Bewpers. Bunting.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Mar 1663. Up betimes and to my office, where we sat all the morning, and a great rant I did give to Mr. Davis, of Deptford, and others about their usage of Michell, in his Bewpers¹, which he serves in for flaggs, which did trouble me, but yet it was in defence of what was truth.

Note 1. Bewpers is the old name for bunting.

Pepy's Diary. 22 May 1663. Took boat at Greenwich, Kent [Map] and to Deptford, where I did the same thing, and found Davis, the storekeeper, a knave, and shuffling in the business of Bewpers, being of the party with Young and Whistler to abuse the King (age 32), but I hope I shall be even with them.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Jul 1663. Up and to my office, where all the morning busy, and then at noon home to dinner alone upon a good dish of eeles, given me by Michell, the Bewpers man, and then to my viall a little, and then down into the cellar and up and down with Mr. Turner to see where his vault may be made bigger, or another made him, which I think may well be. And so to my office, where very busy all day setting things in order my contract books and preparing things against the next sitting.

Pepy's Diary. 16 Jun 1664. Home after I had spoke with my cozen Richard Pepys upon the 'Change [Map], about supplying us with bewpers from Norwich, which I should be glad of, if cheap. So home to supper and bed.

Pepy's Diary. 17 Jun 1664. Thence to Mr. Falconer's, where I met Sir W. Batten (age 63) and Lady, and Captain Tinker, and there dined with them, and so to the Dockyarde and to Deptford, Kent [Map] by water, and there very long informing myself in the business of flags and bewpers and other things, and so home late, being weary, and full of good information to-day, but I perceive the corruptions of the Navy are of so many kinds that it is endless to look after them, especially while such a one as Sir W. Batten (age 63) discourages every man that is honest.

Pepy's Diary. 05 Oct 1664. Up betimes and to my office, and thence by coach to New Bridewell to meet with Mr. Poyntz to discourse with him (being Master of the Workhouse there) about making of Bewpers for us. But he was not within; however his clerke did lead me up and down through all the house, and there I did with great pleasure see the many pretty works, and the little children employed, every one to do something, which was a very fine sight, and worthy encouragement. I cast away a crowne among them, and so to the 'Change [Map] and among the Linnen Wholesale Drapers to enquire about Callicos, to see what can be done with them for the supplying our want of Bewpers for flaggs, and I think I shall do something therein to good purpose for the King (age 34).

Pepy's Diary. 26 Oct 1664. About eight o'clock, my wife, she and her woman, and Besse and Jane, and W. Hewer (age 22) and the boy, to the water-side, and there took boat, and by and by I out of doors, to look after the flaggon, to get it ready to carry to Woolwich, Kent [Map]. That being not ready, I stepped aside and found out Nellson, he that Whistler buys his bewpers of, and did there buy 5 pieces at their price, and am in hopes thereby to bring them down or buy ourselves all we spend of Nellson at the first hand. This jobb was greatly to my content, and by and by the flaggon being finished at the burnisher's, I home, and there fitted myself, and took a hackney-coach I hired, it being a very cold and foule day, to Woolwich, Kent [Map], all the way reading in a good book touching the fishery, and that being done, in the book upon the statute of charitable uses, mightily to my satisfaction.

Pepy's Diary. 27 Oct 1664. Thence with Sir G. Carteret (age 54) by coach to White Hall to a Committee of Tangier, and thence back to London, and 'light in Cheapside and I to Nellson's, and there met with a rub at first, but took him out to drink, and there discoursed to my great content so far with him that I think I shall agree with him for Bewpers to serve the Navy with.

Pepy's Diary. 28 Oct 1664. At noon to Nellson's, and there bought 20 pieces more of Bewpers, and hope to go on with him to a contract.

Pepy's Diary. 03 Nov 1664. At the office did much business, among other an end of that that has troubled me long, the business of the bewpers and flags.