Monday 23 December 1667

Up before day, and by coach to Sir W. Coventry’s, and with him to White Hall, and there walked a great while with him in the garden till the Commissioners of the Treasury met, and there talked over many businesses, and particularly he tells me that by my desire he hath moved the Duke of York that Sir J. Minnes might be removed from the Navy, at least the Controller’s place, and his business put on my Lord Brouncker and Sir W. Pen; that the Committee for Accounts are good sober men, and such as he thinks we shall have fair play from; that he hopes that the kingdom will escape ruin in general, notwithstanding all our fears, and yet I find he do seem not very confident in it. So to the Commissioners of the Treasury, and there I had a dispute before them with Sir Stephen Fox about our orders for money, who is very angry, but I value it not. But, Lord! to see with what folly my Lord Albemarle do speak in this business would make a man wonder at the good fortune of such a fool. Thence meeting there with Creed, he and I to the Exchange, and there I saw Carr stand in the pillory for the business of my Lord Gerard, which is supposed will make a hot business in the House of Commons, when they shall come to sit again, the Lords having ordered this with great injustice, as all people think, his only fault being the printing his petition before, by accident, his petition be read in the House. Here walked up and down the Exchange with Creed, and then home to dinner, and there hear by Creed that the Bishops of Winchester and of Rochester, and the Dean of the Chapel, and some other great prelates, are suspended: and a cloud upon the Archbishop ever since the late business in the House of Lords; and I believe it will be a heavy blow to the Clergy. This noon I bought a sermon of Dr. Floyd’s, which Creed read a great part of to me and Mr. Hollier, who dined with me, but as well writ and as good, against the Church of Rome, as ever I read; but, Lord! how Hollier, poor man, was taken with it. They gone I to the office, and there very late with Mr. Willson and my people about the making of a new contract for the victualler, which do and will require a great deal of pains of me, and so to supper and to bed, my wife being pretty well all this day by reason of her imposthume being broke in her cheek into her mouth. This day, at the ’Change, Creed shewed me Mr. Coleman, of whom my wife hath so good an opinion, and says that he is as very a rogue for women as any in the world; which did disquiet me, like a fool, and run in my mind a great while.

24 Annotations

First Reading

Christopher Squire  •  Link

‘imposthume
1. A purulent swelling or cyst in any part of the body; an abscess.’ [OED]

Robert Gertz  •  Link

So Coleman is a rogue for women...And how did Creed shewing (right here on our stage at the 'Change) convince Sam?

"See there he is...With that pretty chubby linen seller, Betty Martin."

"What?"

"And Mrs. Burroughs, the widow with them. I hear they do make with the hot and heavy, Pepys."

"Mrs. Burroughs?!"

"And look over there, in the corner, waiting for the cad. That pretty wife of that ship's carpenter you promoted...Bugwell, wasn't it?"

"Bagwell? Mrs. Bagwell?!!"

"Not quite so innocent as she seemed when I ran into her visiting your office. Look at that rogue Coleman kissing her...Lets close and try to hear."

"Ah, lovely Bagwell...If I were king...What splendid treasure would I bring."

"Oh, Mr. Coleman. You have such a distinctive and unique voice. But I must go...Ummn...About that favor for my husband you promised?"

"I shall be faithful to thee...In my fashion...Farewell, farewell, parting is such sweet sorrow."

"I've seen enough, Creed. Lets..."

"Just a mo, Pepys...I don't think the scoundrel is quite done yet. Here comes..."

"Don't tell me..."

"...that pretty young wife of the fellow who sell spirits. The one you and Mrs. P are so fond of..."

"...Mitchell. Betty Mitchell."

"What kind of man can play such a roguish game, Pepys?"

"Shocking Creed, simply shocking." Sam. grimacing.

"Mr. Pepys? What a surprise."

"Not really Miss Crisp." Sam sighs at Diana. "I suppose you're headed across the street?"

"An appointment with a dear gentleman friend, yes...A Mr...Say, who's that?"

"Must be either a certain barber's assistant or..." Sam, morosely.

"...Lady Castlemaine?" Diana stares.

"I might have guessed." Sam shakes head.

"That one seemed not so good as she should be..." Creed notes shrewdly as Diana storms away.

"Tell me about it." sigh.

Ruben  •  Link

"my wife being pretty well all this day by reason of her imposthume being broke in her cheek into her mouth".
So the abcess was in her cheek after all and the decision to consult the surgeon the right one.
Good for her that it went to her mouth. Otherwise she would have a bad scar in her face. But this is usually the way cheek abcesses brake.
Years ago this kind of abcess was usual, but today (in my world) they are very rare, maybe because of better dental hygiene.

Mary  •  Link

Mr. Coleman

This is the chap, a former member of the King's Guard, who had travelled in the same coach as Elizabeh both going to and coming back from her trip to Huntingdon in the summer. John Pepys, who Elizabeth had accompanied on the outward journey, made special and disquieting mention of Coleman when he subsequently wrote to Sam about that journey. Pepys Sr.'s understated misgivings now receive a boost from Creed.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"...by my desire he hath moved the Duke of York that Sir J. Minnes might be removed from the Navy, at least the Controller’s place..."

