Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete 1663 N.S.
by Samuel Pepys · English · Gutenberg #4145 · 827,883 chars · public domain (US)
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Title: Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete 1663 N.S.
Author: Samuel Pepys
Editor: Baron Richard Griffin Braybrooke
Henry B. Wheatley
Translator: Mynors Bright
Release date: October 31, 2004 [eBook #4145]
Most recently updated: January 2, 2011
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4145
Credits: Produced by David Widger
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS — COMPLETE 1663 N.S. ***
Produced by David Widger
THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M.A. F.R.S.
CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY
TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY
MAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M.A. LATE FELLOW
AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE
(Unabridged)
WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES
1963
By Samuel Pepys
Edited With Additions By
Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A.
LONDON
GEORGE BELL & SONS YORK ST. COVENT GARDEN
CAMBRIDGE DEIGHTON BELL & CO.
1893
JANUARY 1662-1663
January 1st, Lay with my wife at my Lord's lodgings, where I have been
these two nights, till 10 o'clock with great pleasure talking, then I
rose and to White Hall, where I spent a little time walking among the
courtiers, which I perceive I shall be able to do with great confidence,
being now beginning to be pretty well known among them. Then to my wife
again, and found Mrs. Sarah with us in the chamber we lay in. Among
other discourse, Mrs. Sarah tells us how the King sups at least four or
[five] times every week with my Lady Castlemaine; and most often stays
till the morning with her, and goes home through the garden all alone
privately, and that so as the very centrys take notice of it and speak
of it. She tells me, that about a month ago she [Lady Castlemaine]
quickened at my Lord Gerard's at dinner, and cried out that she was
undone; and all the lords and men were fain to quit the room, and women
called to help her. In fine, I find that there is nothing almost
but bawdry at Court from top to bottom, as, if it were fit, I could
instance, but it is not necessary; only they say my Lord Chesterfield,
groom of the stole to the Queen, is either gone or put away from the
Court upon the score of his lady's having smitten the Duke of York, so
as that he is watched by the Duchess of York, and his lady is retired
into the country upon it. How much of this is true, God knows, but it is
common talk. After dinner I did reckon with Mrs. Sarah for what we have
eat and drank here, and gave her a crown, and so took coach, and to the
Duke's House, where we saw "The Villaine" again; and the more I see it,
the more I am offended at my first undervaluing the play, it being very
good and pleasant, and yet a true and allowable tragedy. The house was
full of citizens, and so the less pleasant, but that I was willing to
make an end of my gaddings, and to set to my business for all the year
again tomorrow. Here we saw the old Roxalana in the chief box, in a
velvet gown, as the fashion is, and very handsome, at which I was glad.
Hence by coach home, where I find all well, only Sir W. Pen they say ill
again. So to my office to set down these two or three days' journall,
and to close the last year therein, and so that being done, home to
supper, and to bed, with great pleasure talking and discoursing with my
wife of our late observations abroad.
2nd. Lay long in bed, and so up and to the office, where all the morning
alone doing something or another. So dined at home with my wife, and in
the afternoon to the Treasury office, where Sir W. Batten was paying off
tickets, but so simply and arbitrarily, upon a dull pretence of doing
right to the King, though to the wrong of poor people (when I know
there is no man that means the King less right than he, or would trouble
himself less about it, but only that he sees me stir, and so he would
appear doing something, though to little purpose), that I was weary of
it. At last we broke up, and walk home together, and I to see Sir W.
Pen, who is fallen sick again. I staid a while talking with him, and so
to my office, practising some arithmetique, and so home to supper and
bed, having sat up late talking to my poor wife with great content.
3rd. Up and to the office all the morning, and dined alone with my wife
at noon, and then to my office all the afternoon till night, putting
business in order with great content in my mind. Having nothing now
in my mind of trouble in the world, but quite the contrary, much joy,
except only the ending of our difference with my uncle Thomas, and the
getting of the bills well over for my building of my house here, which
however are as small and less than any of the others. Sir W. Pen it
seems is fallen very ill again. So to my arithmetique again to-night,
and so home to supper and to bed.
4th (Lord's day). Up and to church, where a lazy sermon, and so home
to dinner to a good piece of powdered beef, but a little too salt. At
dinner my wife did propound my having of my sister Pall at my house
again to be her woman, since one we must have, hoping that in that
quality possibly she may prove better than she did before, which I take
very well of her, and will consider of it, it being a very great trouble
to me that I should have a sister of so ill a nature, that I must be
forced to spend money upon a stranger when it might better be upon her,
if she were good for anything. After dinner I and she walked, though it
was dirty, to White Hall (in the way calling at the Wardrobe to see how
Mr. Moore do, who is pretty well, but not cured yet), being much afeard
of being seen by anybody, and was, I think, of Mr. Coventry, which so
troubled me that I made her go before, and I ever after loitered behind.
She to Mr. Hunt's, and I to White Hall Chappell, and then up to walk up
and down the house, which now I am well known there, I shall forbear
to do, because I would not be thought a lazy body by Mr. Coventry and
others by being seen, as I have lately been, to walk up and down doing
nothing. So to Mr. Hunt's, and there was most prettily and kindly
entertained by him and her, who are two as good people as I hardly know
any, and so neat and kind one to another. Here we staid late, and so to
my Lord's to bed.
