Friday 19 March 1668/69
Up, and by water to White Hall, there to the Lords of the Treasury, and did some business, and here Sir Thomas Clifford did speak to me, as desirous that I would some time come and confer with him about the Navy, which I am glad of, but will take the direction of the Duke of York before I do it, though I would be glad to do something to secure myself, if I could, in my employment. Thence to the plaisterer’s, and took my face, and my Lord Duke of Albemarle’s, home with me by coach, they being done to my mind; and mighty glad I am of understanding this way of having the pictures of any friends. At home to dinner, where Mr. Sheres dined with us, but after dinner I left him and my wife, and with Commissioner Middleton and Kempthorne to a Court-martiall, to which, by virtue of my late Captainship, I am called, the first I was ever at; where many Commanders, and Kempthorne president. Here was tried a difference between Sir L. Van Hemskirke, the Dutch Captain who commands “The Nonsuch,” built by his direction, and his Lieutenant; a drunken kind of silly business. We ordered the Lieutenant to ask him pardon, and have resolved to lay before the Duke of York what concerns the Captain, which was striking of his Lieutenant and challenging him to fight, which comes not within any article of the laws martiall. But upon discourse the other day with Sir W. Coventry, I did advise Middleton, and he and I did forbear to give judgment, but after the debate did withdraw into another cabin, the Court being held in one of the yachts, which was on purpose brought up over against St. Katharine’s, it being to be feared that this precedent of our being made Captains, in order to the trying of the loss of “The Defyance,” wherein we are the proper persons to enquire into the want of instructions while ships do lie in harbour, evil use might be hereafter made of the precedent by putting the Duke of Buckingham, or any of these rude fellows that now are uppermost, to make packed Courts, by Captains made on purpose to serve their turns. The other cause was of the loss of “The Providence” at Tangier, where the Captain’s being by chance on shore may prove very inconvenient to him, for example’s sake, though the man be a good man, and one whom, for Norwood’s sake, I would be kind to; but I will not offer any thing to the excusing such a miscarriage. He is at present confined, till he can bring better proofs on his behalf of the reasons of his being on shore. So Middleton and I away to the Office; and there I late busy, making my people, as I have done lately, to read Mr. Holland’s Discourse of the Navy, and what other things I can get to inform me fully in all; and here late, about eight at night, comes Mr. Wren to me, who had been at the Tower to Coventry. He come only to see how matters go, and tells me, as a secret, that last night the Duke of York’s closet was broken open, and his cabinets, and shut again, one of them that the rogue that did it hath left plate and a watch behind him, and therefore they fear that it was only for papers, which looks like a very malicious business in design, to hurt the Duke of York; but they cannot know that till the Duke of York comes to town about the papers, and therefore make no words of it. He gone, I to work again, and then to supper at home, and to bed.
14 Annotations
First Reading
Andrew Hamilton • Link
I am hoping that L&M explain the case of the Providence.
"last night the Duke of York’s closet was broken open, and his cabinets, and ... they fear that it was only for papers, which looks like a very malicious business." What J. Edgar Hoover's FBI used to call a "black bag job," I believe. Do you think Richard Nixon read the Diary?
Terry Foreman • Link
L&M say the fireship Providence [ whose sourcws, contra Wikipedia at the present, had continued in service pas 1666 ] had been stranded near Tangier. She had jist brought back prisoners released by the recent treaty with Algiers.
Terry Foreman • Link
"to a Court-martiall, to which, by virtue of my late Captainship, I am called, the first I was ever at; where many Commanders, and Kempthorne president"
L&M say the court consisted of a President and seven captains, Pepys and Middleton serving as assessors. L&M leave it unclear whether the assessor-captains are among the seven.
Terry Foreman • Link
"a difference between Sir L. Van Hemskirke, the Dutch Captain who commands “The Nonsuch”... and his Lieutenant; "
L&M mote the dispute had arisen over the action of the lieutenant (William Dawson) in confining the master-carpenter to his cabin.
Terry Foreman • Link
"the Captain...striking of his Lieutenant and challenging him to fight...comes not within any article of the laws martiall " since, note L&M, the challenge had been made on shore.
Terry Foreman • Link
"I...to read Mr. Holland’s Discourse of the Navy"
L&M suggest probably the earlier of Holland's two MSS of discourses on naval administration (written in 1638 and 1659) of which copies were kept in the office.
Terry Foreman • Link
"last night the Duke of York’s closet was broken open...[which] they fear that it was...for papers...to hurt the Duke of York"
L&M note the burglars "simply" took 700 gold pieces.
JWB • Link
Where's Peter Blood? 700 gold pieces would have held him over between repeated attempts to kidnap Lord Ormonde and his bungled theft of the Crown Jewels.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
Diary of Ralph Josselin
21. God good in the word; the day coldly showering: dreamed of the K. deposing or worse, a view of govern(ment) names in paper. M. Hey with me and the K: D.Y.B.M. overturned in a coach in Holborn going to the races at Newmarket: March. 8: the K. lost his race: 10: the D. of Yorks closet searched. March. 19. said robbed http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earl…
The good Rev Josselin is well-informed.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... and the K: D.Y.B.M. ..."
My guess is K for King, D.Y. for Duke of York, and if it said D.M. I would guess the Duke of Monmouth. But B.M.?
Josselin was born in 1617, making him 52. His handwriting should still be legible.
This entry shows just how "secret" this break-in news was kept.
I wonder if the L&M note is about the eventual cover story? The loss of 700 gold pieces would have been immediately noticed.
Hopefully more will be disclosed later ...
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... and mighty glad I am of understanding this way of having the pictures of any friends."
A classic use of the 17th century useage of the word "friends" meaning "friends in high places" ... people who you could count on to have your back when the chips were down.
Recently Pepys has been made aware of Monck's appreciation of his good services, so this bust will be a "signal" to guests that the old warrior likes him.
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
https://www.pepysdiary.com/encycl…
I note no busts of Sandwich or W. Coventry on the same new mantle.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... the Court being held in one of the yachts, which was on purpose brought up over against St. Katharine’s, it being to be feared that this precedent of our being made Captains, in order to the trying of the loss of “The Defyance,” wherein we are the proper persons to enquire into the want of instructions while ships do lie in harbour, evil use might be hereafter made of the precedent by putting the Duke of Buckingham, or any of these rude fellows that now are uppermost, to make packed Courts, by Captains made on purpose to serve their turns."
WOW ... someone of influence in the Navy (probably the Admiralty) is so worried about Buckingham's faction that they move the hearing to a yacht tethered at St. Katherine's Wharf so as to avoid setting the precedent of making the likes of Buckingham "captains" and giving them access to ships of the line, to do things like burning them?!?!
That person was worried about a coup.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"He come only to see how matters go ..."
WREN: "No pressure, Pepys, but we would like your report on the precendents and constitution governing the Navy Board since 1618 on the Duke's desk when he gets back on Sunday."
PEPYS [splutter]: "The day after tomorrow?"
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... last night the Duke of York’s closet was broken open ..."
It just occurred to me that this happened at Whitehall last night, not at Newmarket. Josselyn usually writes his Diary on Sundays covering the previous week, so the news took a day or so to get to Essex.