a great grey beard, against his son, for not allowing him something to live on; and at last come to the ordering the son to allow his father 10l. a year. This cause lasted them near two hours; which, methinks, at this time to be the work of the Council-board of England, is a scandalous thing, and methought Sir W. Coventry to me did own as much. Here I find all the newes is the enemy’s landing 3,000 men near Harwich,1 and attacking Landguard Fort, and being beat off thence with our great guns, killing some of their men, and they leaving their ladders behind them; but we had no Horse in the way on Suffolk side, otherwise we might have galled their Foot. The Duke of York is gone down thither this day, while the General sat sleeping this afternoon at the Council-table. The news so much talked of this Exchange, of a peace, I find by Sir Richard Browne arises from a letter the Swedes’ agent hath received from Bredah and shewed at Court to-day, that they are come very near it, but I do not find anybody here relying upon it. This cause being over, the Trinity House men, whom I did not expect to meet, were called in, and there Sir W. Pen made a formal speech in answer to a question of the King’s, whether the lying of the sunk ships in the river would spoil the river. But, Lord! how gingerly he answered it, and with a deal of do that he did not know whether it would be safe as to the enemy to have them taken up, but that doubtless it would be better for the river to have them taken up. Methought the Council found them answer like fools, and it ended in bidding them think more of it, and bring their answer in writing. Thence I to Westminster Hall, and there hear how they talk against the present management of things, and against Sir W. Coventry for his bringing in of new commanders and casting out the old seamen, which I did endeavour to rectify Mr. Michell and them in, letting them know that he hath opposed it all his life the most of any man in England. After a deal of this tittle tattle, I to Mrs. Martin’s, and there she was gone in before, but when I come, contrary to my expectation, I find her all in trouble, and what was it for but that I have got her with child … [for those do not venir upon her as they should have done; – L&M] and is in exceeding grief, and swears that the child is mine, which I do not believe, but yet do comfort her that either it cannot be so, or if it be that I will take care to send for her husband, though I do hardly see how I can be sure of that, the ship being at sea, and as far as Scotland, but however I must do it, and shall find some way or other of doing it, though it do trouble me not a little. Thence, not pleased, away to White Hall to Mr. Williamson, and by and by my Lord Arlington about Mr. Lanyon’s business, and it is pretty to see how Mr. Williamson did altogether excuse himself that my business was not done when I come to my Lord and told him my business; “Why,” says my Lord, “it hath been done, and the King signed it several days ago,” and so it was and was in Mr. Williamson’s hands, which made us both laugh, and I in innocent mirth, I remember, said, it is pretty to see in what a condition we are that all our matters now-a-days are undone, we know not how, and done we know not when. He laughed at it, but I have since reflected on it, and find it a severe speech as it might be taken by a chief minister of state, as indeed Mr. Williamson is, for he is indeed the Secretary. But we fell to other pleasant talk, and a fine gentleman he is, and so gave him 5l. for his fee, and away home, and to Sir W. Batten’s to talk a little, and then to the office to do a little business, and so home to supper and read myself asleep, and then to bed.

13 Annotations

First Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Filling in the ellipsis

"After a deal of this bibble babble, I to Mrs. Martins and there she was gone in before; but when I come, contrary to my expectation, I find her all in trouble, and what was it for but that I have got her with child, for those [ her menses ] do not venir upon her as they should have done; and is in exceeding grief, and swears that the child is mine; which I do not believe, but yet do comfort her that either it can[not] be so; or if it be, that I will take care to send for her husband, though I do hardly see how I can be sure of that, the ship being at sea and as far as Scotland; but however, I must do it, and shall find some way or other of doing it, though it do trouble me not a little."

L&M text

Horace Dripple  •  Link

Does Sam call Mr. Mitchell a rogue because he foiled Sam's wish for a dalliance, or is there an independent reason? Somehow I think I know.

Ruben  •  Link

"...a chief minister of state, as indeed Mr. Williamson is, for he is indeed the Secretary..., and a fine gentleman he is, and so gave him 5l. for his fee, and away home..."

We see here that for a "service" given by a public officer, as Mr. Williamson was, Samuel had to pay a "fee". Was this fee charge legal, like a commission? was this fee like the tip of our times that you give or not depending on the quality of service you receive? What is the difference with Samuel receiving "presents" and the like?
Interesting.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

(calling at Michell’s in my way, but the rogue would not invite me in, I having a mind para voir his wife)

The miserable peasant...Next they'll be demanding the right to vote and social justice.

