Wednesday 19 August 1668

Up betimes, and all day and afternoon without going out, busy upon my great letter to the Duke of York, which goes on to my content. W. Hewer and Gibson I employ with me in it. This week my people wash, over the water, and so I little company at home. In the evening, being busy above, a great cry I hear, and go down; and what should it be but Jane, in a fit of direct raving, which lasted half-an-hour. Beyond four or five of our strength to keep her down; and, when all come to all, a fit of jealousy about Tom, with whom she is in love. So at night, I, and my wife, and W. Hewer called them to us, and there I did examine all the thing, and them, in league. She in love, and he hath got her to promise him to marry, and he is now cold in it, so that I must rid my hands of them, which troubles me, and the more because my head is now busy upon other greater things. I am vexed also to be told by W. Hewer that he is summoned to the Commissioners of Accounts about receiving a present of 30l. from Mr. Mason, the timber merchant, though there be no harm in it, that will appear on his part, he having done them several lawful kindnesses and never demanded anything, as they themselves have this day declared to the Commissioners, they being forced up by the discovery of somebody that they in confidence had once told it to. So to supper vexed and my head full of care, and so to bed.

13 Annotations

First Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

John Evelyn's Diary

19th August, 1668. I saw the magnificent entry of the French Ambassador Colbert
[ http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo… ], received in the banqueting house. I had never seen a richer coach than that which he came in to Whitehall. Standing by his Majesty at dinner in the presence, there was of that rare fruit called the king-pine [ http://goo.gl/l1sS5 ], growing in Barbadoes and the West Indies, the first of them I had ever seen. His Majesty having cut it up, was pleased to give me a piece off his own plate to taste of; but, in my opinion, it falls short of those ravishing varieties of deliciousness described in Captain Ligon's history, and others; but possibly it might, or certainly was, much impaired in coming so far; it has yet a grateful acidity, but tastes more like the quince and melon than of any other fruit he mentions.

http://goo.gl/QCXn5

Robert Gertz  •  Link

God, I love Jane Birch. What a great heart she has. Tom, you'll be a fool to pass this one up. Though one wonders if Sam's "boy" has been learning from the Master. (Master of ..., that is).

"But Jane...Fondling a pretty-looking maid in a carriage is expected behavior of all true gents. Why, Mr. P. never lets an opportunity..."

"Tom, lets move on!" Sam cuts in. "So, you say you're not sure about marriage..."

"I think I'm becoming less sure myself by the minute." Bess, glaring.

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"...so I little company at home..."

Suggesting he does still have some, in spite of the washing?

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"I am vexed also to be told by W. Hewer that he is summoned to the Commissioners of Accounts about receiving a present of 30l. from Mr. Mason, the timber merchant, though there be no harm in it, that will appear on his part, he having done them several lawful kindnesses and never demanded anything, as they themselves have this day declared to the Commissioners, they being forced up by the discovery of somebody that they in confidence had once told it to."

"Yes, he did accept the gift, didn't he, Mr. Pepys?"

"Yes...But it was only a gift."

"A gift of 30Ls, Mr. Pepys...Doesn't that suggest to you they might expect a favorable attitude on your chief clerk's part?"

"Gentlemen..." indignant stare... "You are dealing with the office of the Clerk of the Acts and as such I can assure you that no such favorable attitude can be purchased for a mere 30Ls."

Mason and co, listening... "You heard him, make it 100Ls next time..." Mason sighs.

john  •  Link

"So at night, I, and my wife, and W. Hewer called them to us, and there I did examine all the thing, and them, in league."

Interesting bit of 17th century counseling.

Bryan M  •  Link

"there was of that rare fruit called the king-pine"

Recent scholarly research has revealed that, while Charles shared some of his exotic fruit with Evelyn, he kept the greater part to give to Lady Castlemaine as a expression of his undying love. Barbara was so overcome that she recorded the occasion in a ballad whose charm was said only to be equalled by the well-known 'Beauty Retire'.

Miraculously, a recording exists: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0…

Second Reading

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

'Charles II: August 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1667-8, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1893), pp. 516-565. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

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Aug. 19. 1668
Falmouth.
Thos. Holden to Williamson.

Capt. Trelawney has arrived with his vessel from Portugal, laden with salt, and having 3 or 4 horses on board valued at 100l. each, a present to Esquire
Pendarvis from his son.

The captain reports that there are only 1,000 of the 4,000 men that went out of England for that service alive, 400 of which are to go to Tangiers, and the rest are to come to England, under the command of Mr. Pendarvis.

The Industry of Falmouth has gone out laden with pilchards for Alicant.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 213.]

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Aug. 19. 1668
Yarmouth.
Rich. Bower to Williamson.

Five sail have arrived from Iceland with fish; some have returned with poor
voyages; the rest of the fleet are expected hourly, with their man-of-war.

Several laden colliers have also come from the northward, one of which saw a vessel from Hull lost off the Well, with all her men.

Two Yarmouth vessels have sailed with merchants’ goods for Rotterdam.

Several people who go from Yarmouth to Iceland with the fishery, to trade in the country, have had all their goods, valued at 1,000l., seized by a Danish
man-of-war, upon the account that the trade there is farmed of the King of
Denmark by particular persons.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 215.]

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Aug. 19. 1668
Warrant for a licence
empowering Sir Thos. Sandys, Bart., Sir John Paulett, and 12 others,
who are elected by the loyal officers serving the late King as their trustees,
to hold Plate Lotteries or any other whatsoever for 6 years,
in behalf of such indigent officers as reside in London or Westminster.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Book 30, f. 77.]

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Aug. 19. 1668
Harwich.
John Gregory, late Clerk of the cheque at Harwich, to the Navy Commissioners.

I cannot wait on you, fearing arrest for debts, which I hope you will enable me to pay.
The 25/. in dispute was expended in paying sailmakers extra for refitting
several ships after the June fight 1666,
but my books being lost by accident, I am not able to give particulars;

my present condition cannot admit of so great a loss, having been at expense
and out of employment.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 227.]

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Aug. 19. 1668
St. James’s Palace.
M. Wren to the Navy Commissioners.

The Portsmouth ketch is going to New England with a packet for the King;
having several months’ pay due;
his Royal Highness thinks that the men should have some of their wages paid
before they go.

I desire you to provide accordingly, as the vessel is ready.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 224.]

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Aug. 19. 1668
Bristol.
Sir John Knight to the Navy Commissioners.

The Edgar has been got down to Hungroad, and all diligence shall be used for
her despatch, with as little charge as may be.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 221.]
---
For the location of Hung Road, see https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…

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Aug. 19. 1668
Hung road, Bristol.
Capt. John Wettwang to the Navy Commissioners.

Got the Edgar down to Hung road with great difficulty.

Wants men; could get plenty if he had leave to pay their conduct money
from London;
shall not expend more money without orders.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 244, No. 222.]

Elisabeth  •  Link

On Pineapples

According to Margaret Willes, the first pineapples raised in Europe came from the hothouse of a Dutch woman, Agneta Block, in 1687. The first English pineapple was not cultivated until the early eighteenth century, despite the painting Terry Foreman mentions above, of royal gardener John Rose presenting a pineapple to Charles II. Margaret Willes, “The Curious World of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn” (2017), 209-210.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

"... so that I must rid my hands of them, which troubles me, ..."

NOOOOO, Pepys, find away around this cruelty. Of course Jane can marry Tom. You know you can make this work. Don't be lazy, because good help is hard to find, remember?

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