Monday 16 March 1667/68
Up, to set my papers and books in order, and put up my plate since my late feast, and then to Westminster, by water, with Mr. Hater, and there, in the Hall, did walk all the morning, talking with one or other, expecting to have our business in the House; but did now a third time wait to no purpose, they being all this morning upon the business of Barker’s petition about the making void the Act of Settlement in Ireland, which makes a great deal of hot work: and, at last, finding that by all men’s opinion they could not come to our matter today, I with Sir W. Pen home, and there to dinner, where I find, by Willet’s crying, that her mistress had been angry with her: but I would take no notice of it. Busy all the afternoon at the office, and then by coach to the Excize Office, but lost my labour, there being nobody there, and so back again home, and after a little at the office I home, and there spent the evening with my wife talking and singing, and so to bed with my mind pretty well at ease.
This evening W. Pen and Sir R. Ford and I met at the first’s house to talk of our prize that is now at last come safe over from Holland, by which I hope to receive some if not all the benefit of my bargain with W. Batten for my share in it, which if she had miscarried I should have doubted of my Lady Batten being left little able to have paid me.
9 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"Barker’s petition about the making void the Act of Settlement in Ireland"
Recall Barker's mercenary motives: http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Terry Foreman • Link
The House of Commons Journal version of "Barker's Petition"
Irish Land Adventurers.
[After a great amount of debate...]
Resolved, &c. That the Matter of the Petition on the Behalf of the Adventurers for Lands in Ireland be heard at the Bar of this House on this Day Month; no Disturbance being thereby intended to the present Possession of any Adventurers, or Soldiers, or the Forty-nine Officers, in the Lands wherein they are confirmed, or for which they have taken out Letters Patents, or are in their Possession as Adventurers, or Soldiers, or Forty-nine Officers; or any other Persons claiming under any such Adventurers, Soldiers, or Forty-nine Officers; nor to disturb his Royal Highness in any Lands whereof he is now possessed.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
The Ormond narrative is here linked (incidentally) to Pepys's.
Robert Gertz • Link
Hmmn...If the Flying Greyhound has made a profit, it would mean it's taken ships. While I know often merchant ships could be seized with little bloodshed, I wonder if Sam will be speculating at some point whether men may have died to make him a little richer.
I think of that Dutch girl he fancied back in 1660 when he was in Holland...Makes one a little uncomfortable thinking his boys might have killed her brother or husband. Again, I know it was still more or less war and it may have all been easy and polite, with flags hauled down and practical men knowing when to surrender quick... Still...
Michael Robinson • Link
" ... to talk of our prize that is now at last come safe over from Holland, by which I hope to receive some if not all the benefit of my bargain with W. Batten for my share in it, ..."
Think this the prize vessel:
I down by water with Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and [Sir] R. Ford to our prize, part of whose goods were condemned yesterday — “The Lindeboome” — ..."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Lindenbaum
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
And this the agreement:
" ... By and by to talk of our prize at Hull, and Sir W. Batten offering, again and again, seriously how he would sell his part for 1000l. and I considering the knavery of Hogg and his company, and the trouble we may have with the Prince Rupert about the consort ship, and how we are linked with Sir R. Ford, whose son-in-law too is got thither, and there we intrust him with all our concern, who I doubt not is of the same trade with his father-in- law for a knave, and then the danger of the sea, if it shall be brought about, or bad debts contracted in the sale, but chiefly to be eased of my fears about all or any of this, I did offer my part to him for 700l.. With a little beating the bargain, we come to a perfect agreement for 666l. 13s. 4d., which is two-thirds of 1000l., which is my proportion of the prize. I went to my office full of doubts and joy concerning what I had done; but, however, did put into writing the heads of our agreement, and returned to Sir W. Batten, and we both signed them; and Sir R. Ford, being come thither since, witnessed them. ..."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Mary • Link
Michael.
Thank you for chasing this down. It will be interesting to see how Sam's speculative deal has worked out.
Second Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
"This evening W. Pen and Sir R. Ford and I met at the first’s house to talk of our prize that is now at last come safe over from Holland, by which I hope to receive some if not all the benefit of my bargain with W. Batten for my share in it, which if she had miscarried I should have doubted of my Lady Batten being left little able to have paid me."
Of course The Boys discuss the disposal of the prize ship without Lady Batten being there. She will be presented with a deal which is good for them and not for her. Hopefully she has lawyers ...
San Diego Sarah • Link
You think they can victual a fleet of 27 ships on this?
March 16. 1668
Treasury Chambers.
Sir George Downing to the Earl of Anglesey and Navy Commissioners.
The Treasury Commissioners have directed that, cut of the 16,000l. a month payable by the customs, 500l., in addition to the 5,000l. before promised, be registered for the Navy for March;
8,000l. each for April, May, and June;
and 11,500l. each for July, August. and September, which orders shall be delivered for assignment.
This will enable you to supply the stores at easy rates.
[1½ pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 236, No. 125.]
San Diego Sarah • Link
Adm. Sir Jeremy Smith is moving fast. The House of Commons Committee on Miscarriages in the War held an inquiry on 6 March 1668 and decided in Smith's favor on some Holmes' charges.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
And then he jumped on his horse and was off to Hull ... they must have been worried Louis XIV was going to attack because of his displeasure at England joining the Dutch Republic and Spain in the Triple Alliance:
March 16. 1668
Hull.
Chas. Whittington to Williamson.
Sir Jer. Smith has been to Bridlington, and ordered 3 forts to be built, in the middle and at each end of the town, for defence of the quay or harbour, &c.
The Guernsey has been ashore to wash and tallow, and is taking in her guns again.
Sixteen ships, laden with lead, cloth, and corn, have sailed for London with the Ruby and Swallow for convoy, and more will be soon ready.
A dogger has been brought into Whitby, by whom I know not, but with no fish, she having only just set out.
A Danish man-of-war has been seen off Scarborough.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 236, No. 140.]
'Charles II: March 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 262-320. British History Online
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
San Diego Sarah • Link
Further clarification about the budget:
March 16. 1668
Warrant to the Duke of York
to signify to the Navy Commissioners that the expenses of the Navy are to be reduced to 200,000l. a year in times of peace,
the ships being first repaired,
and stores replenished by other means;
the reduction to begin from Lady Day next. [March 25, 1668]
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 236, No. 158.]
Annexing,
Proposal for reducing the Navy charge to 200,000l. a year, detailing the several charges for wages, maintaining buildings, and building of ships;
also for maintaining ships, summer and winter.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Book 30, p. 50.]
March 16. 1668
Entry of the preceding warrant.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Books 30, p. 50.]
March 16. 1668
Warrant to the Duke of York,
and the rest of the Commissioners for affairs at Tangiers,
to reduce the expenses of that establishment to 53,797l. 15s. 4d.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Books 30, f. 52.] Annexing,
Plan of an establishment at Tangiers, to amount to the aforenamed sum.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Books 30, f. 52.]