Wednesday 14 October 1668
Up, and by water, stopping at Michell’s, and there saw Betty, but could have no discourse with her, but there drank. To White Hall, and there walked to St. James’s, where I find the Court mighty full, it being the Duke of York’s birthday; and he mighty fine, and all the musick, one after another, to my great content. Here I met with Sir H. Cholmly; and he and I to walk, and to my Lord Barkeley’s new house; there to see a new experiment of a cart, which; by having two little wheeles fastened to the axle-tree, is said to make it go with half the ease and more, than another cart but we did not see the trial made. Thence I home, and after dinner to St. James’s, and there met my brethren; but the Duke of York being gone out, and to-night being a play there; and a great festival, we would not stay, but went all of us to the King’s playhouse, and there saw “The Faythful Shepherdess” again, that we might hear the French Eunuch sing, which we did, to our great content; though I do admire his action as much as his singing, being both beyond all I ever saw or heard. Thence with W. Pen home, and there to get my people to read, and to supper, and so to bed.
17 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"a new experiment of a cart, which; by having two little wheeles fastened to the axle-tree, is said to make it go with half the ease and more, than another cart but we did not see the trial made."
I confess this not as clear to me as "Sir Elias Leighton’s project of a cart with iron axletrees" seen by Evelyn 29 September.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Can anyone else envision the cart Pepys saw today?
Jesse • Link
"two little wheeles"
I was going to just take Pepys word for it but since you asked I did find this site http://www.tomsarazac.com/tom/opi… that leads me to believe that the cart simply had smaller wheels than were typical. Since smaller wheels have less intertia the carts "go with half the ease" - at least from standstill, or maybe in the stop and go traffic of busy London :)
Mark S • Link
Re the 'French Eunuch', if you would like to hear a castrato sing, there are recordings by Alessandro Moreschi, made early in the 20th century. These are the only existing recordings made by a trained castrato singer.
Here's a recording of him singing Ave Maria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf…
A.De Araujo • Link
Thanks Mark S, not bad at all!
pd • Link
The two little wheels-I think these are primitive roller bearings? possibly?
djc • Link
Two little wheels; a roller bearing on a steered axle to make turning easier?
Robert Gertz • Link
"A what? A French what?"
"A French Eunich, Bess...Truly a wonderful artist. Bess? Why are you weeping?"
"God is just too cruel, sometimes..."
***
Happy Birthday, Jamie!
rob • Link
The recording of Alessandro Moreschi is interesting but really really old. You might want to try the recent recording of Cecilia Bartoli (a woman, yes) singing castrato songs on her album "Sacrificium". Look up on Youtube for an interesting interview and some music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ…
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"Thence I home, and after dinner to St. James’s, and there met my brethren; but the Duke of York being gone out, and to-night being a play there; and a great festival"
L&M: For an account, see the despatch of the Swedish resident (14 October), in W, Westergaard (ed.), First Triple Alliance, p. 28.
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The 1668 Triple Alliance (Swedish;Trippelalliansen) was formed by England, the Swedish Empire, and the Dutch Republic in May 1668. It was created in response to the occupation of the Spanish Netherlands and Franche-Comté by France. Although Spain and Emperor Leopold were not signatories, they were closely involved in the negotiations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tri…
San Diego Sarah • Link
'Entry Book: October 1668', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 2, 1667-1668, ed. William A Shaw (London, 1905), pp. 623-630. British History Online
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
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Oct. 14 1668
Money warrant for 322/. 15s. 0d.
to Isaac le Goose
for a pearl sold to the Queen.
(Money orders Nov. 3).
Treasury Miscellanea Warrants Early XVIII. p. 76.
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Oct. 14 1668
Privy seal for 5,000/. to Sir Ste. Fox
for a secret and necessary service of much importance.
Treasury Miscellanea Warrants Early XV. p. 202.
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Oct. 14 1668
Fifty orders registered on the Wine Act for in all 50,000/.
to the Earl of Anglesey
towards setting out an extraordinary fleet this year.
Treasury Order Book XXXVI. pp. 85–7.
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God bless the Wine Act.
And what did Sir Stephen Fox find out which was worth 5,000/.???
San Diego Sarah • Link
'Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 5, 1661-1668, ed. W Noel Sainsbury (London, 1880), pp. 615-622. British History Online
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
October 1668
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Oct. 14. 1668
Barbados.
#1854. Gov. Wm. Lord Willoughby to the Privy Council.
Their Lordships' commands of 20th May, touching the disbanding and paying off Sir Tobias Bridge's regiment, proved a task so difficult that their countermand of 31st July arrived in time to prevent it.
Immediately he understood that his Majesty had commanded that Sir Tobias Bridge should be put in possession of his moiety of the revenue, and therewith pay his regiment and the debts contracted for this island's service, and support the charges of government here, Lord Willoughby immediately put him in possession, and has promised himself this satisfaction, that besides ease from so great a trouble and complaints, the accounts would more justify the truth of his own than any other arguments he could have given.