5th. Up and to the Duke, who himself told me that Sir J. Lawson was come
home to Portsmouth from the Streights, who is now come with great renown
among all men, and, I perceive, mightily esteemed at Court by all.
The Duke did not stay long in his chamber; but to the King's chamber,
whither by and by the Russia Embassadors come; who, it seems, have a
custom that they will not come to have any treaty with our or any King's
Commissioners, but they will themselves see at the time the face of the
King himself, be it forty days one after another; and so they did to-day
only go in and see the King; and so out again to the Council-chamber.
The Duke returned to his chamber, and so to his closett, where Sir
G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, Mr. Coventry, and myself
attended him about the business of the Navy; and after much discourse
and pleasant talk he went away. And I took Sir W. Batten and Captain
Allen into the wine cellar to my tenant (as I call him, Serjeant
Dalton), and there drank a great deal of variety of wines, more than
I have drunk at one time, or shall again a great while, when I come to
return to my oaths, which I intend in a day or two. Thence to my Lord's
lodging, where Mr. Hunt and Mr. Creed dined with us, and were very
merry. And after dinner he and I to White Hall, where the Duke and the
Commissioners for Tangier met, but did not do much: my Lord Sandwich not
being in town, nobody making it their business. So up, and Creed and
I to my wife again, and after a game or two at cards, to the Cockpitt,
where we saw "Claracilla," a poor play, done by the King's house (but
neither the King nor Queen were there, but only the Duke and Duchess,
who did show some impertinent and, methought, unnatural dalliances
there, before the whole world, such as kissing, and leaning upon one
another); but to my very little content, they not acting in any degree
like the Duke's people. So home (there being here this night Mrs. Turner
and Mrs. Martha Batten of our office) to my Lord's lodgings again, and
to a game at cards, we three and Sarah, and so to supper and some apples
and ale, and to bed with great pleasure, blessed be God!
6th (Twelfth Day). Up and Mr. Creed brought a pot of chocolate ready
made for our morning draft, and then he and I to the Duke's, but I was
not very willing to be seen at this end of the town, and so returned to
our lodgings, and took my wife by coach to my brother's, where I set her
down, and Creed and I to St. Paul's Church-yard, to my bookseller's, and
looked over several books with good discourse, and then into St. Paul's
Church, and there finding Elborough, my old schoolfellow at Paul's, now
a parson, whom I know to be a silly fellow, I took him out and walked
with him, making Creed and myself sport with talking with him, and so
sent him away, and we to my office and house to see all well, and
thence to the Exchange, where we met with Major Thomson, formerly of our
office, who do talk very highly of liberty of conscience, which now he
hopes for by the King's declaration, and that he doubts not that if he
will give him, he will find more and better friends than the Bishopps
can be to him, and that if he do not, there will many thousands in a
little time go out of England, where they may have it. But he says that
they are well contented that if the King thinks it good, the Papists may
have the same liberty with them. He tells me, and so do others, that Dr.
Calamy is this day sent to Newgate for preaching, Sunday was se'nnight,
without leave, though he did it only to supply the place; when otherwise
the people must have gone away without ever a sermon, they being
disappointed of a minister but the Bishop of London will not take that
as an excuse. Thence into Wood Street, and there bought a fine table for
my dining-room, cost me 50s.; and while we were buying it, there was a
scare-fire
[Scar-fire or scarefire. An alarm of fire. One of the little
pieces in Herrick's "Hesperides" is entitled "The Scar-fire," but
the word sometimes was used, as in the text, for the fire itself.
Fuller, in his "Worthies," speaks of quenching scare-fires.]
in an ally over against us, but they quenched it. So to my brother's,
where Creed and I and my wife dined with Tom, and after dinner to the
Duke's house, and there saw "Twelfth Night"
[Pepys saw "Twelfth Night" for the first time on September 11th,
1661, when he supposed it was a new play, and "took no pleasure at
all in it."]
acted well, though it be but a silly play, and not related at all to the
name or day. Thence Mr. Battersby the apothecary, his wife, and I and
mine by coach together, and setting him down at his house, he paying
his share, my wife and I home, and found all well, only myself somewhat
vexed at my wife's neglect in leaving of her scarf, waistcoat, and
night-dressings in the coach today that brought us from Westminster,
though, I confess, she did give them to me to look after, yet it was
her fault not to see that I did take them out of the coach. I believe it
might be as good as 25s. loss or thereabouts. So to my office, however,
to set down my last three days' journall, and writing to my Lord
Sandwich to give him an account of Sir J. Lawson's being come home, and
to my father about my sending him some wine and things this week, for
his making an entertainment of some friends in the country, and so
home. This night making an end wholly of Christmas, with a mind fully
satisfied with the great pleasures we have had by being abroad from
home, and I do find my mind so apt to run to its old want of pleasures,
that it is high time to betake myself to my late vows, which I will
to-morrow, God willing, perfect and bind myself to, that so I may, for a
great while, do my duty, as I have well begun, and increase my good name
and esteem in the world, and get money, which sweetens all things, and
whereof I have much need. So home to supper and to bed, blessing God
for his mercy to bring me home, after much pleasure, to my house and
business with health and resolution to fall hard to work again.
