I Read Therefore I Am discussion

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Diaries and Journals > Mr Pepys' Diary daily

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message 501: by [deleted user] (new)

She was still quite unpopular I think, being a catholic.


message 502: by [deleted user] (new)

Monday 26 November 1660

(Office day). To it all the morning, and dined at home where my father come and dined with me, who seems to take much pleasure to have a son that is neat in his house. I being now making my new door into the entry, which he do please himself much with.

After dinner to the office again, and there till night. And that being done the Comptroller and I to the Mitre to a glass of wine, when we fell into a discourse of poetry, and he did repeat some verses of his own making which were very good.

Home, there hear that my Lady Batten had given my wife a visit (the first that ever she made her), which pleased me exceedingly. So after supper to bed.


message 503: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Nice to see that he gets down to a days work occasionally! We all appreciate a neat and tidy son!


message 504: by [deleted user] (new)

I wish my husband was neat in his house !


message 505: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments I'm reading Restoration which is set at the Court in 1662 and had to share this with you. Merivel, the narrator is explaining why he is so popular with Charles and his Court
"My fondness for gossip and laughter, my brimming appetites, my tendency to sartorial chaos and my trick of farting at will"

Yet another skill our Sam must master if he is to rise at Court!


message 506: by [deleted user] (new)

All those anchovies and oysters should help :0)


message 507: by [deleted user] (new)

Tuesday 27 November 1660
To Whitehall, where I found my Lord gone abroad to the Wardrobe, whither he do now go every other morning, and do seem to resolve to understand and look after the business himself.

From thence to Westminster Hall, and in King Street there being a great stop of coaches, there was a falling out between a drayman and my Lord Chesterfield’s coachman, and one of his footmen killed. At the Hall I met with Mr. Creed, and he and I to Hell to drink our morning draught, and so to my Lord’s again, where I found my wife, and she and I dined with him and my Lady, and great company of my Lord’s friends, and my Lord did show us great respect.

Soon as dinner was done my wife took her leave, and went with Mr. Blackburne and his wife to London to a christening of a Brother’s child of his on Tower Hill.

And I to a play, “The Scorn-full Lady.”

And that being done, I went homewards, and met Mr. Moore, who had been at my house, and took him to my father’s, and we three to Standing’s to drink. Here Mr. Moore told me how the House had this day voted the King to have all the Excise for ever.

This day I do also hear that the Queen’s going to France is stopt, which do like me well, because then the King will be in town the next month, which is my month again at the Privy Seal. From thence home, where when I come I do remember that I did leave my boy Waineman at Whitehall with order to stay there for me in the court, at which I was much troubled, but about 11 o’clock at night the boy came home well, and so we all to bed.


message 508: by [deleted user] (new)

An early and extreme case of Road Rage?
Our Sam seems to be in rapid moral decline - I'm sure he was visiting Heaven not so long ago and now he's drinking in hell !


message 509: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments He's certainly adaptable in his drinking habits. Do we know what the Wardrobe is that my Lord is seeing to himself? Must be some place of business I suppose but I can't remember if we've sorted it out before or not.


message 510: by [deleted user] (new)

I think this was the Kings Wardrobe - basically a big storehouse full of the Kings clothing and furniture


message 511: by [deleted user] (new)

Here's a clipping from Wikipedia

The wardrobe, along with the chamberlain, made up the personal part of medieval English government known as the king's household. Originally the room where the king's clothes, armour and treasure was stored the term was expanded to describe its contents and then the department of clerks who ran it. The wardrobe treasure of gold and jewels, funded by but not under the control of the treasury (and therefore Parliament) enabled the king to make secret and rapid payments to fund his diplomatic and military operations.
The wardrobe often appropriated large funds from the exchequer, the main financial government office. During the reign of Edward I, Edward II and Edward III, there were several conflicts over the confusion of authority between these two offices. The conflict was largely resolved in the mid-fourteenth century when William Edington, as treasurer under Edward III, brought the wardrobe in under the financial oversight – if not control – of the exchequer. In the sixteenth century the wardrobe lost much of its former importance. This was due both to the growing sophistication and size of government making it less mobile, and to the lower frequency of military campaigns led by the king in person.
There were in fact two main wardrobes for a period - around 1300 the confusingly-named Great Wardrobe, responsible only for expenditure on such things clothing, textiles, furs and spices, had split away from the more senior household wardrobe, which remained responsible for financing the king's personal expenditure and his military operations, but the two departments were later reunited. In addition there were smaller Privy Wardrobes at the Tower and various royal palaces.


