Saturday 24 October 1668
This morning comes to me the coachmaker, and agreed with me for 53l., and stand to the courtesy of what more I should give him upon the finishing of the coach: he is likely also to fit me with a coachman. There comes also to me Mr. Shotgrave, the operator of our Royal Society, to show me his method of making the Tubes for the eyes, which are clouterly done, so that mine are better, but I have well informed myself in several things from him, and so am glad of speaking with him. So to the office, where all the morning, and then to dinner, and so all the afternoon late at the office, and so home; and my wife to read to me, and then with much content to bed. This day Lord Brouncker tells me that the making Sir J. Minnes a bare Commissioner is now in doing, which I am glad of; but he speaks of two new Commissioners, which I do not believe.
11 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"the Tubes for the eyes, which are clouterly done, so that mine are better"
CLOUTERLY : clumsily (L&M Large Glossary)
Chris Squire • Link
‘clouterly, adv. Obs. Clumsily.
. . 1696 London Gaz. No. 3212/4, She seems to cut behind but don't, unless clouterly shod.’
‘clouterly, adj. Like or characteristic of a botcher; clumsy, awkward; clownish.
1675 E. Phillips Theatrum Poetarum Pref. 14 Spencer, with all his Rustic, obsolete words, with all his rough-hewn clowterly Verses . . ‘
‘clouter, n. One who clouts, mends, or patches (lit. and fig.); a cobbler, or patcher; a botcher.
. . 1708 P. A. Motteux Wks. F. Rabelais (1737) V. 214 Clowters, and Botchers of old trumpery Stuff.’
‘clout, n.1 Etym: Old English clút . .
I. gen. Piece, patch, flat piece, shred.
1. A piece of cloth, leather, metal, etc., set on to mend anything; a patch. arch. and dial.
a700 Epinal Gloss. 789 Pittacium, clut.
. . II. spec. Piece of cloth, a cloth.
4.b. Applied contemptuously to any article of clothing; in pl. clothes. (Cf. rag n.2 1c.) Still dial. and in proverb ne'er cast a clout till May be out (and variants).
. . 1732 T. Fuller Gnomol. 276 Leave not off a Clout Till May be out.
. . 1948 R. Graves White Goddess x, A custom referred to in the proverb ‘Ne'er cast a clout ere May be out’, meaning ‘do not put on new clothes until the unlucky month is over’.’ [OED]
Robert Gertz • Link
Possible spoiler for the unwary...
"What are you looking at Hewer?"
"Tis a comet, methinks, sir..."
"A comet?"
"Aye, sir...And last night there was strange talk of terrible visions. You've seen 'Julius Caesar', sir?"
"Not in public, Hewer..." waving hands...Major political no-no...
"Sorry, sir...But I refer only to the visions that night before Caesar bought it."
"'When beggars die no comets are seen...The heavens themselves blaze forth' and so on...What, Will? You fear some great upheaval?"
"A gypsy fortuneteller did warn me to beware the next few days, sir. And a soothsayer was howling...Well, something..."
"What?"
"I'd rather not say, sir..."
"Hewer..."
"He said... 'Tell that idiot boss of yours to knock it off and thank God he has a sweet wife who loves him'..."
"He said that?..."
"Indeed, sir..."
"Do you think he was talking about His Grace the Duke?"
"Uh...No, sir..."
"The King himself? Oh, now that could be dangerous, Will...Much as I deplore his treatment of the Queen..."
"I think not, sir...To be honest, the man did say... 'Tell your idiot boss, Pepys...' sir..."
"Did he?"
"Yes, sir."
"Disgruntled sailor, no doubt...Pay no heed, Hewer."
"But, sir..."
"Hewer...Only a fool heeds such nonsense...What the devil's that cat doing crossing me path like that, repeatedly? And in the office?"
"Tis a black cat, sir...Watch out for the ladder, sir!"
"Damn...And broke that mirror as well..." Pushes fallen ladder off and rises, dusting... "Say, what the devil is a mirror doing out here anyway?"
"Sir..."
"What now, Hewer?"
"Why are the walls bleeding, sir?"
"That's just seepage, Hewer..."
"But it's spelling a name, sir...And it smells of blood..."
"Hmmn..." Sam peers at the slowly forming 'Willet' on the office wall...
"Balderdash and nonsense..." turns on heel, enters private closet. Hewer shaking head...
"Well, Hewer...We tried." Sir John, up from his desk, pats Will's shoulder.
"Yes, Sir John." sigh... "Really thought the
Shakespearian allusions might do the trick."
"Sometimes not even the Bard can deflect a man on a destructive path, Will..." Sir John shakes head.
***
***
martinb • Link
Perhaps things will work out differently in this online version?
AnnieC • Link
"...stand to the courtesy..."
I can't work out what this means. Can someone please help?
Paul Chapin • Link
AnnieC, I believe the coach maker has agreed to take 53L for the job, plus whatever additional sum Sam decides to give him for a good job when the work is completed. A bonus, in other words.
