Monday 2 September 1667

This day is kept in the City as a publick fast for the fire this day twelve months: but I was not at church, being commanded, with the rest, to attend the Duke of York; and, therefore, with Sir J. Minnes to St. James’s, where we had much business before the Duke of York, and observed all things to be very kind between the Duke of York and W. Coventry, which did mightily joy me. When we had done, Sir W. Coventry called me down with him to his chamber, and there told me that he is leaving the Duke of York’s service, which I was amazed at. But he tells me that it is not with the least unkindness on the Duke of York’s side, though he expects, and I told him he was in the right, it will be interpreted otherwise, because done just at this time; “but,” says he, “I did desire it a good while since, and the Duke of York did, with much entreaty, grant it, desiring that I would say nothing of it, that he might have time and liberty to choose his successor, without being importuned for others whom he should not like:” and that he hath chosen Mr. Wren, which I am glad of, he being a very ingenious man; and so Sir W. Coventry says of him, though he knows him little; but particularly commends him for the book he writ in answer to “Harrington’s Oceana,” which, for that reason, I intend to buy. He tells me the true reason is, that he, being a man not willing to undertake more business than he can go through, and being desirous to have his whole time to spend upon the business of the Treasury, and a little for his own ease, he did desire this of the Duke of York. He assures me that the kindness with which he goes away from the Duke of York is one of the greatest joys that ever he had in the world. I used some freedom with him, telling him how the world hath discoursed of his having offended the Duke of York, about the late business of the Chancellor. He do not deny it, but says that perhaps the Duke of York might have some reason for it, he opposing him in a thing wherein he was so earnest but tells me, that, notwithstanding all that, the Duke of York does not now, nor can blame him; for he tells me that he was the man that did propose the removal of the Chancellor; and that he did still persist in it, and at this day publickly owns it, and is glad of it; but that the Duke of York knows that he did first speak of it to the Duke of York, before he spoke to any mortal creature besides, which was fair dealing: and the Duke of York was then of the same mind with him, and did speak of it to the King; though since, for reasons best known to himself, he was afterwards altered. I did then desire to know what was the great matter that grounded his desire of the Chancellor’s removal? He told me many things not fit to be spoken, and yet not any thing of his being unfaithful to the King; but, ‘instar omnium’, he told me, that while he was so great at the Council-board, and in the administration of matters, there was no room for any body to propose any remedy to what was amiss, or to compass any thing, though never so good for the kingdom, unless approved of by the Chancellor, he managing all things with that greatness which now will be removed, that the King may have the benefit of others’ advice. I then told him that the world hath an opinion that he hath joined himself with my Lady Castlemayne’s faction in this business; he told me, he cannot help it, but says they are in an errour: but for first he will never, while he lives, truckle under any body or any faction, but do just as his own reason and judgment directs; and, when he cannot use that freedom, he will have nothing to do in public affairs but then he added, that he never was the man that ever had any discourse with my Lady Castlemayne, or with others from her, about this or any public business, or ever made her a visit, or at least not this twelvemonth, or been in her lodgings but when called on any business to attend the King there, nor hath had any thing to do in knowing her mind in this business. He ended all with telling me that he knows that he that serves a Prince must expect, and be contented to stand, all fortunes, and be provided to retreat, and that that he is most willing to do whenever the King shall please. And so we parted, he setting me down out of his coach at Charing Cross, and desired me to tell Sir W. Pen what he had told me of his leaving the Duke of York’s service, that his friends might not be the last that know it. I took a coach and went homewards; but then turned again, and to White Hall, where I met with many people; and, among other things, do learn that there is some fear that Mr. Bruncker is got into the King’s favour, and will be cherished there; which will breed ill will between the King and Duke of York, he lodging at this time in White Hall since he was put away from the Duke of York: and he is great with Bab. May, my Lady Castlemayne, and that wicked crew. But I find this denied by Sir G. Carteret, who tells me that he is sure he hath no kindness from the King; that the King at first, indeed, did endeavour to persuade the Duke of York from putting him away; but when, besides this business of his ill words concerning his Majesty in the business of the Chancellor, he told him that he hath had, a long time, a mind to put him away for his ill offices, done between him and his wife, the King held his peace, and said no more, but wished him to do what he pleased with him; which was very noble. I met with Fenn; and he tells me, as I do hear from some others, that the business of the Chancellor’s had proceeded from something of a mistake, for the Duke of York did first tell the King that the Chancellor had a desire to be eased of his great trouble; and that the King, when the Chancellor come to him, did wonder to hear him deny it, and the Duke of York was forced to deny to the King that ever he did tell him so in those terms: but the King did answer that he was sure that he did say some such thing to him; but, however, since it had gone so far, did desire him to be contented with it, as a thing very convenient for him as well as for himself (the King), and so matters proceeded, as we find. Now it is likely the Chancellor might, some time or other, in a compliment or vanity, say to the Duke of York, that he was weary of this burden, and I know not what; and this comes of it. Some people, and myself among them, are of good hope from this change that things are reforming; but there are others that do think but that it is a hit of chance, as all other our greatest matters are, and that there is no general plot or contrivance in any number of people what to do next, though, I believe, Sir W. Coventry may in himself have further designs; and so that, though other changes may come, yet they shall be accidental and laid upon [not] good principles of doing good.

