the great fire of london samuel pepys diary

Sam continues the delicate balance of the politics of the Sandwich, Carteret vs. Sam watches the newly returned Queen and her ladies playing cards and notes that she looks well in spite of her recent miscarriage ( 19).Īs Sam’s life settles in Lord Sandwich prepares to embark on a new phase of his career, as Ambassador to Spain ( 2, 16, 23, 25).

He returns to church with Elizabeth ( 4), rearranges the books in his chamber to their pre-plague places ( 7), notes the return of Lady Batten ( 5), Sir Thomas Harvey ( 10) and Mr. Read the full diary entries for January 1666įebruary sees a return to normal as Sam reconnects with those he hasn’t seen during the plague. bond to Sam’s cousin (to which Sam was bound in the event that Sandwich defaulted) has been paid by Lord Sandwich from his prize money. Most satisfying of all is that by month end Sandwich’s 1000 l. Sam, through Kate Joyce and her husband, seems to be making some progress in arranging a match between Pall and Harman ( 14, 25). On a positive note, Elizabeth works “like a horse” all month redecorating their bedchamber ( 7, 9, 26) with very pleasing results. A very bright note is that both the King ( 28) and Duke of York ( 28, 29) are highly complimentary and supportive of Sam and his work, something he shares details of with Elizabeth ( 30). Feeling alone he admits that “I must now stand upon my own legs” ( 7). Carteret should see me nor with either of them, for fear Sir W.

“To see what difficulty I stand, that I dare not walk with Sir W. On the other side Sam is viewed favourably by their enemy Sir W. On one hand, he has loyalties to both Lord Sandwich, whose reputation has been tarnished by the Prize affairs ( 12, 17, 28), and to Sir George Carteret, who is rumoured to be losing his position to Lord Craven ( 7, 26). Sam begins the New Year in the difficult position of being torn between political Navy factions.

The great fire of london samuel pepys diary