AnnieC • Link
Thank you, Paul.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"...stand to the courtesy..." ??
STAND TO IT : to stick to it - (Large Glossary)
Terry Foreman • Link
"This day Lord Brouncker tells me that the making Sir J. Minnes a bare Commissioner is now in doing, which I am glad of; but he speaks of two new Commissioners, which I do not believe."
L&M: Nothing came of these proposals. No new commissioners were now appointed, and Mennes kept the comptrollership until his death in 1671, by which time he had held office for a longer period than any other Principal Officer except Pepys himself.
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…
@@@
Oct. 24 1668.
The Edgar, Bristol King road
Capt . John Wettwang to the Navy Commissioners.
Is victualled and has 250 men on board, but has had much trouble to get and keep them.
Mr. Baylig has done all his work but a few things;
if a fair wind comes, shall stay for nothing; but the weather has long been very bad.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 248, No. 62.]
@@@
Oct. 24 1668.
Bristol
Fras. Baylie to the Navy Commissioners.
I desire you to pay the 100/. bill to Rob. Foley, who is threatening me and makes me live in slavish fear.
The Edgar is completed except some small matters;
I have a fancy to keep the carver and painter at work, that she may be put forth as well as any other ship.
Pray consider my low condition; I am utterly undone if any course of law is taken against me.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 248, No. 63.]
Encloses,
Rob. Foley to Fras. Baylie.
I was yesterday with Squire Pepys, who admired your charging him with a bill of 100/., when he thinks you are rather in the King's debt.
I pray delay me no longer, but pay John Baker the 100/., and send an answer by the next post, as he must use some of the money to pay workmen.
— London, 20 Oct. 1668.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 248, No. 031.]
@@@
Oct. 24 1668.
Sir John Mennes and John Tippetts to the Navy Commissioners.
Chatham.
We brought down 15,000/. and have received 3,000/. since from Mr. Foley, who can supply no more;
have paid the Bonadventure, which took nearly 6,000/.;
the balance will pay but one half-year,
so we must expect a further supply for payment of the 3 ships coming up,
Greenwich, Mary Rose, and Antelope.
The daily expectation of money has induced us to forbear paying the yard as yet, and occasioned great jealousy and complaint, the necessitous condition of the men urging them to it;
we have passed our words to see them satisfied their half-year's pay before departing.
We desire a speedy answer whether the money may come soon enough for the ships, that we may lose no time.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 248, No. 64.]
San Diego Sarah • Link
Oct. 24 1668.
Bristol
Sir John Knight to the Navy Commissioners.
I have drawn a bill on you for 120/., payable at sight to Charles Owen, of Glovers' Hall, London, for fitting the Edgar.
The former 200/., together with part of that now drawn, is already paid;
an account of it shall be sent.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 248, No. 65.]
@@@
October [24] 1668
Proposals by Sir W. Penn
about his proceedings as comptroller of victuals:
That the victualler’s demands on his old contract be speedily brought in;
that he certify the charge of each purser;
that the pursers' accounts do not remain longer with him than the limited time;
that he duly set off the credit part, so that the balance may appear, after deduction for cask, hoops, &c.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 248, No. 66.]
@@@
Oct. 24 1668.
Lyme
John Sprake to Hickes.
I send news in Mr. Thorold's absence.
A vessel from Croisic reports that all the carpenters are taken up to build ships for the [French] King's service.
A Lyme ship from Malaga, laden with wine and fruit, reports that he met an
English fleet of 50 sail at Gibraltar, all laden with fish from Newfoundland, bound up the Straits;
also that there were many Sallee men-of-war abroad,
but that Sir Thos. Allin, with his squadron, was cruising about, to wait their return.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 248, No. 67.]
@@@
Oct. 24 1668.
Coventry
Ralph Hope to Williamson.
The spire being completed, the weathercock was set up, which is 80 yards from the ground.
The steeple is a stately structure, and will yield to but few in England.
There has been another election for sheriffs, and Edw. Rogers has been chosen in the room of Burne who was fined.
Rogers was prevailed on to stand, though at first he claimed exemption, because he is sworn in to the place of Sewer in ordinary to the Great Chamber, which includes exemption from office.
The other sheriff, Lapworth, has been proclaimed sheriff throughout the city, and summoned to appear;
if he does not, the city intends to appeal for redress to the Council Board, as he has caused much disturbance.
One Johnson, a Chester carrier, who was robbed twelve months since between Coventry and Lichtield to a considerable value, has been robbed again upon Bentley Heath by 7 or 8 men, who cut all his packs, and carried away gold, plate, and other commodities to the value of near 1,000/.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 248, No. 68.]
@@@
Oct. 24 1668.
Amsterdam
Extract from a news-letter.
The 3 galliots that went by Nova Zembla to find out the [Northwest] passage to the Indies have returned, without effecting anything.
They would have tarried longer and endeavoured further, but wanted victuals.
They did not lose their voyage, having taken 5 whales, 3 Icelanders, and 2 North
Capers, besides all their 500 teeth.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 248, No. 69.]