Wednesday 20 May 1668

Up, and with Colonell Middleton, in a new coach he hath made him, very handsome, to White Hall, where the Duke of York having removed his lodgings for this year to St. James’s, we walked thither; and there find the Duke of York coming to White Hall, and so back to the Council-chamber, where the Committee of the Navy sat; and here we discoursed several things; but, Lord! like fools; so as it was a shame to see things of this importance managed by a Council that understand nothing of them: and, among other things, one was about this building of a ship with Hemskirke’s secret, to sail a third faster than any other ship; but he hath got Prince Rupert on his side, and by that means, I believe, will get his conditions made better than he would otherwise, or ought indeed. Having done there, I met with Sir Richard Browne, and he took me to dinner with him to a new tavern, above Charing Cross, where some clients of his did give him a good dinner, and good company; among others, one Bovy, a solicitor, and lawyer and merchant all together, who hath travelled very much, did talk some things well; but only he is a “Sir Positive:” but the talk of their travels over the Alps very fine. Thence walked to the King’s playhouse, and saw “The Mulberry Garden” again, and cannot be reconciled to it, but only to find here and there an independent sentence of wit, and that is all. Here met with Creed; and took him to Hales’s, and there saw the beginnings of Harris’s head which he draws for me, which I do not yet like. So he and I down to the New Exchange, and there cheapened ribbands for my wife, and so down to the Whey house and drank some and eat some curds, which did by and by make my belly ake mightily. So he and I to White Hall, and walked over the Park to the Mulberry-Garden, where I never was before; and find it a very silly place, worse than Spring-garden, and but little company, and those a rascally, whoring, roguing sort of people, only a wilderness here, that is somewhat pretty, but rude. Did not stay to drink, but walked an hour and so away to Charing Cross, and there took coach and away home, in my way going into Bishopsgate Street, to bespeak places for myself and boy to go to Cambridge in the coach this week, and so to Brampton, to see my wife. So home, and to supper and to bed.

8 Annotations

First Reading

Chris Squire  •  Link

‘cheapen, v. 1. a. trans. To bargain for, . .
1574 E. Hellowes tr. A. de Guevara Familiar Epist. (1577) 129 A Colte‥the which he cheapened, bought, and brake.
1609 Shakespeare Pericles xix. 18 Shee would make a Puritane of the diuell, if hee should cheapen a kisse of her.
1710 Swift City Shower in Tatler No. 238. 1/2 To Shops in Crowds the daggled Females fly, Pretend to cheapen Goods, but nothing buy . . ’ [OED]`

Robert Gertz  •  Link

So Sam's not the wilderness type? A nice, manicured garden and lawn is his speed.

***

Off to Brampton to see Bess? Now that is sweet...Mercer having a good effect or what?

Robert Gertz  •  Link

Planning to interrupt the Spring of Sam to see the exiled Missus? Clearly someone predicted the Rapture in 1668. Hmmn...That could explain Charlie's boat trip the other day. World ending, gotta make one last bid for Frances?

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"the Duke of York having removed his lodgings for this year to St. James’s"

It was his regular habit to go to St James's for the summer.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

May 20. 1668
Articles of agreement
between Henry Nicolls, of Kilmaiden, Waterford, and Edw. Moorcock, of Chatham,
whereby Nicolls having covenanted with the Navy Commissioners to clear the Medway within 6 months of all wrecks,

they agree that Moorcock shall have one-half of all advantage of the said covenant made, he supervising the whole of the work;
that 300/. shall be paid to Moorcock, and expended in carrying on the work, after which, other moneys shall be raised by selling the wrecks;
and that then Nicolls and Moorcock shall jointly pay their moieties [of the cost], until the work is perfected.

Also that Moorcock shall be allowed 5/. a month for his care, and shall have out of the King’s stores any old anchors, masts, &c., that he needs for the accomplishment of the work.

Endorsed with a memorandum whereby Nicolls assigns to the Navy Commissioners Moorcock’s interest in the above, in case of his non-fulfilment of this agreement.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 240, No. 82.]

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May 20. 1668
Lyme.
Anth. Thorold to Hickes.

Several vessels have sailed for St. Malo and Morlaix, with drapery;
a great fleet has been seen to the westward.

Tangiers mole is said to be so advanced that vessels ride pretty securely.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 240, No. 86.]

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May 20. 1668
Dover.
John Carlile to Williamson.

I fear to have made you angry by often troubling you.
I would rather lose the money due to me, which is in Mr. Blayney’s hands, than lose your good opinion.

Hugh Morris has promised to put in my petition to the Lord Commissioners when they sit, that I may have my money and make good my contract with those I am engaged to.

I beg you to make Lord Arlington sensible of the trouble and expense I have been at, and that I cannot receive a penny either of salary or incidents, which has much impaired my credit.

Particulars of the fight between the 2 Ostenders and a French man-of-war, in which the French captain’s son was killed.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 240, No. 89.]

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'Charles II: May 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 369-418. British History Online
https://www.british-history.ac.uk…

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

One Friday soon there will probably be a commemoration service held at noon at St. Olave’s church.

Since 1927 (allowing for some years’ interruption for bomb damage and pandemics) St. Olave’s has held an annual service to commemorate its most illustrious former parishioner, Samuel Pepys.
The service is organized in association with The Samuel Pepys Club. The service traditionally features an address on aspects of “Pepys, his life and times” and the church has welcomed many distinguished speakers over the years. The service is open to everyone.

You never know -- some other annotators might be there!
https://www.britainexpress.com/Lo…
http://pepys-club.org.uk/about-th…

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