Mr. May shewed me the King’s new buildings, in order to their having of some old sails for the closing of the windows this winter. I dined with Sir G. Carteret, with whom dined Mr. Jack Ashburnham and Dr. Creeton, who I observe to be a most good man and scholar. In discourse at dinner concerning the change of men’s humours and fashions touching meats, Mr. Ashburnham told us, that he remembers since the only fruit in request, and eaten by the King and Queen at table as the best fruit, was the Katharine payre, though they knew at the time other fruits of France and our own country. After dinner comes in Mr. Townsend; and there I was witness of a horrid rateing, which Mr. Ashburnham, as one of the Grooms of the King’s Bedchamber, did give him for want of linen for the King’s person; which he swore was not to be endured, and that the King would not endure it, and that the King his father, would have hanged his Wardrobe-man should he have been served so the King having at this day no handkerchers, and but three bands to his neck, he swore. Mr. Townsend answered want of money, and the owing of the linen-draper 5000l.; and that he hath of late got many rich things made — beds, and sheets, and saddles, and all without money, and he can go no further but still this old man, indeed, like an old loving servant, did cry out for the King’s person to be neglected. But, when he was gone, Townsend told me that it is the grooms taking away the King’s linen at the quarter’s end, as their fees, which makes this great want: for, whether the King can get it or no, they will run away at the quarter’s end with what he hath had, let the King get more as he can. All the company gone, Sir G. Carteret and I to talk: and it is pretty to observe how already he says that he did always look upon the Chancellor indeed as his friend, though he never did do him any service at all, nor ever got any thing by him, nor was he a man apt, and that, I think, is true, to do any man any kindness of his own nature; though I do know that he was believed by all the world to be the greatest support of Sir G. Carteret with the King of any man in England: but so little is now made of it! He observes that my Lord Sandwich will lose a great friend in him; and I think so too, my Lord Hinchingbroke being about a match calculated purely out of respect to my Lord Chancellor’s family. By and by Sir G. Carteret, and Townsend, and I, to consider of an answer to the Commissioners of the Treasury about my Lord Sandwich’s profits in the Wardrobe; which seem, as we make them, to be very small, not 1000l. a-year; but only the difference in measure at which he buys and delivers out to the King, and then 6d. in the pound from the tradesmen for what money he receives for him; but this, it is believed, these Commissioners will endeavour to take away.

From him I went to see a great match at tennis, between Prince Rupert and one Captain Cooke, against Bab. May and the elder Chichly; where the King was, and Court; and it seems are the best players at tennis in the nation. But this puts me in mind of what I observed in the morning, that the King, playing at tennis, had a steele-yard carried to him, and I was told it was to weigh him after he had done playing; and at noon Mr. Ashburnham told me that it is only the King’s curiosity, which he usually hath of weighing himself before and after his play, to see how much he loses in weight by playing: and this day he lost 4 lbs.