7th. Up pretty early, that is by seven o'clock, it being not yet light
before or then. So to my office all the morning, signing the Treasurer's
ledger, part of it where I have not put my hand, and then eat a mouthful
of pye at home to stay my stomach, and so with Mr. Waith by water to
Deptford, and there among other things viewed old pay-books, and found
that the Commanders did never heretofore receive any pay for the rigging
time, but only for seatime, contrary to what Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.
Batten told the Duke the other day. I also searched all the ships in the
Wett Dock for fire, and found all in good order, it being very dangerous
for the King that so many of his ships lie together there. I was among
the canvass in stores also, with Mr. Harris, the saylemaker, and learnt
the difference between one sort and another, to my great content, and so
by water home again, where my wife tells me stories how she hears that
by Sarah's going to live at Sir W. Pen's, all our affairs of my family
are made known and discoursed of there and theirs by my people, which do
trouble me much, and I shall take a time to let Sir W. Pen know how he
has dealt in taking her without our full consent. So to my office, and
by and by home to supper, and so to prayers and bed.
8th. Up pretty early, and sent my boy to the carrier's with some wine
for my father, for to make his feast among his Brampton friends this
Christmas, and my muff to my mother, sent as from my wife. But before I
sent my boy out with them, I beat him for a lie he told me, at which his
sister, with whom we have of late been highly displeased, and warned her
to be gone, was angry, which vexed me, to see the girl I loved so well,
and my wife, should at last turn so much a fool and unthankful to us.
So to the office, and there all the morning, and though without and
a little against the advice of the officers did, to gratify him, send
Thomas Hater to-day towards Portsmouth a day or two before the rest of
the clerks, against the Pay next week. Dined at home; and there being
the famous new play acted the first time to-day, which is called "The
Adventures of Five Hours," at the Duke's house, being, they say, made or
translated by Colonel Tuke, I did long to see it; and so made my wife to
get her ready, though we were forced to send for a smith, to break open
her trunk, her mayde Jane being gone forth with the keys, and so we
went; and though early, were forced to sit almost out of sight, at the
end of one of the lower forms, so full was the house. And the play,
in one word, is the best, for the variety and the most excellent
continuance of the plot to the very end, that ever I saw, or think ever
shall, and all possible, not only to be done in the time, but in most
other respects very admittable, and without one word of ribaldry;
and the house, by its frequent plaudits, did show their sufficient
approbation. So home; with much ado in an hour getting a coach home,
and, after writing letters at my office, I went home to supper and to
bed, now resolving to set up my rest as to plays till Easter, if not
Whitsuntide next, excepting plays at Court.
9th. Waking in the morning, my wife I found also awake, and begun
to speak to me with great trouble and tears, and by degrees from one
discourse to another at last it appears that Sarah has told somebody
that has told my wife of my meeting her at my brother's and making her
sit down by me while she told me stories of my wife, about her giving
her scallop to her brother, and other things, which I am much vexed at,
for I am sure I never spoke any thing of it, nor could any body tell
her but by Sarah's own words. I endeavoured to excuse my silence herein
hitherto by not believing any thing she told me, only that of the
scallop which she herself told me of. At last we pretty good friends,
and my wife begun to speak again of the necessity of her keeping
somebody to bear her company; for her familiarity with her other
servants is it that spoils them all, and other company she hath none,
which is too true, and called for Jane to reach her out of her trunk,
giving her the keys to that purpose, a bundle of papers, and pulls out
a paper, a copy of what, a pretty while since, she had wrote in a
discontent to me, which I would not read, but burnt. She now read it,
and it was so piquant, and wrote in English, and most of it true, of the
retiredness of her life, and how unpleasant it was; that being wrote in
English, and so in danger of being met with and read by others, I was
vexed at it, and desired her and then commanded her to tear it. When she
desired to be excused it, I forced it from her, and tore it, and withal
took her other bundle of papers from her, and leapt out of the bed and
in my shirt clapped them into the pocket of my breeches, that she might
not get them from me, and having got on my stockings and breeches and
gown, I pulled them out one by one and tore them all before her face,
though it went against my heart to do it, she crying and desiring me not
to do it, but such was my passion and trouble to see the letters of
my love to her, and my Will wherein I had given her all I have in the
world, when I went to sea with my Lord Sandwich, to be joyned with a
paper of so much disgrace to me and dishonour, if it should have been
found by any body. Having torn them all, saving a bond of my uncle
Robert's, which she hath long had in her hands, and our marriage
license, and the first letter that ever I sent her when I was her
servant,
[The usual word at this time for a lover. We have continued the
correlative term "mistress," but rejected that of "servant."]
I took up the pieces and carried them into my chamber, and there, after
many disputes with myself whether I should burn them or no, and having
picked up, the pieces of the paper she read to-day, and of my Will which
I tore, I burnt all the rest, and so went out to my office troubled
in mind. Hither comes Major Tolhurst, one of my old acquaintance in
Cromwell's time, and sometimes of our clubb, to see me, and I could do
no less than carry him to the Mitre, and having sent for Mr. Beane, a
merchant, a neighbour of mine, we sat and talked, Tolhurst telling me
the manner of their collierys in the north. We broke up, and I home to
dinner. And to see my folly, as discontented as I am, when my wife came
I could not forbear smiling all dinner till she began to speak bad words
again, and then I began to be angry again, and so to my office. Mr.
