Description:

Samuel Pepys
[London], January 27, 1671
Samuel Pepys Signed Naval Document Regarding Noted Gunboat, "Royal Katherine"
DS
Rare manuscript document signed "Samuel Pepys" as Clerk of the Acts on the Navy Board one page, 7.25" x 11.5", [n.p. but presumably the Navy Office in Seething Lane, London, England.], January 27, 1671. To the Edward Gregory, Clerk at the Cheque of Chatham. Floated on a cream mat and set into a wood frame to overall dimensions of 9.5" x 13.25". Exhibits expected wear, a bit of offsetting at top quarter and marginal wear, overall very good. Not examined out of frame.

In part: "...These are to pray and require you to enter on board his Ma.'gs shipp the Royall Katherine soe soon as she shal be in a condition to receive them and the same identifyed by the Mag.s Attendant soe many seamen as shall from time to time be sent by our selves or the Commander untill the number belonging to her be completed to five hundred and thereby the complement allowed her for this voyage. And for soe doeing this shall your warrant dated the 27 January 1671…"

This document is countersigned by 2nd Viscount William Brouncker, Sir Thomas Allin and Jeremy Smyth. Brouncker (c. 1620-1684) was Commissioner of the Royal Navy and a figure who appeared frequently in Pepys's diary, but also remembered for his eponymous mathematical formula. Thomas Allin (1612-1685) was one of the most active and successful naval commanders of the Second Dutch War. On John Mennes's death he would be made Comptroller of the Navy (1671-80) and, at the time of our letter, Master of Trinity House, 1671-1672. Sir Jeremiah Smyth (d. 1675) was an admiral who served in the First and Second Anglo-Dutch Wars, Comptroller of the Victualling Accounts at the time of our document.

The "Royal Katherine" was a 100-gun ship built and launched from the Woolwich Dockyard in 1664. and took part in all major engagements during the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch Wars, 1665-74 and in the War of the Great Alliance (1688-1697). In 1671, she was commanded by Rear Admiral Sir John Chicheley (1640-1691) who, in 1672, would lose her to the Dutch in the May-June 1672 Battle of Solebay. Ironically, the English soon recovered her when the Dutch crew who boarded purportedly got drunk on the brandy found aboard and allowed her to be recaptured. In 1702 she was rebuilt, and during the War of the Spanish Succession she was the flagship of Admiral George Rooke.

Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) is best remembered for keeping an important Restoration-era diary, which concluded two years before this document. Samuel Pepys served as Clerk of the Acts on the Navy Board between his appointment in the summer of 1660 through 1673, when he was then promoted to Chief Secretary of the Admiralty. He served in this latter role until 1679. Pepys is credited for attaining this high position in royal government because of his diligence and hard work rather than aptitude. Nevertheless, Pepys implemented many procedural changes which modernized and professionalized the English Navy.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 9.5" x 13.25"
  • Medium: DS

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