message 512: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Thanks Lee, complicated isn't it!


message 513: by [deleted user] (new)

Very!


message 514: by [deleted user] (new)

Wednesday 28 November 1660

This morning went to Whitehall to my Lord’s, where Major Hart did pay me; 23l. 14s. 9d., due to me upon my pay in my Lord’s troop at the time of our disbanding, which is a great blessing to have without taking any law in the world for. But now I must put an end to any hopes of getting any more, so that I bless God for this.

From thence with Mr. Shepley and Pinkney to the Sun, and did give them a glass of wine and a peck of oysters for joy of my getting this money.

So home, where I found that Mr. Creed had sent me the 11l. 5s. that is due to me upon the remains of account for my sea business, which is also so much clear money to me, and my bill of impresse for 30l. is also cleared, so that I am wholly clear as to the sea in all respects. To the office, and was there till late at night, and among the officers do hear that they may have our salaries allowed by the Treasurer, which do make me very glad, and praise God for it.

Home to supper, and Mr. Hater supped with me, whom I did give order to take up my money of the Treasurer to-morrow if it can be had.

So to bed.


message 515: by [deleted user] (new)

Apparently the bill of impresse was an advance that Sam received for expenses on a sea voyage he made in April. Presumably he's submitted his receipts and it's all cleared now.


message 516: by [deleted user] (new)

What a happy day for our Sam - money coming in from all directions!


message 517: by Tracey (new)

Tracey | 304 comments Yes. A lovely feeling that doesn't happen too often in my case.


message 518: by [deleted user] (new)

Thursday 29 November 1660

In the morning seeing a great deal of foul water come into my parlour from under the partition between me and Mr. Davis, I did step thither to him and tell him of it, and he did seem very ready to have it stopt, and did also tell me how thieves did attempt to rob his house last night, which do make us all afraid.

This noon I being troubled that the workmen that I have to do my door were called to Mr. Davis’s away, I sent for them, when Mr. Davis sent to inquire a reason of, and I did give him a good one, that they were come on purpose to do some work with me that they had already begun, with which he was well pleased, and I glad, being unwilling to anger them.

In the afternoon Sir W. Batten and I met and did sell the ship Church for 440l.; and we asked 391l., and that being done, I went home, and Dr. Petty came to me about Mr. Barlow’s money, and I being a little troubled to be so importuned before I had received it, and that they would have it stopt in Mr. Fenn’s hands, I did force the Doctor to go fetch the letter of attorney that he had to receive it only to make him same labour, which he did bring, and Mr. Hater came along with him from the Treasury with my money for the first quarter (Michaelmas last) that ever I received for this employment. So I paid the Dr. 25l. and had 62l. 10s. for myself, and 7l. 10s. to myself also for Will’s salary, which I do intend yet to keep for myself.

With this my heart is much rejoiced, and do bless Almighty God that he is pleased to send so sudden and unexpected payment of my salary so soon after my great disbursements. So that now I am worth 200l. again.

In a great ease of mind and spirit I fell about the auditing of Mr. Shepley’s last accounts with my Lord by my Lord’s desire, and about that I sat till 12 o’clock at night, till I began to doze, and so to bed, with my heart praising God for his mercy to us.


message 519: by [deleted user] (last edited Nov 30, 2013 01:04AM) (new)

Ok so Mr Barlow was Sam's predecessor as Clerk of Acts - the person responsible for the secretarial side of the Navy Board's work. For some reason Sam was obliged to give Mr Barlow a portion of his salary.
Dr Petty turned up asking for Mr Barlows money before Sam had actually received it from the paymaster of the Navy Treasury, Mr Fenn, and was then threatening to go to Mr Fenn and get the money directly from him.
Sam being a careful man wanted to be able to make the payment himself - so perhaps as a stalling action he asked Dr Petty for proof of his authority to receive the money.
Happily he returned at the same time as the arrival of Sams salary (bought over by Mr Hater - I wonder if he pronounced it hatter?) so Sam was able to make the payment himself.
Hope this makes sense!