Bland came in the evening to me hither, and sat talking to me about
many things of merchandise, and I should be very happy in his discourse,
durst I confess my ignorance to him, which is not so fit for me to do.
There coming a letter to me from Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, by my desire
appointing his and Dr. Clerke's coming to dine with me next Monday, I
went to my wife and agreed upon matters, and at last for my honour am
forced to make her presently a new Moyre gown to be seen by Mrs. Clerke,
which troubles me to part with so much money, but, however, it sets my
wife and I to friends again, though I and she never were so heartily
angry in our lives as to-day almost, and I doubt the heartburning will
not [be] soon over, and the truth is I am sorry for the tearing of so
many poor loving letters of mine from sea and elsewhere to her. So to
my office again, and there the Scrivener brought me the end of the
manuscript which I am going to get together of things of the Navy, which
pleases me much. So home, and mighty friends with my wife again, and so
to bed.
10th. Up and to the office. From thence, before we sat, Sir W. Pen sent
for me to his bedside to talk (indeed to reproach me with my not owning
to Sir J. Minnes that he had my advice in the blocking up of the garden
door the other day, which is now by him out of fear to Sir J. Minnes
opened again), to which I answered him so indifferently that I think he
and I shall be at a distance, at least to one another, better than ever
we did and love one another less, which for my part I think I need not
care for. So to the office, and sat till noon, then rose and to dinner,
and then to the office again, where Mr. Creed sat with me till late
talking very good discourse, as he is full of it, though a cunning knave
in his heart, at least not to be too much trusted, till Sir J. Minnes
came in, which at last he did, and so beyond my expectation he was
willing to sign his accounts, notwithstanding all his objections, which
really were very material, and yet how like a doting coxcomb he
signs the accounts without the least satisfaction, for which we both
sufficiently laughed at him and Sir W. Batten after they had signed them
and were gone, and so sat talking together till 11 o'clock at night, and
so home and to bed.
11th (Lord's day). Lay long talking pleasant with my wife, then up and
to church, the pew being quite full with strangers come along with Sir
W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, so after a pitifull sermon of the
young Scott, home to dinner. After dinner comes a footman of my Lord
Sandwich's (my Lord being come to town last night) with a letter from my
father, in which he presses me to carry on the business for Tom with his
late mistress, which I am sorry to see my father do, it being so much
out of our power or for his advantage, as it is clear to me it is,
which I shall think of and answer in my next. So to my office all the
afternoon writing orders myself to have ready against to-morrow, that
I might not appear negligent to Mr. Coventry. In the evening to Sir W.
Pen's, where Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten, and afterwards came Sir
G. Carteret. There talked about business, and afterwards to Sir W.
Batten's, where we staid talking and drinking Syder, and so I went away
to my office a little, and so home and to bed.
12th. Up, and to Sir W. Batten's to bid him and Sir J. Minnes adieu,
they going this day towards Portsmouth, and then to Sir W. Pen's to see
Sir J. Lawson, who I heard was there, where I found him the same plain
man that he was, after all his success in the Straights, with which
he is come loaded home. Thence to Sir G. Carteret, and with him in his
coach to White Hall, and first I to see my Lord Sandwich (being come now
from Hinchingbrooke), and after talking a little with him, he and I
to the Duke's chamber, where Mr. Coventry and he and I into the Duke's
closett and Sir J. Lawson discoursing upon business of the Navy, and
particularly got his consent to the ending some difficulties in Mr.
Creed's accounts. Thence to my Lord's lodgings, and with Mr. Creed to
the King's Head ordinary, but people being set down, we went to two
or three places; at last found some meat at a Welch cook's at Charing
Cross, and here dined and our boys. After dinner to the 'Change to buy
some linen for my wife, and going back met our two boys. Mine had struck
down Creed's boy in the dirt, with his new suit on, and the boy taken
by a gentlewoman into a house to make clean, but the poor boy was in a
pitifull taking and pickle; but I basted my rogue soundly. Thence to my
Lord's lodging, and Creed to his, for his papers against the Committee.
I found my Lord within, and he and I went out through the garden towards
the Duke's chamber, to sit upon the Tangier matters; but a lady called
to my Lord out of my Lady Castlemaine's lodging, telling him that the
King was there and would speak with him. My Lord could not tell what to
bid me say at the Committee to excuse his absence, but that he was with
the King; nor would suffer me to go into the Privy Garden (which is now
a through-passage, and common), but bid me to go through some other way,
which I did; so that I see he is a servant of the King's pleasures too,
as well as business. So I went to the Committee, where we spent all this
night attending to Sir J. Lawson's description of Tangier and the place
for the Mole,
[The construction of this Mole or breakwater turned out a very
costly undertaking. In April, 1663, it was found that the charge
for one year's work was L13,000. In March, 1665, L36,000 had been
spent upon it. The wind and sea exerted a very destructive
influence over this structure, although it was very strongly built,
and Colonel Norwood reported in 1668 that a breach had been made in
the Mole, which cost a considerable sum to repair.]
of which he brought a very pretty draught. Concerning the making of
the Mole, Mr. Cholmely did also discourse very well, having had some
experience in it. Being broke up, I home by coach to Mr. Bland's, and
there discoursed about sending away of the merchant ship which hangs
so long on hand for Tangier. So to my Lady Batten's, and sat with her
awhile, Sir W. Batten being gone out of town; but I did it out of design
to get some oranges for my feast to-morrow of her, which I did. So home,
and found my wife's new gown come home, and she mightily pleased with
it. But I appeared very angry that there were no more things got ready
against to-morrow's feast, and in that passion sat up long, and went
discontented to bed.
