The Diary Samuel Pepys (love books to read .TXT) 📖

white satin, at Pepys’s suggestion, but the engraver is the well-known Dirk Stoop; the passage in the Diary probably should be read: “It ought to have been better done than by jobbing.” The title agrees verbally with that given by Pepys, and the engraving contains not only Lord Sandwich’s arms, but also his portrait; he is represented as holding a measuring rod, which marks the scale of miles. In spite of Pepys’s opinion, it may be considered a fine specimen of the artist’s skill; its rarity is very great it is not mentioned in any list of Stoop’s works, nor was it known to collectors. Neither the Pepysian, nor the Royal nor the Museum collections possessed it. Lord Sandwich probably made presents only of the impressions.

Dirk Stoop, who came to England in the suite of Catherine of Braganza, in the capacity of court painter, designed and etched a series of plates, descriptive of the ceremonials and pageants which took place on her marriage. Each etching is 1 foot 10 inches by 7 inches. A complete set is very rare; the British Museum collection, however, possesses them.

“The Entrance of ye Lord Ambassador Montague into the Citty of Lisbone, ye 28th day of March, 1662.” Dedicated to the Earl of Sandwich.

“The publique proceedings of ye Queenes Matie of Greate Britaine through ye Citty of Lisbone, ye 20th day of Aprill, 1662.” Dedicated to Charles II.

“The manner how her Matie Dona Catherina imbarketh from Lisbon for England.” Dedicated to Francisco de Mello, Conde da Ponte.

“The Duke of York’s meeting with ye Royal Navy after it came into ye Channell.” Dedicated to the Duke of York.

“The manner of ye Queenes Maties landing at Portsmouth.” Dedicated to James, Duke of Ormond.

“The coming of ye King’s Matie and ye Queenes from Portsmouth to Hampton-court.” No dedication.

“The triumphall entertainment of ye King’s and Queenes Maties ye by ye Right Honble ye Lord Maior and Cittizens of London at their coming from Hampton Court to Whitehall (on ye River of Thames), Aug. 23, 1662.” Dedicated to Sir John Frederick, Lord Mayor.

Walpole (or rather Vertue), who had seen only the first and sixth etchings, mentions, after Basan, that there were eight pieces. The Plan of Lisbon, just mentioned, was probably supposed to belong to the series. Dirk Stoop also etched a large portrait of the Queen, the rarity of which is so great, that only two impressions are known, viz., one in the Pepysian Library, and one recently presented to the Print Room of the British Museum, by John Heywood Hawkins, Esq., of Bignor Park. Stoop’s picture of the Procession to Whitehall has been noticed (see note 1017). —⁠B. ↩

Sir John Robinson. See October 30th, 1662. ↩

The king lay the first night at Maidenhead, and the second near Newbury. —⁠B. ↩

Mr. W. H. St. John Hope, assistant secretary of the Society of Antiquaries, has paid particular attention to the history of the municipal insignia of the City of London, and in 1891 he read a paper on the subject before that society. It appears that until 1520 the City swords were provided, not by the Chamberlain, but at the charges of the Mayor for the time being. We are told by Mr. Hope that the swords now belonging to the City of London are four in number: (1) the pearl sword, (2) the Sunday sword, (3) the Old Bailey sword, and (4) the mourning sword. No. 1 is a “fine sword said to have been given to the City by Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of the opening of the Royal Exchange in 1570.” There is, however, no mention of such a gift in the City records, neither do Stow nor other old writers notice it. The sword is certainly of sixteenth century date, and is very possibly that bought in 1554, if it be not that “verye goodly sworde” given by Sir Ralph Warren in 1545. “It has long been the custom in the City as in other places to have a sword painted black and devoid of ornament, which is carried before the Lord Mayor on occasions of mourning or special solemnity.⁠ ⁠… The present mourning sword has an old blade, but the hilt and guard, which are of iron japanned black, are of the most ordinary character and seemingly modern. The grip and sheath are covered with black velvet.” ↩

This Clerk of the Council is frequently mentioned in the Diary, where the name is usually spelt Luellin. He died in November, 1665 (see November 20th, 1665). On April 26th, 1660, Pepys gives Luellin’s Christian name as Peter. ↩

London was well supplied with water at this time (see Matthews’s Hydraulia, an Historical and Descriptive Account of the Water Works of London, 1835). ↩

It was at this time that the Earl of St. Albans planned St. James’s Square, which was first styled “The Piazza.” The “Warrant for a grant to Baptist May and Abraham Cowley on nomination of the Earl of St. Albans of several parcels of ground in Pall Mall described, on rental of £80, for building thereon a square of 13 or 14 great and good houses,” was dated September 24th, 1664. ↩

Roger L’Estrange, a voluminous writer of pamphlets and periodical papers, and translator of classics, etc. Born 1616. He was Licenser of the Press to Charles II and James II; and M.P. for Winchester in James II’s parliament. L’Estrange was knighted in the reign of James II, and died 1704. In 1663 L’Estrange set up a paper called The Public Intelligencer, which came out on August 31st, and continued to be published twice a week till January 19th, 1665, when it was superseded by the scheme of publishing the London Gazette, the first number of which appeared on February 4th following. ↩

James