Friday 16 October 1668
Up, and busy all the morning at the office, and before noon I took my wife by coach, and Deb., and shewed her Mr. Wren’s hangings and bed, at St. James’s, and Sir W. Coventry’s in the Pell Mell, for our satisfaction in what we are going to buy; and so by Mr. Crow’s, home, about his hangings, and do pitch upon buying his second suit of Apostles — the whole suit, which comes to 83l.; and this we think the best for us, having now the whole suit, to answer any other rooms or service. So home to dinner, and with Mr. Hater by water to St. James’s: there Mr. Hater, to give Mr. Wren thanks for his kindness about his place that he hath lately granted him, of Petty Purveyor of petty emptions, upon the removal of Mr. Turner to be Storekeeper at Deptford, on the death of Harper. And then we all up to the Duke of York, and there did our usual business, and so I with J. Minnes home, and there finding my wife gone to my aunt Wight’s, to see her the first time after her coming to town, and indeed the first time, I think, these two years (we having been great strangers one to the other for a great while), I to them; and there mighty kindly used, and had a barrel of oysters, and so to look up and down their house, they having hung a room since I was there, but with hangings not fit to be seen with mine, which I find all come home to-night, and here staying an hour or two we home, and there to supper and to bed.
5 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"Petty Purveyor of petty emptions"
L&M note this officer had charge of all purchases [ emptions ] made on behalf of the Board without warrant from the Navy Treasurer.
Robert Gertz • Link
"...they having hung a room since I was there, but with hangings not fit to be seen with mine..."
Keeping up with the Pepys is becoming an arduous task...
***
"Lovely hangings, Uncle...Aunt has gone to attend to some matters. You're not too uncomfortable, are you? Girls..." nod to Jane and Deb... "Deb, you can take your foot off Uncle's windpipe..."
"HHHHHuh...Uh...So my nephew will be here shortly?"
"I left word with our remaining girl. Now, Uncle, unless you want Auntie to find you in your present 'compromising'? position, do you think I could have your promise of better behavior? I was hoping for a nice, friendly visit after all this time."
"Indeed..." Groan... "Must your girl keep her foot on my chest?"
"Girls..." Bess nods to Jane and Deb who release Wight who staggers to his feet.
"I'm so glad we got this matter settled so quickly, Uncle."
"Indeed, niece..."
"But it was kind of you to raise the sum to 2000Ls..." smile.
Terry Foreman • Link
"and there did our usual business"
The phrase has come to make me smile. Bess: "What do you boys do there?"
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"my wife gone to my aunt Wight’s, to see her the first time after her coming to town, and indeed the first time, I think, these two years (we having been great strangers one to the other for a great while)"
Not since http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
The Wights had a country house near Guildford, Surrey http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
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. 16 1668.
Bonadventure, Chatham
Capt . John Narbrough to the Navy Commissioners.
I have brought my ship to her moorings at Chatham.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 198.]
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Oct. 16 1668.
Woolwich
Col. Thos. Middleton to Sam. Pepys.
Coming hither this morning, I found 20 house-carpenters walking about the yard, having no man to look after them, as the foreman appointed never comes near.
They are a company of shabby fellows, that cannot earn 4d. a day by their labour, being old men or boys, and it is a pity the King should be at the charge of such as can do little, and will do nothing.
They desire to be discharged; I desire orders therein.
Mr. Byland cannot prevail on them to work, and the overseer never comes near.
---
With note, 17 October, that Sir John Mennes hourly expects money for
discharging men in the yards, and undertook to begin with these.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 199.]
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Oct. 16 1668.
Woolwich
Same to the same.
John Clarke has served in the timber he was under contract for, and offers to sell 200 loads more, specially good, at 58s. a load.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 200.]
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Oct. 16 1668.
Woolwich Ropeyard
Wm. Bodham, clerk of the ropeyard, to the Navy Commissioners.
The walk, 1,018 feet by 16, where cables used to be laid, having been many years floored with planks from old ships, wants repair.
The House de Swede being to be broken up, some of her timber might be ordered in for that work;
short pieces as well as long will turn to account in the repair.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 201.]
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Oct. 16 1668.
Yarmouth
Rich. Bower to Williamson.
Two vessels bound for Rotterdam put back by contrary winds;
a Yarmouth vessel from Rotterdam arrived, laden with merchant goods;
great quantities of herrings have been brought into the town the last few days.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 202.]
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Oct. 16 1668.
Deal
Rich. Watts to [Williamson].
Has no news;
agues and fevers prevail much.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 247, No. 203. ]
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THE SCAN SKIPS FROM PAGE 21 TO PAGE 24.