Sunday 13 October 1667

(Lord’s day). Up, and by water to White Hall, and thence walked to Sir W. Coventry’s lodgings, but he was gone out, so I to St. James’s, and there to the Duke of York’s chamber: and there he was dressing; and many Lords and Parliament-men come to kiss his hands, they being newly come to town. And there the Duke of York did of himself call me to him, and tell me that he had spoke to the King, and that the King had granted me the ship I asked for; and did, moreover, say that he was mightily satisfied with my service, and that he would be willing to do anything that was in his power for me: which he said with mighty kindness; which I did return him thanks for, and departed with mighty joy, more than I did expect. And so walked over the Park to White Hall, and there met Sir H. Cholmly, who walked with me, and told me most of the news I heard last night of the Parliament; and thinks they will do all things very well, only they will be revenged of my Lord Chancellor; and says, however, that he thinks there will be but two things proved on him; and that one is, that he may have said to the King, and to others, words to breed in the King an ill opinion of the Parliament — that they were factious, and that it was better to dissolve them: and this, he thinks, they will be able to prove; but what this will amount to, he knows not. And next, that he hath taken money for several bargains that have been made with the Crown; and did instance one that is already complained of: but there are so many more involved in it, that, should they unravel things of this sort, every body almost will be more or less concerned. But these are the two great points which he thinks they will insist on, and prove against him. Thence I to the Chapel, and there heard the sermon and a pretty good anthem, and so home by water to dinner, where Bowles and brother, and a good dinner, and in the afternoon to make good my journal to this day, and so by water again to White Hall, and thence only walked to Mrs. Martin’s, and there sat with her and her sister and Borroughs … [and did tocar la prima, – L&M] and there drank and talked and away by water home, and there walked with Sir W. Pen, and told him what the Duke of York told me to-day about the ship I begged; and he was knave enough, of his own accord, but, to be sure, in order to his own advantage, to offer me to send for the master of the vessel, “The Maybolt Galliott,” and bid him to get her furnished as for a long voyage, and I to take no notice of it, that she might be the more worth to me: so that here he is a very knave to the King, and I doubt not his being the same to me on occasion. So in a doors and supped with my wife and brother, W. Hewer, and Willett, and so evened with W. Hewer for my expenses upon the road this last journey, and do think that the whole journey will cost me little less than 18l. or 20l., one way or other; but I am well pleased with it, and so after supper to bed.

27 Annotations

First Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Filling in the ellipsis

"And thence only walked to Mrs. Martin's and there sat with her and her sister and Borroughs and did tocar la prima, and there drank and talked and away by water home;...."

L&M text.

jeannine  •  Link

Friends of Sam,

I received a stunning email today about our “friend and family” the annotator “Bradford”, (Warren Keith Wright) who passed away due to a medical complication which resulted in a cardiac arrest. I got to know Keith through his wonderful annotations and he became a ‘virtual friend’ to me. He was a thoughtful commentator and an amazingly warm and caring person. He so enjoyed reading the Diary and always looked forward to each day of Sam and Elizabeth’s adventure. I am only comforted to believe that he’s with them now, enjoying a good meal and a glass of fine wine. A true loss to us all…..

Robert Gertz  •  Link

I'm very sorry to hear that, Jeannine, but thanks for letting us know. Bradford will be remembered.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"...words to breed in the King an ill opinion of the Parliament —"

Somehow I doubt Charles needed much encouragement that way...

Terry Foreman  •  Link

What a shock this is and what a wit he was as "Bradford" -- Last Sunday, three days ago he posted this about the nocturnal Treasure Hunt at the Pepys family Brampton "Estate":

"“Pepys Hunts His Pounds”: Wouldn’t this make a fine comic short, a silent feature, with grimaces, body language, and cue-cards to fill us in on the “tosse” he was in?"

http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

Carl in Boston  •  Link

Well said Jeannine, Robert, Terry. A good annotator is hard to find, and Bradford will be missed. So Mote It be.