13th. So my poor wife rose by five o'clock in the morning, before day,
and went to market and bought fowls and many other things for dinner,
with which I was highly pleased, and the chine of beef was down also
before six o'clock, and my own jack, of which I was doubtfull, do carry
it very well. Things being put in order, and the cook come, I went
to the office, where we sat till noon and then broke up, and I home,
whither by and by comes Dr. Clerke and his lady, his sister, and a
she-cozen, and Mr. Pierce and his wife, which was all my guests. I had
for them, after oysters, at first course, a hash of rabbits, a lamb, and
a rare chine of beef. Next a great dish of roasted fowl, cost me about
30s., and a tart, and then fruit and cheese. My dinner was noble and
enough. I had my house mighty clean and neat; my room below with a
good fire in it; my dining-room above, and my chamber being made a
withdrawing-chamber; and my wife's a good fire also. I find my new table
very proper, and will hold nine or ten people well, but eight with great
room. After dinner the women to cards in my wife's chamber, and the Dr.
and Mr. Pierce in mine, because the dining-room smokes unless I keep
a good charcoal fire, which I was not then provided with. At night to
supper, had a good sack posset and cold meat, and sent my guests away
about ten o'clock at night, both them and myself highly pleased with our
management of this day; and indeed their company was very fine, and Mrs.
Clerke a very witty, fine lady, though a little conceited and proud. So
weary, so to bed. I believe this day's feast will cost me near L5.
14th. Lay very long in bed, till with shame forced to rise, being called
up by Mr. Bland about business. He being gone I went and staid upon
business at the office and then home to dinner, and after dinner staid
a little talking pleasant with my wife, who tells me of another woman
offered by her brother that is pretty and can sing, to which I do listen
but will not appear over forward, but I see I must keep somebody for
company sake to my wife, for I am ashamed she should live as she do.
So to the office till 10 at night upon business, and numbering and
examining part of my sea-manuscript with great pleasure, my wife sitting
working by me. So home to supper and to bed.
15th. Up and to my office preparing things, by and by we met and sat Mr.
Coventry and I till noon, and then I took him to dine with me, I having
a wild goose roasted, and a cold chine of beef and a barrel of oysters.
We dined alone in my chamber, and then he and I to fit ourselves for
horseback, he having brought me a horse; and so to Deptford, the ways
being very dirty. There we walked up and down the Yard and Wett Dock,
and did our main business, which was to examine the proof of our new way
of the call-books, which we think will be of great use. And so to horse
again, and I home with his horse, leaving him to go over the fields to
Lambeth, his boy at my house taking home his horse. I vexed, having left
my keys in my other pocket in my chamber, and my door is shut, so that I
was forced to set my boy in at the window, which done I shifted myself,
and so to my office till late, and then home to supper, my mind being
troubled about Field's business and my uncle's, which the term coming
on I must think to follow again. So to prayers and to bed, and much
troubled in mind this night in my dreams about my uncle Thomas and his
son going to law with us.
16th. Lay long talking in bed with my wife. Up, and Mr. Battersby, the
apothecary, coming to see me, I called for the cold chine of beef and
made him eat, and drink wine, and talked, there being with us Captain
Brewer, the paynter, who tells me how highly the Presbyters do talk in
the coffeehouses still, which I wonder at. They being gone I walked
two or three hours with my brother Tom, telling him my mind how it is
troubled about my father's concernments, and how things would be with
them all if it should please God that I should die, and therefore desire
him to be a good husband and follow his business, which I hope he do. At
noon to dinner, and after dinner my wife began to talk of a woman again,
which I have a mind to have, and would be glad Pall might please us, but
she is quite against having her, nor have I any great mind to it, but
only for her good and to save money flung away upon a stranger. So to my
office till 9 o'clock about my navy manuscripts, and there troubled in
my mind more and more about my uncle's business from a letter come this
day from my father that tells me that all his tenants are sued by my
uncle, which will cost me some new trouble, I went home to supper and so
to bed.
17th. Waked early with my mind troubled about our law matters, but it
came into my mind that [sayings] of Epictetus, which did put me to a
great deal of ease, it being a saying of great reason. Up to the office,
and there sat Mr. Coventry, Mr. Pett, new come to town, and I. I was
sorry for signing a bill and guiding Mr. Coventry to sign a bill to Mr.
Creed for his pay as Deputy Treasurer to this day, though the service
ended 5 or 6 months ago, which he perceiving did blot out his name
afterwards, but I will clear myself to him from design in it. Sat
till two o'clock and then home to dinner, and Creed with me, and after
dinner, to put off my mind's trouble, I took Creed by coach and to the
Duke's playhouse, where we did see "The Five Hours" entertainment again,
which indeed is a very fine play, though, through my being out of order,
it did not seem so good as at first; but I could discern it was not
any fault in the play. Thence with him to the China alehouse, and
there drank a bottle or two, and so home, where I found my wife and her
brother discoursing about Mr. Ashwell's daughter, whom we are like to
have for my wife's woman, and I hope it may do very well, seeing there
is a necessity of having one. So to the office to write letters, and
then home to supper and to bed.
