The First Book of Samuel - SAREJESS (chrysanthemum read aloud TXT) 📗

sitting. Charles, King of England in the mean time was being entertained by a lady of the court, who was telling him a very witty story. When the lady finished the story Charles roared with laughter.

“Why Lady Anne, that is the best tale I have heard in a while” he said wiping a tear from his eye. “Innkeeper, bring more wine” called Charles, as he drained his goblet. Samuel wanting to please his noble guests hurried off to retrieve the desired item. Pepys in the meanwhile had stopped playing and had come to stand by the side of the monarch. “By Jove sir that was a good air” said the king but I fear that this time well spent will soon be at an end. The horses await us” said the king. Samuel returned and began to pour the chilled wine into the Kings goblet.

“Your grace I hope that you will find favor with the horses today” said James, Duke of York to his elder brother. “Indeed I will” said the king laughing. “But I was hoping for more favors from the pretty ladies” said the King to which the gathered nobles laughed politely. The king for all the good he did was a known philanderer.

James, Duke of York was of a more serious nature. It was said that behind closed doors that he was a secret Papist but he still loved his brother. On occasion, if one watched closely, one would see that James Duke of York’s eyes would grow soft when looking upon his elder brother like a devoted puppy dog. It was rumored that when the two brothers were alone, James would often urge his brother to swear off his philandering, however the King would make light of it and make a jest, which would distract the Duke’s attention from the matter on which he had come to urge his brother to stop doing.

London 1667 Wine woman and song
It had been a long and tiresome day for Samuel. He had risen before dawn, shaved and dressed in his best suit, his velvet green waist coat in stark contrast to the white shirt and orange coat he wore. The coach had come just after eight in the morning. After a hurried conversation, he had accompanied Mr. Pepys, his long time customer and friend to the court of common pleas. Here he had made a sworn deposition as to what he had seen no more then a fort night previously. It had been one of those hot sweltering summer evenings when the sun had set late. John Pieque, a minor clerk in the navy office working under Mr. Pepys who had a problem with ladies and drink, had come into the inn shortly before six o’clock PM, with him had been two well known London Bella’s and a renowned sea captain. They had drunk and made merry until very late in the evening before retiring to a room on the upper floor of the inn.

They had departed the following morning at about 9 o’clock AM John Pieque had been a little worse for the amount of drink he had imbibed the previous night, but nothing more than the usual for a Saturday night. On the following Monday a hue and cry had gone up for the apprehension of the same John Pieque, who it was claimed by one Titus Oates, had been involved in a plot to kill the King and the Duke of York, on their return from New market the previous Saturday night.

Mr. Pepys, being out of town only came to hear of the arrest of John Pieque on the following Tuesday evening. Hurrying to the inn Mr. Pepys had inquired as to the events of the night of Saturday the 18th of June 1677. Samuel had made known to him all that he knew of the evening. Mr. Pepys took many notes in short hand of what Samuel had to tell him of the events of the evening in question. It was well that he did so for the following day questions were asked in the house of parliament as to the activities of the young man, whom it was claimed was under Mr. Pepys’ patronage. Indeed angry words were heard in the house as various speakers rose to both defend and abuse Mr. Pepys reputation. “Was the honorable member saying that Mr. Pepys was the ring leader of the plot or was he but mentioning that the young man accused was an employee of the navy board?” inquired the member for Roundbotomsly in Yorkshire.

Indeed the debate grew quite heated. The King in the mean time sat and listened with half an ear. Mr. Pepys observed the merry monarch and wondered if in fact he was really listening; for the king seemed half asleep a very strange attitude for some one who’s life was the apparent cause of the current debate. The Duke of York on the other hand, sat somber, listening intently to the debate, occasionally making a note in a day book.

“Well then let us hear from this master Oates if you do not believe me stormed the man’s benefactor.” “Summon Master Titus Oates” went the cry through the house. Titus Oates a man with a head too large for his small frame was duly sworn in, presenting himself in the robes of a poor country squire. He proceeded to tell the assembled commons that he had come by information from a certain source that the Papists were about to commit a crime most dastardly in the history of England. The crime was the murder of the King and thereafter to place upon the throne the Duke of York. Implicated in this plot was a certain John Piteque who all be it was acting on the instructions of his mentor and benefactor Mr. Samuel Pepys, a known Papist.
Now as Samuel returned to the inn he wondered what would become of his friend Mr. Pepys if he was impeached.