Michael Robinson  •  Link

Friends of Sam -- Bradford

Thanks Jeanie, it is a shock. And I know he will be much missed; in his 'other' life he was, inter alia, an editor of Mary Sarton's works and was with the Library of America as the 'comparison proofreader,' responsible for ensuring that their text matched exactly the text of the early edition being reprinted.

We corresponded intermittently, in the main about narcissus and other spring bulbs; I will plant a sack for him when we begin the planting for 2011 on Saturday.

Michael Robinson  •  Link

" ... and do think that the whole journey will cost me little less than 18l. or 20l., one way or other; ..."

And we think the cost of rail travel outrageous ...

JWB  •  Link

"Bradford' Jul 7,'07:

"...yet can’t help rueing afterwards how much was spent on gas."

Rest in Peace.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

The "Bradford" daily dose

I was unaware that he was a professional editor, but he showed a keen editorial eye in, i.a., the many initial posts summarizing, tartly and succinctly, Pepys's key theme of the day. I used to look forward to them, but now only back. Yes, R.I.P.

language hat  •  Link

Keith and I corresponded frequently about our respective editing work and much else; this news comes as quite a shock. Both we and the Library of America were lucky to have him. May he rest in peace.

Geoff Hallett  •  Link

I live in Bradford and once asked him why the pseudonym? Apparently he was a character in a couple of his books. Very helpful on a one to one basis. How very sad. Condolences to his family.

Paul Chapin  •  Link

I add my regret at the loss of Bradford to our little community, and my thanks to Jeannine for informing us.

GrahamT  •  Link

RIP Bradford. We will miss his warm knowledgeable comments.

Joe Connell  •  Link

Amen to the comments on Bradford

Australian Susan  •  Link

Bradford's wit and erudition will be sadly missed. A great shock and a great loss.

nix  •  Link

Running behind in my reading, so late to the wake: I can only echo everyone else's eloquent sentiments about our correspondent Bradford. His participation has enriched the Pepys experience for all of us.

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"And next, that he hath taken money for several bargains that have been made with the Crown; and did instance one that is already complained of:"

L&M surmise this was probably the Canary Company patent, of which Sir Edward Hyde (Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor) had been among its supporters: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…

mountebank  •  Link

"evened with W. Hewer for my expenses upon the road this last journey, and do think that the whole journey will cost me little less than 18l. or 20l., one way or other; but I am well pleased with it"

Am I missing something or is that a considerable amount of money for 1667? If it's as large as it appears, it shows that travelling as a leisure activity really was a thing only for the most very privileged.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Am I missing something or is that a considerable amount of money for 1667?"

Pepys had a coach and four horses for several days (five I believe). I think they came with a coachman. Pepys, Elizabeth and Willet rode inside; going they had two escorts, and coming home four escorts. He tipped at least three groups of musicians who saw off "the rich people" and gave money to the poor. That's six people going and eight people coming back who needed housing and feeding. Plus four horses needed stabling and feeding. Now Pepys should pay for Mr. Bowles trip back to Hinchingbrooke. Yes, 20l. was a lot, but that's an expensive list of expenses.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... that he was mightily satisfied with my service, and that he would be willing to do anything that was in his power for me: which he said with mighty kindness; which I did return him thanks for, and departed with mighty joy, more than I did expect."

Relief might have had something to do with that joy. Pepys could reasonably think James would now be his protector if Sandwich and Coventry fell to the CABAL.

mountebank  •  Link

Thanks SDS, it looks like what I was missing was an understanding of all the different components of the trip. I had a look elsewhere to convert 20l into something more graspable and it looks like it's around 2 years' wages for a labourer.

James Morgan  •  Link

In the early days when Sam reckoned his worth in the hundreds, 20L would have been a lot. But on that trip when he dug up the money and found it a little short he seemed quite happy at the end to be missing only about 20L. I was quite surprised that he would be so calm about it at the end, but I suppose he was afraid at first of losing all the money, and then of losing 50L or so, so the 20L came as a relief.

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