Thence home and took my wife out to Mile End Green, and there I drank, and so home, having a very fine evening. Then home, and I to Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen, and there discoursed of Sir W. Coventry’s leaving the Duke of York, and Mr. Wren’s succeeding him. They told me both seriously, that they had long cut me out for Secretary to the Duke of York, if ever [Sir] W. Coventry left him; which, agreeing with what I have heard from other hands heretofore, do make me not only think that something of that kind hath been thought on, but do comfort me to see that the world hath such an esteem of my qualities as to think me fit for any such thing. Though I am glad, with all my heart, that I am not so; for it would never please me to be forced to the attendance that that would require, and leave my wife and family to themselves, as I must do in such a case; thinking myself now in the best place that ever man was in to please his own mind in, and, therefore, I will take care to preserve it. So to bed, my cold remaining though not so much upon me. This day Nell, an old tall maid, come to live with us, a cook maid recommended by Mr. Batelier.

37 Annotations

First Reading

Bradford  •  Link

"the King’s curiosity, which he usually hath of weighing himself before and after his play, to see how much he loses in weight by playing: and this day he lost 4 lbs."

The man must have been as wet as a herring. Is this credible? Perhaps at the U.S. Open's temperatures.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"He ended all with telling me that he knows that he that serves a Prince must expect, and be contented to stand, all fortunes, and be provided to retreat, and that that he is most willing to do whenever the King shall please."

The Wheel turns round to Coventry...He must have known what was coming when he was making his earlier speech to Sam. Perhaps, despite what we know of Charles' desire to kick him out, bored and annoyed by Sir Will's constant attempts to nag him into reform, the voluntary leave taking is true...But doubtless Coventry felt pressured to go, especially after the Clarendon affair. Anne alone must have been screaming to Jamie for his head.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"He told me many things not fit to be spoken..." Oh, for God's sake, Sam...You tell us of your escapades with Betty Martin and tormenting of poor Betty Michell and you can't bring yourself to give us some good political gossip?

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Did Coventry choose to go?

L&M note Coventry, in a letter to Savile of 3 September, "was at pains to point out that his decision to resign was taken 'befor anything of my Ld Chancellor's businesse broke forthe'."

Christopher Squire  •  Link

'A pint of pure water weighs a pound and a quarter' [imperial] so C sweated out 3 pints by this day's play

language hat  •  Link

"but, ‘instar omnium’, he told me": "instar omnium" is Latin for 'a specimen of the whole; one example to stand for all.'

Margaret  •  Link

"...and leave my wife and family to themselves, as I must do in such a case...

I'm curious as to who is included in "my family" -- his relatives, none of whom live with him? Or more likely, he's counting his servants as family.

CGS  •  Link

Family was the household.

Mary  •  Link

The Pepys Seething Lane family.

Indeed, the entire household and quite probably Sam would have included Will Hewer in his thoughts on the subject, even though he no longer actually lived in the house but was a trusted, long-term and close employee-cum-colleague.

Tony Eldridge  •  Link

‘instar omnium’, he told me, that while he was so great at the Council-board, and in the administration of matters, there was no room for any body to propose any remedy to what was amiss, or to compass any thing, though never so good for the kingdom, unless approved of by the Chancellor, he managing all things.
Sounds uncannily like our recent UK Chancellor, later Prime Minister, one G.Brown.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"...there are others that do think but that it is a hit of chance, as all other our greatest matters are, and that there is no general plot or contrivance in any number of people what to do next...."

Plus ça change....

cum salis grano  •  Link

Nice insight in today's journal to the money trail.
When source of money be short Political juggling takes place.
This period is the start of modern Banking, many of the failed modern institutes had their roots planted in this period.

sbt  •  Link

Note that the game being played would not be what most readers think of
as Tennis. The Lawn Tennis played in the open on Grass emerged around
200 years after this date. The game being played was Real Tennis (Just
'Tennis' at the time).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real…

Carl in Boston  •  Link

to see how much he loses in weight by playing: and this day he lost 4 lbs
That is amazing. That shows a lot of exercise, which was good for the King. I suppose they played a couple hours, which would be tremendous cardiac exercise.

language hat  •  Link

You should drop Phil a line; he often doesn't have time to keep up with the threads.

Phil Gyford  •  Link

Thanks Todd - I've fixed the Bruncker link now.

And yes, language hat is right -- it's always best to drop me a line directly as I often miss any corrections mentioned in annotations.

