Introduction and context

When in The Blue Pavilions Captain John Barker comes into Harwich in October 1673, having returned from the Dutch Wars, he immediately repairs to the barbers to have a shave and hear the local news. When Captain Caius Hocken comes into Troy he repairs to Simeon Toy’s for the same purpose. He hears of the widowhood of Mrs Bosenna of Rilla Farm just as Barker hears of the widowhood of Meg Salt. It is through Toy that we learn of the background to the marriage of the Bosennas and the nature of Farmer Bosenna’s death.

In Chapter II, Q was historically correct in identifying the post office and the barbers as the two centres of local information. Toy as a character is nothing in himself but he is essential to the development of the plot.