message 520: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Wow Sams doing well at the moment


message 521: by [deleted user] (new)

Money's flooding in from everywhere!


message 522: by [deleted user] (new)

Friday 30 November 1660

(Office day). To the office, where Sir G. Carteret did give us an account how Mr. Holland do intend to prevail with the Parliament to try his project of discharging the seamen all at present by ticket, and so promise interest to all men that will lend money upon them at eight per cent., for so long as they are unpaid; whereby he do think to take away the growing debt, which do now lie upon the kingdom for lack of present money to discharge the seamen. But this we are troubled at as some diminution to us.

I having two barrels of oysters at home, I caused one of them and some wine to be brought to the inner room in the office, and there the Principal Officers did go and eat them.

So we sat till noon, and then to dinner, and to it again in the afternoon till night.

At home I sent for Mr. Hater, and broke the other barrel with him, and did afterwards sit down discoursing of sea terms to learn of him. And he being gone I went up and sat till twelve at night again to make an end of my Lord’s accounts, as I did the last night. Which at last I made a good end of, and so to bed.


message 523: by [deleted user] (new)

Uh oh - oysters


message 524: by Tracey (new)

Tracey | 304 comments He doesn't half he through a lot of them!


message 525: by [deleted user] (new)

Saturday 1 December 1660

This morning, observing some things to be laid up not as they should be by the girl, I took a broom and basted her till she cried extremely, which made me vexed, but before I went out I left her appeased. So to Whitehall, where I found Mr. Moore attending for me at the Privy Seal, but nothing to do to-day.

I went to my Lord St. Albans lodgings, and found him in bed, talking to a priest (he looked like one) that leaned along over the side of the bed, and there I desired to know his mind about making the catch stay longer, which I got ready for him the other day. He seems to be a fine civil gentleman.

To my Lord’s, and did give up my audit of his accounts, which I had been then two days about, and was well received by my Lord. I dined with my Lord and Lady, and we had a venison pasty. Mr. Shepley and I went into London, and calling upon Mr. Pinkney, the goldsmith, he took us to the tavern, and gave us a pint of wine, and there fell into our company old Mr. Flower and another gentleman; who tell us how a Scotch knight was killed basely the other day at the Fleece in Covent Garden, where there had been a great many formerly killed. So to Paul’s Churchyard, and there I took the little man at Mr. Kirton’s and Mr. Shepley to Ringstead’s at the Star, and after a pint of wine I went home, my brains somewhat troubled with so much wine, and after a letter or two by the post I went to bed.


message 526: by Tracey (new)

Tracey | 304 comments What a terrible thing to do.


message 527: by [deleted user] (new)

Poor old maid! Do you think that Sam may have suffered a little from OCD? He does seem to get very upset about things not being put away properly.
The catch that they were keen to stop was a ship of some kind, by the way.


message 528: by Ellie (new)

Ellie (theelliemo) I'm a little troubled by in what manner her 'left her appeased'!??!


message 529: by [deleted user] (new)

Yes -he doesn't seem to be a man overly weighed down by morals :0)


message 530: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments I love the fact that he basted her with a broom, it's a great expression, I think when I'm annoyed I future I'll threaten to baste someone with a broom. Surely he wouldn't have appeased her in the way. You imply right under his wife's nose?


message 531: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments My typos are getting worse, it's this iPad, it keeps changing the profound and well expressed observations I make to utter tripe!


message 532: by [deleted user] (new)

Lol - all I'll say in answer to your question - is watch this space (though you might have to wait a couple of years)


message 533: by [deleted user] (new)

Have you tried basting your iPad with a broom?


message 534: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Not yet but I have threatened to throw it through the window several times, especially over this weekend when it wouldn't let me go online through my iPhone. I was so frustrated by it!


message 535: by [deleted user] (new)

Sunday 2 December 1660
(Lord’s day). My head not very well, and my body out of order by last night’s drinking, which is my great folly. To church, and Mr. Mills made a good sermon; so home to dinner. My wife and I all alone to a leg of mutton, the sawce of which being made sweet, I was angry at it, and eat none, but only dined upon the marrow bone that we had beside.