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"when, besides this business of his ill words concerning his Majesty in the business of the Chancellor, he hath had, a long time, a mind to put him away for his ill offices, done between him and his wife"

Can someone figure out who these personal pronouns refer to?

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"the King, playing at tennis, had a steele- yard carried to him, and I was told it was to weigh him after he had done playing"

The reference here is to a steelyard balance, steelyard, or stilyard, a straight-beam balance with arms of unequal length. It incorporates a counterweight which slides along the calibrated longer arm to counterbalance the load and indicate its weight. A steelyard is also known as a Roman steelyard, or Roman balance. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ste…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"This day is kept in the City as a publick fast for the fire this day twelve months"

L&M: The fast (to be held every year 'for ever') was established by the Rebuilding Act of 1667: 18-19 Car. II c. 8, sect. xx https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reb…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"I did then desire to know what was the great matter that grounded his desire of the Chancellor’s removal? He told me many things not fit to be spoken, and yet not any thing of his being unfaithful to the King;"

L&M: This view that no reason was alleged is important, in view of the nature of the impeachment charges made against him a few weeks later: see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"he told me, that while [Clarendon] was so great at the Council-board, and in the administration of matters, there was no room for any body to propose any remedy to what was amiss, or to compass any thing, though never so good for the kingdom, unless approved of by the Chancellor, he managing all things with that greatness which now will be removed, that the King may have the benefit of others’ advice."

L&M: This was one of the principal charges against Clarendon at his impeachment: ct. Milward, p. 161. Cf. also Foxcroft, Halifax, i. 54-5.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"that the business of the Chancellor’s had proceeded from something of a mistake, for the Duke of York did first tell the King that the Chancellor had a desire to be eased of his great trouble; and that the King, when the Chancellor come to him, did wonder to hear him deny it, and the Duke of York was forced to deny to the King that ever he did tell him so in those terms:"

L&M: See https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"Mr. May shewed me the King’s new buildings"

L&M: These may have been the 'new lodgings' (May 1667) in the Volary Garden: PRO, Works 5/10. https://ageofintrigue.fandom.com/…
Payment for such work (December 1668) is recorded in CTB, ii. 639. Hugh May was the architect in charge of the King's Works.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"Ashburnham told us, that he remembers since the only fruit in request, and eaten by the King and Queen at table as the best fruit, was the Katharine payre"

L&M: A small and early english variety, of which Evelyn noted two sorts, the Red and the King: Kalendarium Hortense (1664), p. 72. According to T. Moffett, Healths Improvement (1655), it was the 'best relished' of all pears.

Kalendarium hortense, or, The gardners almanac directing what he is to do monethly throughout the year, and what fruits and flowers are in prime / by John Evelyn, 1620-1706.
London: Printed by Jo. Martyn and Ja. Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, and are to be sold at their shops ..., MDCLXVI [1666]
Early English Books Online [full text]
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo…

--------
A Ballad upon a Wedding
By Sir John Suckling (1609–1642)

Her cheeks so rare a white was on,
No daisy makes comparison,
(Who sees them is undone);
For streaks of red were mingled there,
Such as are on a Katherine pear
(The side that's next the sun).
https://www.bartleby.com/331/398.…

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"By and by Sir G. Carteret, and Townsend, and I, to consider of an answer to the Commissioners of the Treasury about my Lord Sandwich’s profits in the Wardrobe; which seem, as we make them, to be very small, not 1000l. a-year; but only the difference in measure at which he buys and delivers out to the King, and then 6d. in the pound from the tradesmen for what money he receives for him; but this, it is believed, these Commissioners will endeavour to take away."

L&M: See the enquiries into the payment of Wardrobe fees in CTB, ii. esp. 237, 245, 249. Occasionally 12d. in the pound seems to have been paid, but Sandwich's allowance for the Household was badly in arrears. In August 1669 his fees and allowances were abolished, and a fixed salary of £2000 p.a. substituted: CTB, iii (pt i), p. 131. Cf. https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Sandwich MSS, Letters to Mins. 43v-45r. (Sandwich to Arlington, 20/30 November 1667, Madrid: a long and submissive letter on the proposals for retrenchment.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"From [Sir G. Carteret] I went to see a great match at tennis, between Prince Rupert and one Captain Cooke, against Bab. May and the elder Chichly;"

L&M: Capt. Thomas Cooke was master of the Tennis Court at Whitehall; Baptis May a courtier; and Thomas Chicheley a Commissioner of the Ordinance.