Banish Sir John? Oh...Sam. Banish not our Shakespearian scholar thy company...Banish good ole Sir John...And, banish the world.

"I do...I..."

That means girls, Sam.

"Oh. Well then...Perhaps on second thought, Sir William..."

JWB  •  Link

What with this and the infection a year or so ago and her early death, I suggest we look for clues to a chronic disease that is compromising her immune system. Start with TB.

JWB  •  Link

What with that thought,...Merry Christmas to all & a healthy new year.

arby  •  Link

I'd like to add my holiday best wishes to Phil and everyone else who have made this so much fun and so illuminating this past year. Thanks everyone, Merry Christmas and a great New Year to you all, rb

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"hear by Creed that the Bishops of Winchester and of Rochester, and the Dean of the Chapel, and some other great prelates, are suspended: and a cloud upon the Archbishop ever since the late business in the House of Lordsthe late business in the House of Lords"

Pepys's account is inaccurate and confusing. No bishop was now suspended from his episcopal duties for supporting Clarendon, but Morley of Winchester (an old friend of Clarendon) and Dolben of Rochester were replaced a few weeks later as court officers (Dean of the Chapel Royal and Clerk of the Closet respectively): http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… Rumors of their dismissal were now current. (Per L&M footnote)

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"by my desire he hath moved the Duke of York that Sir J. Minnes might be removed from the Navy, at least the Controller’s place, and his business put on my Lord Brouncker and Sir W. Pen; "

L&M: One of several attempts -- all unsuccessful -- to get rid of Mennes. Brouncker and Penn were now employed as his assistants in the controllership.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"So to the Commissioners of the Treasury, and there I had a dispute before them with Sir Stephen Fox about our orders for money, who is very angry, but I value it not."

L&M: The official minute reads: 'Sir Ste. Fox and Mr. Pepys moves to be present . . . on the excise with Sir Ste. Fox' (CTB, ii. 155).

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"there hear by Creed that the Bishops of Winchester and of Rochester, and the Dean of the Chapel, and some other great prelates, are suspended: and a cloud upon the Archbishop ever since the late business in the House of Lords;"

L&M: Pepys's account is inaccurate and a little confusing. No bishop was now suspendd from his episcopal duties for his support of Clarendon, but Morley of Winchester (an old friend of Clarendon) and Dolben of Rochester were replaced a few weeks later as court officers (Dean of the Chapel Royal and Clerk of the Closet respectively): https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… and https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…
Rumours of their dismissal were now current: BM. Add. 36916. f. 56r. &c.

mountebank  •  Link

"he hopes that the kingdom will escape ruin in general, notwithstanding all our fears, and yet I find he do seem not very confident in it"

Hearing the worsening news in the UK over the past week and particularly today with tier 4 to be substantially expanded, I can't help feeling these words echoing today.

Merry Christmas everyone. Let's look forward to a much better year in 2021.

And as ever, thanks so much for providing this great site to us Phil.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

How true, on all counts, Mountebank. The news from California is about as bleak with our hospitals full, nurses quitting because they are exhausted, and 85 million Americans glibly flying off to see their relatives regardless. And Mr. Biden has warned us the Spring will be worst. Bring on the vaccines; people appear to be unable to help themselves any more.
Thank you, Royal Society for paving the scientific way, and Lady Mary Pierrepont Wortley Montagu for pushing the doctors to learn something new in the 1700's.

Having this blog as a creative distraction and daily focus has -- once again for me -- been a God-sent. Phil's generosity in maintaining it for us, and Terry's continued guiding hand are appreciated every day.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and blog in good health, everyone. This time next year will be better.

Elizabeth  •  Link

I add my thanks to Mountebank and SD Sarah. Thank you Phil and Terry for all your work. This site is certainly a welcome distraction from the current plague.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Nicolas  •  Link

I’ve been enjoying so much the comments by Robert Gertz. I wonder what’s become of him.

Wendy Marling  •  Link

I avidly read the Diary and comments every day. Somehow reading about Sam’s life helps to ground you in this day and age with current trials and tribulations!

Harry R  •  Link

I also add my thanks, to annotators past and present for their insights and observations and to Phil and Sam especially for making it possible. The Diary has become an enjoyable and indispensable daily routine for me and I wish I'd come across it sooner. Merry Christmas to all.

Joe P  •  Link

Merry Christmas! San Diego Sarah is so right about Lady Montague. The scourge of smallpox not unlike today’s. Be safe everyone.

The Greenwich Patriot  •  Link

And to add my thanks, and send my best wishes to all for as good a Christmas as possible in the Current Circumstances, and a Happier and Healthy New Year.

Scube  •  Link

Me too. All good comments and therefore worth repeating. Start my morning with Sam and his crew, and the annotators of 10 years past and 10 hours past. All great company.

JB  •  Link

Nothing new to add, just want to echo the chorus of gratitude and good wishes above. Thanks to Phil and everyone who is a part of this.

Regertz  •  Link

Just dropping a quick Xmas greeting. Though I still say watch out for Coleman, Sam. Karma is sly.

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