London 1668 Mr. Pepys makes a discovery
Mr. Pepys was busy in his office dictating a missive to the master wood cutter in the king’s forest. He paused in his diction to observe his friend Samuel Ferreira hurrying along the street towards the office, the sun light filled the room in which Mr. Pepys was standing, the reflection of the river filling the room with reflective light. Mr. Pepys watched as Samuel stopped and waved before entering the building.

After a short while Samuel was shown into the room where Pepys was busily working “I give you good day Master Pepys” said Samuel. “Good morrow Samuel I hope this day finds you well” said Mr. Pepys. “I am much over excited, Mr. Pepys much over excited” said Samuel.

“I take it that this has to do with your visit on my account to the master vintners at Winchester” said Pepys. “Indeed sir it has every thing to do with that occasion” said Samuel. “I think that I can guess at what you are going to tell me” said Pepys. “I think you might know some of the matter but I fear the full existent would make your blood boil” said Samuel.

“Pray continue” said Pepys. “To start with there is massive fraud when it comes to the vintner supplying the navy with wine” said Samuel. Pepys waited for Samuel to continue, when Samuel hesitated, Pepys waved his hand to show Samuel to continue. “Well to start with the wine is watered down; every barrel is water by half” Said Samuel. “I indeed had my concerns about this” said Pepys “What else is our master vintner doing?” inquired Pepys.

“They are selling off wine meant for the king’s service to private interested peoples who have already been paid for by the king’s service” said Samuel... Mr. Pepys growing red in the face said “God’s teeth sir we have them by neck! Sir I trust that you were able to procure a barrel or two as proof of this iniquity?”

Indeed I did sir replied Samuel even as we speak some of my servants are bringing the barrels round for your inspection.” As he said this a cart drew up out side the building. Mr. Pepys now in great agitation pulled on his coat and hurriedly showed Samuel to the door. “Come sir I must inspect these barrels myself before taking this matter to the sheriff.” Leaving the chamber the two men and Mr. Pepys’ senior clerk following disappeared only to re-emerge in the street. Quickly Samuel pulled the cover from the back of the cart to reveal two barrels. Mr. Pepys climbed into the cart and began to inspect the barrels.

“See here sir this barrel bears the Kings mark on the side and this one too” said the senior clerk, pointing to the second barrel. Turning to the clerk Samuel said “Go summon a notary quickly. We have to get this declared so that we might further proceed in this matter”

Turning once more to Samuel, Pepys said “I owe you a great service Samuel. Indeed you have done a great service to me and the King. Pray recover the barrels, we will later attend to them. In the mean time join me within for a glass of brandy-wine” “Thank you Mr. Pepys that would be most welcome” said Samuel.

They re-entered the chamber. Mr. Pepys hurried across to a cabinet which had a large and prodigious lock. Producing a bunch of keys from his coat pocket, he sorted through the bunch and found the correct key and unlocked the cabinet. On a tray within the cabinet stood some bottles and a big decanter from which Mr. Pepys poured two glasses of brandy-wine. Offering Samuel one they partook of the strong drink while waiting for the arrival of the lawyer. “Indeed a great service” mumbled Mr. Pepys excitedly; all the while Samuel stood observing his surroundings. It was the first time that he had been to the office of Mr. Pepys and he was astonished to see on the walls charts of various parts of the known world. “May I say a fine collection of charts you have here” said Samuel at length. “Indeed sir I have been collecting them for some time now” Mr. Pepys said with great pleasure. “I see here you have a chart of the empire of the Grand Turk. What a wonderful place Istanbul is! I lived there for a while, in the queen of cities” said Samuel. “Wonderful you must tell me of it” replied Pepys refilling Samuel’s glass.

Just then they were interrupted by the arrival of the lawyer, a certain Gibson. “Good day, good day. How might I be of service to you this fine day?” he asked entering the chamber. “Good day to you sir” said Mr. Pepys “please be so good as to take a deposition from my friend Mr. Ferreira. Take down all he says and once done please notarize it for me and file it in chambers.”

London 1669 a continental holiday and a death of a wife
Samuel had seen Mr. Pepys many times over the few years he had known him. A jovial, self important little man was Mr. Pepys. Samuel remembered when Mr. Pepys had come into the inn with his wife on his arm and a new peri Wig upon his head. “Samuel we are going off on a continental holiday” said Mr. Pepys as Samuel served them some beer and cold goose liver pâté.
“That is indeed wonderful” said Samuel. “If you are going by way of Rome you should see the fountains and the works of art done by the esteemed Master Michelangelo. I saw his statue of David, one of the finest in all the world.” said Samuel.