But how far this may tend to his Majesty's disservice their Lordships may judge, in regard the regiment's pay will amount to more than his Majesty moiety can satisfy, nor will ought be remaining to answer the creditors here or support the Government;
whereby the Act that gave the revenue a being, becoming wholly subverted, and the many persons who loyally are in advance on the credit thereof utterly defeated, the inhabitants and representatives have taken all occasions to express their resentment;
and though they have hitherto given considerable sums for the regiment's quarters, he has too much cause to suspect their continuance in that way.
Though he has not been wanting in laying before them the necessity of his Majesty's present affairs.
Has put the matter of Kingsland's petition on examination, and referred himself to Kingsland's greatest friends, being confident that if the least glance of truth appear he will be sufficiently justified, and the malice and falsehood of every particular in that petition detected.
Is also informed how the Dutch have made loud clamours against pretended actions of his sons at Surinam, but as his Majesty has given leave for his return to England will in a few days embark, and refers his vindication to that occasion.
Has a great aversion from "that reproachful way of complaining, so suitable to the dishonourable temper of that nation, at such a distance as this;"
but when in England will prove to their faces that their agents at Surinam have by many lewd actions tyrannized over his Majesty's subjects and confined their persons to prevent their departure from thence to some other place in these parts within his Majesty's dominions suitable to the Articles of Peace.
San Diego Sarah • Link
Indorsed, Read Dec. 9, 1668.
1 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXIII., No. 63.]
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William, Lord WILLOUGHBY, 6th Baron of Parham MP (1616 – 1673), Gov. Barbados (1666 – 1673)
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Tobias Bridge fought for Parliament in the English Civil Wars, served the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell during the Interregnum, and after the Restoration he served Charles II.
A year after he was knighted in 1666, Col. Sir Tobias Bridge was sent to Barbados with his regiment. In 1672 he commanded the local land forces against Tobago in one of the many wars over that island. In 1674 he was admitted to the council of Barbados.
He probably died in Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados which was named after him, but no record has been found of the date.
https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10… (you need a subscription)
San Diego Sarah • Link
The volume of Domestic State Papers covering correspondence from Oct. 1668 to Dec. 1669 is at
https://play.google.com/books/rea…
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Oct. 14 1668
London
Wm. Newland, purser of the Barbadoes Merchant, to the Navy Commissioners.
You will be sensible, by the papers and certificates annexed, of my indigent
condition, through the unwarrantable dealings of my captain.
By the certificate of Thos. Lewis, I am debtor 146/. 4s . 6d ., and creditor for 42
tons of cask and 116 iron hoops;
but these belong to the Royal Company, and I am accountable for them.
As to the extravagant exhausting of the provisions, I pre sent my affidavit, and desire you to dispose of me as shall seem just, not having exposed any to my own use.
Having had my papers detained, I could not act as authentically as required.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 187.)
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Oct. 14 1668.
Pass
for Sir Mark D'Ognaté to come to England.
Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 30, f. 85.]
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Oct. 14 1668.
Falmouth
Thos. Holden to Williamson.
A commission sat at Penrhyn last week,
for examining persons about embezzlement of prize goods during the wars.
A privy seal is reported to be coming down, which causes much talk.
The winds have been so tempestuous that no ships have sailed;
one coming in from Wales, laden with coals, was cast away.
(S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 189.]
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Oct. 14 1668.
Bristol.
James Baskerville to Williamson.
The Unity from Cadiz reports that they of Sallee have 4 or 5 men-of-war out at sea, of which one is the John pink of Bristol, lately taken by them, and fitted with 10 guns.
Capt. Rooth is plying before the bar there with 2 of his Majesty's ships,
and doubts not but he will light upon some of them coming home.
Several ships are in the port of Bristol ready to sail, of which the Edgar is one.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 191.]
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Certificate
by Sir Rob. Long that his Majesty, by privy seal, 30 Sept. 1661,
directed the payment of 3,000/. to Mary Greaves, as a free gift
out of the Exchequer, of which only 1,700/. has been paid.
[Copy. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 192.]
Annexing,
Memorandum
stating that there was an assignment under Lord Berkshire's hand, 24 July 1662,
to Dame Mary Graves, of his Majesty's patent of 12 April 1661 for 8,000/.,
charged upon the Receiver of Yorkshire, at 1,000/. a year,
in consideration of 5,000/. in hand paid and acknowledged.
Also another assignment of the same to T. H., dated 21 Dec. 1667,
to be void upon payment to him of 150/.
Also a letter of attorney from Lord Berkshire to Lady Greaves, dated 24 July 1662, to receive bonds and perform covenants.
Also an attested bond from him, 21 Oct. 1668, under a penalty of 7,400/.,
to pay 3,700/. on 23 Jan. then ensuing.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 1921.]
Gerald Berg • Link
Contratenor John Holiday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-…
Simply amazing!
San Diego Sarah • Link
AMAZING ... thank you Gerald. A great way to start the day. But I trust his voice is au natural.
Gerald Berg • Link
The Contratenor designation is a guarantee of one but only testing will prove if there are two involved.
Third Reading
Trevor M Randall • Link
Yes, amazing Gerald, and not unsettling like poor Alessandro Moreschi‘s castrato.