And worse yet, Mrs. Martin's declaration...

Let us hope, should Mrs. M be right, that Sam can get Martin's "leave"? in quickly.

cum salis grano  •  Link

method and names used to move money from one purse into another purse, so numerous

Bribe/sweeteners/lobby money/baksheesh, are for future considerations,

commissions/fees/bills/ payment for present or past work done
tis my take

Fee [professional ]is a kinder word than pay [hoi poloi]

cum salis grano  •  Link

fee [ or fee fie foe fum][money]
OED:

[Common Teut. and Aryan: OE. feoh, fioh, féo, str. neut., corresp. to OFris. fia, OS. fehu cattle, property (Du. vee cattle), OHG. fihu, fehu cattle, property, money (MHG. vihe, vehe, and mod.Ger. vieh has only the sense cattle),
ON. fé cattle, property, money (Da. fæ cattle, beast, Sw. fä beast), Goth. faihu property, money:{em}OTeut. *fehu:{em}OAryan *péku-, whence also Skr. paçu masc., L. pec{umac} neut. cattle (cf. L. pec{umac}nia money).]

1. Live stock, cattle, whether large or small. wild fee: deer.
c900

2. Movable property in general; goods, possessions, wealth.
c888

3. Money.
Beowulf 1380 Ic {th}e {th}a fæh{edh}e feo leani{asg}e. c870

4. Comb. fee-house, (a) in OE., a treasury, (b) a cattle-shed.
c1000

I. 1. a. Feudal Law. An estate in land (in England always a heritable estate), held on condition of homage and service to a superior lord, by whom it is granted and in whom the ownership remains; a fief, feudal benefice. {dag}to take (a person's) fee: to become his vassal.

Now only Hist.
ecclesiastical fee (L. feodum ecclesiasticum): one held by an ecclesiastical person or corporation, and not owing any but spiritual service. knight's fee, lay fee: see KNIGHT n., LAY a.
1292...
...
1767 BLACKSTONE Comm. II. 105 Feodum, or fee, is that which is held of some superior, on condition of rendering him service.

of Durham.

b. Phrases, (as) in or of fee (= L. in, de feudo, ut in feudo): by a heritable right subject to feudal obligations. Now only Hist. Also transf. and fig.
[1292

2. a. Common Law. An estate of inheritance in land. Also in phrases as in 1b. (A fee is either a FEE-SIMPLE or a FEE-TAIL; but in fee is usually = ‘in fee-simple’.)
In Eng. Law theoretically identical with sense 1, all landed property being understood to be held feudally of the Crown. In the U.S. the holder of the fee is in theory as well as in fact the absolute owner of the land.
1535

2. a. Common Law. An estate of inheritance in land. Also in phrases as in 1b. (A fee is either a FEE-SIMPLE or a FEE-TAIL; but in fee is usually = ‘in fee-simple’.)
In Eng. Law theoretically identical with sense 1, all landed property being understood to be held feudally of the Crown. In the U.S. the holder of the fee is in theory as well as in fact the absolute owner of the land.
1535
.... a1674 MILTON Sonn. xii, Which after held the sun and moon in fee.
c. base fee: see BASE a. 11. Also (see quot.).
1883
...
e. at a pin's fee: at the value of a pin.
1602 SHAKES. Ham. I. iv. 65, I doe not set my life at a pin's fee
3. A territory held in fee; a lordship.
[1292

4. a. The heritable right to an office of profit, granted by a superior lord and held on condition of feudal homage. Only in phrases in, of, to fee. b. The heritable right to a pension or revenue similarly granted. Obs.
..1292

5. a. Homage rendered, or fealty promised, by a vassal to a superior. Also, employment, service.
c1330
b. to be at a, in fee of, to, with: to be in the pay or service of, under an obligation to; hence, to be in league with. Also, to have (one) in fee: to retain, hold in one's service. Obs.
1529

II. Denoting a payment or gift.
[This branch is commonly referred to FEE n.1, but the AF. is fee, and the med.L. feodum, both in England and on the continent; cf. It. fio. The two ns., however, being coincident in form, were certainly confused, and in many instances it makes no difference to the sense whether the word is taken as n.1 or as n.2 Senses 6-8 seem to have been influenced by branch I; sense 9 agrees with a continental use of feodum.]

