Tuesday 14 July 1668

Up, and to my office, where sat all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and thence all the afternoon hard at the office, we meeting about the Victualler’s new contract; and so into the garden, my Lady Pen, Mrs. Turner and her daughter, my wife and I, and there supped in the dark and were merry, and so to bed. This day Bosse finished his copy of my picture, which I confess I do not admire, though my wife prefers him to Browne; nor do I think it like. He do it for W. Hewer, who hath my wife’s also, which I like less. This afternoon my Lady Pickering come to see us: I busy, saw her not. But how natural it is for us to slight people out of power, and for people out of power to stoop to see those that while in power they contemned!

15 Annotations

First Reading

Eric Walla  •  Link

Nice observation, Sam. Now having written such wise words, why again did you slight her?

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Why-ever would Pepys diss Lord Sandwich's sister-in-law?

Jesse  •  Link

RE: Why-ever would Pepys diss Lord Sandwich’s sister-in-law?

Sister wasn't she? My guess was that she was considered more Pickering than Montagu and all that that entails.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

Jesse, you are right!! Apologies, and perhaps props to Pepys. However, Eric Walla makes a good point. I wonder whether SP doesn't fear finding himself in her position -- stooping "to see those that while in power [he contemns]!"

Tony Eldridge  •  Link

I wonder if Rupert Murdoch reads this? I'd love to think he does.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

On further reflection, perhaps Pepys provided not a summary but a pointed application of the Latin verse that Carl Orff set to such memorable music.

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"This afternoon my Lady Pickering come...."

In a note here L&M say Lady Pickering was Sandwich's sister-in-law. This is an error -- see the "Pickering" entry in the L&M Companion.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

And for some light relief:

July 14. 1668
Nantwich
Petition of Roger Davies of Nantwich, locksmith, to the justices of the peace for Cheshire.
Has been unfortunate in trade from going to Ireland, finding that there was no want of locksmiths there, and losing his custom.
Having observed much loose conduct of women, suggests that all unmarried and above 12 years of age should wear padlocks till they are married, and proposes himself as the maker and fixer of the same.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 23a.]

'Charles II: July 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 469-516.
British History Online
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

'Charles II: July 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 469-516. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

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[July 14.] 1668
Account
that as [James Sharp] Archbishop of St. Andrews and [Andrew Honyman] Bishop of Orkney were taking coach at the lodgings of the Archbishop, High Gate, Edinburgh, on 11 July, a young gentleman fired a pistol with 5 or 6 bullets at the Archbishop, but missed him, and wounded the Bishop's arm dangerously.
He escaped down Blackfriars Wind, but was posted after in all directions, and at Costerfen, a man in the same dress and with a case of pistols was apprehended, but rescued by the laird of Forster, which he will have done to his own loss.
Being strictly charged thereon, he is gone to the west to find him. Proclamation is this day made against him.
The culprit's father is said to live near Ayr, which makes it seem more like a Whiggish plot than private interest.

Michael Bruce, the great conventicler, is sentenced to banishment.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 33.]

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July 14. 1668
Council of Scotland to the King.

We are sorry to acquaint you with an act of wickedness.

An attempt was made to shoot the Archbishop of St. Andrews and Bishop of Orkney riding in their coach, whereby the left arm of the latter was broken.

The culprit escaped in the confusion, but a proclamation is issued for his apprehension.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 34.]

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July 14. 1668
Edinburgh.
Proclamation by the King
for the apprehension of the person guilty of a late attempt to shoot the Archbishop of St. Andrews, and Bishop of Orkney, in the High Street of Edinburgh, by which the latter was cruelly wounded, to the dishonour of both Church and kingdom;
offering pardon and 2,000 marks Scots to any accomplice who will discover him,
and 5,000 to any who will commit him to ward,
and forbidding any to harbour him.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 34a.]

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

July 14. 1668
James Hayes, Prince Rupert's secretary, to the Navy Commissioners.

Dr. Butler was designed by the Prince to attend him as his chaplain in this summer's expedition at sea.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 21.]
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Rupert expects to be sailing again this summer. Have fun, says Penn.

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July 14. 1668
Woolwich.
Wm. Acworth, storekeeper, to the Navy Commissioners.

Wants his receipts, affidavits, and certificates, concerning his proofs against Clayford's false accusation.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 23.]

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[July 14.] 1668
Petition of Dan. F. de la Fabvolliere, engineer, to the King,

for payment of 165/. arrears since June last, the expenses of all his journeyings in England;
has not had the last 7 months' pay of his place in the guards, and has nothing to live on.
If he does not deserve his pension, begs leave to go back home.
[French. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 24.]

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[July 14.] 1668
Petition of Rob. Swan to the King,
for present relief, an employment or a pension.
Has lived 4 years on his friends, who cannot longer maintain him;
has been 3 months in town, relying on friends to make known his sad condition;
has neither bread nor clothes, and being 200/. in debt,
dares not stir abroad for fear of arrest.

[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 243, No. 25.]

July 14. 1668
Order on the above petition,
granting the petitioner a pension of 60/.,
his Majesty remembering with how much fidelity he served him in his escape after the battle of Worcester,
and requesting it to be so settled that it may be received without trouble.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Book 18, p. 322.]
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I WONDER WHAT SWAN DID ... NOT MENTIONED IN THE OFFICIAL NARRATIVES.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"Dr. Butler was designed by the Prince to attend him as his chaplain in this summer's expedition at sea."

Considering how much trouble Adm. Allin has had getting a fleet together and equipped to go to the Straights and the Med., I think Rupert's chances of sailing this summer are slim to nill. Perhaps he knows something we don't ... ?

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich's sister, Elizabeth Montagu, married Sir Gilbert Pickering MP (1613 - October 17, 1668), who was faithful to Cromwell before 1640;
one of their dozen offspring, Betty Pickering, was the wife of Pepys’ rival, John Creed.

On October 21, 1668, Pepys will tell us that Gilbert Pickering MP “... his being long expected to die, having been in a lethargy long."

Sad to say, friends and relatives do tend to disappear when someone is sick for a long time. Plus, for political/employment reasons, Pepys wouldn't want to visit the home of a Regicide, especially if it was somewhere the loathed Puritan Creed might also be visiting.

The nasty undertone may come from actions/attitudes the Pickerings embraced before the Diary. The tailor and his family may not be people the wealthy Pickerings had to dinner very often, if you get my drift.

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