18th (Lord's day). Up, and after the barber had done, and I had spoke
with Mr. Smith (whom I sent for on purpose to speak of Field's business,
who stands upon L250 before he will release us, which do trouble me
highly), and also Major Allen of the Victualling Office about his ship
to be hired for Tangier, I went to church, and thence home to dinner
alone with my wife, very pleasant, and after dinner to church again, and
heard a dull, drowsy sermon, and so home and to my office, perfecting my
vows again for the next year, which I have now done, and sworn to in
the presence of Almighty God to observe upon the respective penalties
thereto annexed, and then to Sir W. Pen's (though much against my will,
for I cannot bear him, but only to keep him from complaint to others
that I do not see him) to see how he do, and find him pretty well, and
ready to go abroad again.
19th. Up and to White Hall, and while the Duke is dressing himself I
went to wait on my Lord Sandwich, whom I found not very well, and Dr.
Clerke with him. He is feverish, and hath sent for Mr. Pierce to let him
blood, but not being in the way he puts it off till night, but he stirs
not abroad to-day. Then to the Duke, and in his closett discoursed as we
use to do, and then broke up. That done, I singled out Mr. Coventry into
the Matted Gallery, and there I told him the complaints I meet every
day about our Treasurer's or his people's paying no money, but at
the goldsmith's shops, where they are forced to pay fifteen or twenty
sometimes per cent. for their money, which is a most horrid shame, and
that which must not be suffered. Nor is it likely that the Treasurer
(at least his people) will suffer Maynell the Goldsmith to go away with
L10,000 per annum, as he do now get, by making people pay after this
manner for their money. We were interrupted by the Duke, who called Mr.
Coventry aside for half an hour, walking with him in the gallery, and
then in the garden, and then going away I ended my discourse with Mr.
Coventry. But by the way Mr. Coventry was saying that there remained
nothing now in our office to be amended but what would do of itself
every day better and better, for as much as he that was slowest, Sir W.
Batten, do now begin to look about him and to mind business. At which,
God forgive me! I was a little moved with envy, but yet I am glad, and
ought to be, though it do lessen a little my care to see that the King's
service is like to be better attended than it was heretofore. Thence
by coach to Mr. Povy's, being invited thither by [him] came a messenger
this morning from him, where really he made a most excellent and large
dinner, of their variety, even to admiration, he bidding us, in a
frolique, to call for what we had a mind, and he would undertake to give
it us: and we did for prawns, swan, venison, after I had thought the
dinner was quite done, and he did immediately produce it, which I
thought great plenty, and he seems to set off his rest in this plenty
and the neatness of his house, which he after dinner showed me, from
room to room, so beset with delicate pictures, and above all, a piece of
perspective in his closett in the low parler; his stable, where was some
most delicate horses, and the very-racks painted, and mangers, with a
neat leaden painted cistern, and the walls done with Dutch tiles, like
my chimnies. But still, above all things, he bid me go down into his
wine-cellar, where upon several shelves there stood bottles of all sorts
of wine, new and old, with labells pasted upon each bottle, and in
the order and plenty as I never saw books in a bookseller's shop; and
herein, I observe, he puts his highest content, and will accordingly
commend all that he hath, but still they deserve to be so. Here dined
with me Dr. Whore and Mr. Scawen. Therewith him and Mr. Bland, whom we
met by the way, to my Lord Chancellor's, where the King was to meet my
Lord Treasurer, &c., many great men, to settle the revenue of Tangier.
I staid talking awhile there, but the King not coming I walked to my
brother's, where I met my cozen Scotts (Tom not being at home) and sent
for a glass of wine for them, and having drunk we parted, and I to the
Wardrobe talking with Mr. Moore about my law businesses, which I doubt
will go ill for want of time for me to attend them. So home, where I
found Mrs. Lodum speaking with my wife about her kinswoman which is
offered my wife to come as a woman to her. So to the office and put
things in order, and then home and to bed, it being my great comfort
that every day I understand more and more the pleasure of following of
business and the credit that a man gets by it, which I hope at last too
will end in profit. This day, by Dr. Clerke, I was told the occasion
of my Lord Chesterfield's going and taking his lady (my Lord Ormond's
daughter) from Court. It seems he not only hath been long jealous of the
Duke of York, but did find them two talking together, though there were
others in the room, and the lady by all opinions a most good, virtuous
woman. He, the next day (of which the Duke was warned by somebody that
saw the passion my Lord Chesterfield was in the night before), went and
told the Duke how much he did apprehend himself wronged, in his picking
out his lady of the whole Court to be the subject of his dishonour;
which the Duke did answer with great calmness, not seeming to understand
the reason of complaint, and that was all that passed but my Lord did
presently pack his lady into the country in Derbyshire, near the Peake;
which is become a proverb at Court, to send a man's wife to the Devil's
arse a' Peake, when she vexes him. This noon I did find out Mr. Dixon at
Whitehall, and discoursed with him about Mrs. Wheatly's daughter for
a wife for my brother Tom, and have committed it to him to enquire the
pleasure of her father and mother concerning it. I demanded L300.
20th. Up betimes and to the office, where all the morning. Dined at
home, and Mr. Deane of Woolwich with me, talking about the abuses of
the yard. Then to the office about business all the afternoon with great
pleasure, seeing myself observed by every body to be the only man of
business of us all, but Mr. Coventry. So till late at night, and then
home to supper and bed.