6. A tribute or offering to a superior. Obs.

7. a. The sum which a public officer (? originally, one who held his office ‘in fee’: see 4a) is authorized to demand as payment for the execution of his official functions.
[1292

1609 SKENE Reg. Maj. 2 The fie of the seale, ten pounds. 1680 Tryal & Sent. Eliz. Cellier 18, I came to pay the Clerk of the Council his Fees..I was obliged to pay the Fees my self at the Council. 1727

payment of a fee.

b. Extended to denote the remuneration paid or due to a lawyer, a physician, or (in recent use) any professional man, a director of a public company, etc. for an occasional service.
1583 ..
..
1644 MILTON Educ. Wks. (1847) 99/1 Litigious terms, fat contentions, and flowing fees.
1655 CULPEPPER Riverius Epigram, Who spend Their Life in Visits, and whose Labors end in taking Fees.
1727-38 GAY Fables II. ix. 21 The fee gives eloquence its spirit.
1791 BOSWELL Johnson an. 1784 (1847) 800/2 Physicians..generously attended him without accepting any fees.
c. The sum paid for admission to an examination, a society, etc.; or for entrance to a public building. Also, admission-, court, entrance-fee.
1389

d. Terminal payments for instruction at school.
1616 R. C. Times' Whistle iv. 1428 For duble fees A dunce may turne a Doctour.

8. a. A perquisite allowed to an officer or servant (esp. a forester, a cook or scullion). fee of a bullock: see quot. 1730. Obs.
c1386 CHAUCER Knt.'s T. 945 Thus hath here lord..hem payed Here wages and here fees for here servise. ...

1603 KNOLLES Hist. Turks (1621) 833 Certain young men..snatcht it [food] hastily up as their fees, and like greedie Harpies ravened it downe in a moment.
1730-6 BAILEY (folio), The Fee of a Bullock, the bones of a bullocks thighs and shoulders, having the meat cut off (but not clean) for salting for victualling ships.

9. A fixed salary or wage; the pay of a soldier. Also pl. Wages. Obs. exc. Sc. or Hist.
c1400

10. a. A prize, a reward. Obs.
c1400

b. An occasional gift, a gratuity, given in recognition of services rendered. Phrase, without fee or reward.
a1592

fee 3
[a. OF. fee, feie (F. foie).]

The liver.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

I do hope Pepys has not got Mrs. Martin "in trouble"....

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"by and by my Lord Arlington about Mr. Lanyon’s business"

L&M say this concerned a warrant for the payment of £9000 for Tangier victualing.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"all the newes is the enemy’s landing 3,000 men near Harwich, and attacking Landguard Fort, and being beat off thence with our great guns, killing some of their men, and they leaving their ladders behind them"

This was late afternoon on the 2nd (yesterday). About 3,000 men (led by 'a tall English Lieutenant-Colonel') were landed in boats near Felixstowe. Two unsuccessful attacks were made on the port, the Dutch losses being about 150. The militia dealt with the main body of invaders, and by 2 a.m. had driven them back to their boats: CSPD 1667, pp. 259, 263, 266. Also Deane to Pepys, Rawl.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"but we had no Horse in the way on Suffolk side"

The Dutch had prevented Sir Philip Parker from crossing the river at Woodbridge with his troop of horse. (Per L&M footnote, like the post above)

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"the Trinity House men, whom I did not expect to meet, were called in, and there Sir W. Pen made a formal speech in answer to a question of the King’s, whether the lying of the sunk ships in the river would spoil the river"

Pepys should have expected the Trinity House men to be consulted about the navigability of the Thames (the Medway and the harbors that may have been attacked and damaged). Penn was the newly-elected Master of Trinity House.

Pepys believes "doubtless it would be better for the river to have [sunk ships] taken up"; but L&M note, in addition to those already sunk, ships were now ordered to be sunk first at Galleon's Reach and then at Blackwall Point.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

" the ship being at sea, and as far as Scotland"

L&M remind us the ship is Pepys's privateer, the Flying Greyhound, in which Samuel Martin served as purser.

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