Batch  •  Link

In the US a (non-imperial) gallon of water weighs 8 pounds. In a gallon there are eight pints, so each one weighs a pound.
One sunny, blazing-hot summer day I weighed myself and then mowed both of my two yards, one large and one medium-large, with an ordinary "push" power mower. It was quite a job.
Then, just out of curiosity, I weighed myself again and was shocked to discover that I had lost three pounds, so I must have sweated out three pints.
How surprising it is to me to find that King Charles II had the same curiosity I had.

David G  •  Link

We'll never know the truth, but from what I have read about Charles II, it's quite possible that he was wearing his wig and outer clothes when he was weighed before the tennis match and without them when he was weighed afterwards -- everything else he did in life was done to excess, so why not cheat in "losing" weight?

On a separate topic, I had never previously run into the use of "joy" as a verb standing alone, but the OED lists a number of examples, including this diary entry.

James Morgan  •  Link

I think temporary weight loss of 4lbs through heavy exercise would be quite reasonable in a large man (the king being 6'2") used to a rich diet. This Mayo clinic articles explains the process. https://www.mayoclinic.org/health…
Charles might well have put the weight back on at dinner that night.

Gerald Berg  •  Link

"...and there I was witness of a horrid rateing."

Hooray for the King's help and their linen recompense!

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... and leave my wife and family to themselves, as I must do in such a case ..."

Different positions had different requirements. They worked when they had to, as we have seen with Pepys at the Navy Office. No 9-to-5 / 5-days-a-week / 50-weeks-a-year until the labor movement took hold.

The Gentlemen of the Bedchamber, for instance, took 3-month shifts between 2 men, since they were friends and responsible for putting the King or the Duke to bed, or for getting them dressed during the day. Then the Gentlemen were off for 3 months, unless called for, probably for some other reason as most of them held other official posts.

But a secretary had to be there 24-7-365, and travelled with the Duke or the King.

Sir William goes on to have an interesting career in public service, and I see from his Parliamentary biography that he died unmarried. Which doesn't mean he didn't have a significant friend wearing a vizard by his side.

RSGII  •  Link

A US pints a pound the world around, at least for estimating. For precise work it is 1.043 lbs. A British pint is 1 1/4 lbs, so you get more for your money in a British pub!

Alev Öncül  •  Link

Terry, I know this is 4 years late and maybe somehow irrelevant, but I can parse your passage as follows:

"when, besides this business of his (Bruncker) ill words concerning his Majesty (Charles Stuart) in the business of the Chancellor (Edward Hyde), he (Duke of York) hath had, a long time, a mind to put him (Bruncker) away for his (Bruncker) ill offices, done between him (Bruncker) and his wife (Duchess of York)"

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

My reading is a bit different, Alev:

"But I find this denied by Sir G. Carteret, who tells me that he [CARTERET] is sure he [COVENTRY] hath no kindness from the King; that the King at first, indeed, did endeavour to persuade the Duke of York from putting him [COVENTRY] away; but when, besides this business of his [COVENTRY] ill words concerning his Majesty in the business of the Chancellor [HYDE], he [YORK] told him [CHARLES II] that he [YORK] hath had, a long time, a mind to put him [COVENTRY] away for his ill offices, done between him [YORK] and his wife [ANNE HYDE], the King held his peace, and said no more, but wished him [YORK] to do what he [YORK] pleased with him [COVENTRY]; which was very noble."

While working for the Duke, and being an advisor to Charles II, Coventry had been walking some political and personal tightropes. He must have been exhausted.

Maybe I've forgotten an episode of sufficient magnitude that Henry Brouncker warrented this much consideration. Yes, we suspect Henry was protecting Anne Hyde's reputation when he fled to France after he was expelled from the House of Commons when charges were brought against him for allowing the Dutch fleet to escape during the Battle of Lowestoft by ordering the sails of the English fleet to be slackened in the name of the Duke of York. This was essentially an act of treason. So the fact he was allowed home when things cooled down, and he continued in favor for decades, indicates everyone knew why he did what he did.

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