21st. Up early leaving my wife very ill in bed... and to my office till
eight o'clock, there coming Ch. Pepys
[Charles Pepys was second son of Thomas Pepys, elder brother of
Samuel's father. Samuel paid part of the legacy to Charles and his
elder brother Thomas on May 25th, 1664.]
to demand his legacy of me, which I denied him upon good reason of
his father and brother's suing us, and so he went away. Then came
Commissioner Pett, and he and I by agreement went to Deptford, and after
a turn or two in the yard, to Greenwich, and thence walked to Woolwich.
Here we did business, and I on board the Tangier-merchant, a ship
freighted by us, that has long lain on hand in her despatch to Tangier,
but is now ready for sailing. Back, and dined at Mr. Ackworth's, where
a pretty dinner, and she a pretty, modest woman; but above all things
we saw her Rocke, which is one of the finest things done by a woman that
ever I saw. I must have my wife to see it. After dinner on board the
Elias, and found the timber brought by her from the forest of Deane to
be exceeding good. The Captain gave each of us two barrels of pickled
oysters put up for the Queen mother. So to the Dock again, and took in
Mrs. Ackworth and another gentlewoman, and carried them to London, and
at the Globe tavern, in Eastcheap, did give them a glass of wine, and so
parted. I home, where I found my wife ill in bed all day, and her face
swelled with pain. My Will has received my last two quarters salary, of
which I am glad. So to my office till late and then home, and after the
barber had done, to bed.
22nd. To the office, where Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes are come
from Portsmouth. We sat till dinner time. Then home, and Mr. Dixon by
agreement came to dine, to give me an account of his success with Mr.
Wheatly for his daughter for my brother; and in short it is, that his
daughter cannot fancy my brother because of his imperfection in his
speech, which I am sorry for, but there the business must die, and we
must look out for another. There came in also Mrs. Lodum, with an answer
from her brother Ashwell's daughter, who is likely to come to me, and
with her my wife's brother, and I carried Commissioner Pett in with me,
so I feared want of victuals, but I had a good dinner, and mirth, and
so rose and broke up, and with the rest of the officers to Mr. Russell's
buriall, where we had wine and rings, and a great and good company
of aldermen and the livery of the Skinners' Company. We went to St.
Dunstan's in the East church, where a sermon, but I staid not, but went
home, and, after writing letters, I took coach to Mr. Povy's, but he not
within I left a letter there of Tangier business, and so to my Lord's,
and there find him not sick, but expecting his fit to-night of an ague.
Here was Sir W. Compton, Mr. Povy, Mr. Bland, Mr. Gawden and myself;
we were very busy about getting provisions sent forthwith to Tangier,
fearing that by Mr. Gawden's neglect they might want bread. So
among other ways thought of to supply them I was empowered by the
Commissioners of Tangier that were present to write to Plymouth and
direct Mr. Lanyon to take up vessels great or small to the quantity of
150 tons, and fill them with bread of Mr. Gawden's lying ready there for
Tangier, which they undertake to bear me out in, and to see the freight
paid. This I did. About 10 o'clock we broke up, and my Lord's fit was
coming upon him, and so we parted, and I with Mr. Creed, Mr. Pierce,
Win. Howe and Captn. Ferrers, who was got almost drunk this afternoon,
and was mighty capricious and ready to fall out with any body, supped
together in the little chamber that was mine heretofore upon some fowls
sent by Mr. Shepley, so we were very merry till 12 at night, and so
away, and I lay with Mr. Creed at his lodgings, and slept well.
23rd. Up and hastened him in despatching some business relating to
Tangier, and I away homewards, hearing that my Lord had a bad fit
to-night, called at my brother's, and found him sick in bed, of a pain
in the sole of one of his feet, without swelling, knowing not how it
came, but it will not suffer him to stand these two days. So to Mr.
Moore, and Mr. Lovell, our proctor, being there, discoursed of my law
business. Thence to Mr. Grant, to bid him come for money for Mr. Barlow,
and he and I to a coffee-house, where Sir J. Cutler was;
[Citizen and grocer of London; most severely handled by Pope. Two
statues were erected to his memory--one in the College of
Physicians, and the other in the Grocers' Hall. They were erected
and one removed (that in the College of Physicians) before Pope
stigmatized "sage Cutler." Pope says that Sir John Cutler had an
only daughter; in fact, he had two: one married to Lord Radnor; the
other, mentioned afterwards by Pepys, the wife of Sir William
Portman.--B.]
and in discourse, among other things, he did fully make it out that the
trade of England is as great as ever it was, only in more hands; and
that of all trades there is a greater number than ever there was, by
reason of men taking more 'prentices, because of their having more money
than heretofore. His discourse was well worth hearing. Coming by Temple
Bar I bought "Audley's Way to be Rich," a serious pamphlett and some
good things worth my minding. Thence homewards, and meeting Sir W.
Batten, turned back again to a coffee-house, and there drunk more till I
was almost sick, and here much discourse, but little to be learned, but
of a design in the north of a rising, which is discovered, among some
men of condition, and they sent for up. Thence to the 'Change, and so
home with him by coach, and I to see how my wife do, who is pretty well
again, and so to dinner to Sir W. Batten's to a cod's head, and so to
my office, and after stopping to see Sir W. Pen, where was Sir J. Lawson
and his lady and daughter, which is pretty enough, I came back to my
office, and there set to business pretty late, finishing the margenting
my Navy-Manuscript. So home and to bed.