To church in the afternoon, and after sermon took Tom Fuller’s Church History and read over Henry the 8th’s life in it, and so to supper and to bed.


message 536: by [deleted user] (new)

Poor old self inflicted Sam!


message 537: by Tracey (new)

Tracey | 304 comments He's a bad tempered so and so isn't he? By the way, I love the idea of basting your iPad with a broom! Lol.


message 538: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments At least he's suffering for his over indulgence. People who drink huge amounts and never get a hangover are so annoying.


message 539: by [deleted user] (new)

Like people who are constantly eating and never put on any weight - damn them !


message 540: by [deleted user] (new)

Like people who are constantly eating and never put on any weight - damn them !!!


message 541: by [deleted user] (new)

Ooops Deja Vu


message 542: by Laurel (new)

Laurel | 1486 comments Mod
Well people like that deserve to be damned twice ;)


message 543: by [deleted user] (new)

Lol!


message 544: by [deleted user] (new)

Monday 3 December 1660
This morning I took a resolution to rise early in the morning, and so I rose by candle, which I have not done all this winter, and spent my morning in fiddling till time to go to the office, where Sir G. Carteret did begin again discourse on Mr. Holland’s proposition, which the King do take very ill, and so Sir George in lieu of that do propose that the seamen should have half in ready money and tickets for the other half, to be paid in three months after, which we judge to be very practicable. After office home to dinner, where come in my cozen Snow by chance, and I had a very good capon to dinner. So to the office till night, and so home, and then come Mr. Davis, of Deptford (the first time that ever he was at my house), and after him Mons. L’Impertinent, who is to go to Ireland to- morrow, and so came to take his leave of me. They both found me under the barber’s hand; but I had a bottle of good sack in the house, and so made them very welcome.

Mr. Davis sat with me a good while after the other was gone, talking of his hard usage and of the endeavour to put him out of his place in the time of the late Commissioners, and he do speak very highly of their corruption.

After he was gone I fell a reading ‘Cornelianum dolium’ till 11 o’clock at night with great pleasure, and after that to bed.


message 545: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Surely l'Impertinent can't be his real name? The poor seaman - what a carry on just to get their pay.


message 546: by Tracey (new)

Tracey | 304 comments Hilary, I had a bit of a giggle to myself about that. I was also wondering whether Sam was up playing the fiddle (and rather selfishly waking everyone else up), or whether he was just fiddling about?


message 547: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Or even fiddling the books!


message 548: by [deleted user] (new)

Sadly Mons L'Impertenant is a nickname - his real name was Mr Butler :0(
As to what or whom Sam was fiddling with - let's not go there :0)


message 549: by [deleted user] (last edited Dec 04, 2013 10:22PM) (new)

Tuesday 4 December 1660

To Whitehall to Sir G. Carteret’s chamber, where all the officers met, and so we went up to the Duke of York, and he took us into his closet, and we did open to him our project of stopping the growing charge of the fleet by paying them in hand one moyety, and the other four months hence. This he do like, and we returned by his order to Sir G. Carteret’s chamber, and there we did draw up this design in order to be presented to the Parliament. From thence I to my Lord’s, and dined with him and told him what we had done to-day. Sir Tho. Crew dined with my Lord to-day, and we were very merry with Mrs. Borfett, who dined there still as she has always done lately. After dinner Sir Tho. and my Lady to the Playhouse to see “The Silent Woman.” I home by water, and with Mr. Hater in my chamber all alone he and I did put this morning’s design into order, which being done I did carry it to Sir W. Batten, where I found some gentlemen with him (Sir W. Pen among the rest pretty merry with drink) playing at cards, and there I staid looking upon them till one o’clock in the morning, and so Sir W. Pen and I went away, and I to bed. This day the Parliament voted that the bodies of Oliver, Ireton, Bradshaw, &c.,1 should be taken up out of their graves in the Abbey, and drawn to the gallows, and there hanged and buried under it: which (methinks) do trouble me that a man of so great courage as he was, should have that dishonour, though otherwise he might deserve it enough.


message 550: by [deleted user] (new)

Mrs Borfett eh?


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