24th. Lay pretty long, and by lying with my sheet upon my lip, as I have
of old observed it, my upper lip was blistered in the morning. To the
office all the morning, sat till noon, then to the Exchange to look out
for a ship for Tangier, and delivered my manuscript to be bound at the
stationer's. So to dinner at home, and then down to Redriffe, to see a
ship hired for Tangier, what readiness she was in, and found her ready
to sail. Then home, and so by coach to Mr. Povy's, where Sir W.
Compton, Mr. Bland, Gawden, Sir J. Lawson and myself met to settle the
victualling of Tangier for the time past, which with much ado we did,
and for a six months' supply more. So home in Mr. Gawden's coach, and
to my office till late about business, and find that it is business that
must and do every day bring me to something.--[In earlier days Pepys
noted for us each few pounds or shillings of graft which he annexed at
each transaction in his office.]--So home to supper and to bed.
25th (Lord's day). Lay till 9 a-bed, then up, and being trimmed by the
barber, I walked towards White Hall, calling upon Mr. Moore, whom I
found still very ill of his ague. I discoursed with him about my Lord's
estate against I speak with my Lord this day. Thence to the King's Head
ordinary at Charing Cross, and sent for Mr. Creed, where we dined very
finely and good company, good discourse. I understand the King of France
is upon consulting his divines upon the old question, what the power of
the Pope is? and do intend to make war against him, unless he do right
him for the wrong his Embassador received;
[On the 20th of August, the Duc de Crequi, then French ambassador at
Rome, was insulted by the Corsican armed police, a force whose
ignoble duty it was to assist the Sbirri; and the pope, Alexander
VII., at first refused reparation for the affront offered to the
French. Louis, as in the case of D'Estrades, took prompt measures.
He ordered the papal nuncio forthwith to quit France; he seized upon
Avignon, and his army prepared to enter Italy. Alexander found it
necessary to submit. In fulfilment of a treaty signed at Pisa in
1664, Cardinal Chigi, the pope's nephew, came to Paris, to tender
the pope's apology to Louis. The guilty individuals were punished;
the Corsicans banished for ever from the Roman States; and in front
of the guard-house which they had occupied a pyramid was erected,
bearing an inscription which embodied the pope's apology. This
pyramid Louis permitted Clement IX. to destroy on his accession.-B.]
and banish the Cardinall Imperiall,
[Lorenzo Imperiali, of Genoa. He had been appointed Governor of
Rome by Innocent X., and he had acted in that capacity at
the time of the tumult.--B.]
which I understand this day is not meant the Cardinall belonging or
chosen by the Emperor, but the name of his family is Imperiali. Thence
to walk in the Park, which we did two hours, it being a pleasant
sunshine day though cold. Our discourse upon the rise of most men that
we know, and observing them to be the results of chance, not policy, in
any of them, particularly Sir J. Lawson's, from his declaring against
Charles Stuart in the river of Thames, and for the Rump. Thence to my
Lord, who had his ague fit last night, but is now pretty well, and
I staid talking with him an hour alone in his chamber, about sundry
publique and private matters. Among others, he wonders what the project
should be of the Duke's going down to Portsmouth just now with his Lady,
at this time of the year: it being no way, we think, to increase his
popularity, which is not great; nor yet safe to do it, for that reason,
if it would have any such effect. By and by comes in my Lady Wright, and
so I went away, end after talking with Captn. Ferrers, who tells me
of my Lady Castlemaine's and Sir Charles Barkeley being the great
favourites at Court, and growing every day more and more; and that upon
a late dispute between my Lord Chesterfield, that is the Queen's Lord
Chamberlain, and Mr. Edward Montagu, her Master of the Horse, who should
have the precedence in taking the Queen's upperhand abroad out of
the house, which Mr. Montagu challenges, it was given to my Lord
Chesterfield. So that I perceive he goes down the wind in honour as well
as every thing else, every day. So walk to my brother's and talked with
him, who tells me that this day a messenger is come, that tells us how
Collonel Honiwood, who was well yesterday at Canterbury, was flung by
his horse in getting up, and broke his scull, and so is dead. So home
and to the office, despatching some business, and so home to supper, and
then to prayers and to bed.
26th. Up and by water with Sir W. Batten to White Hall, drinking a glass
of wormewood wine at the Stillyard, and so up to the Duke, and with
the rest of the officers did our common service; thence to my Lord
Sandwich's, but he was in bed, and had a bad fit last night, and so I
went to, Westminster Hall, it being Term time, it troubling me to think
that I should have any business there to trouble myself and thoughts
with. Here I met with Monsieur Raby, who is lately come from France.
[He] tells me that my Lord Hinchingbroke and his brother do little
improve there, and are much neglected in their habits and other things;
but I do believe he hath a mind to go over as their tutour, and so I am
not apt to believe what he says therein. But I had a great deal of very
good discourse with him, concerning the difference between the French
and the Pope, and the occasion, which he told me very particularly, and
to my great content; and of most of the chief affairs of France, which
I did enquire: and that the King is a most excellent Prince, doing all
business himself; and that it is true he hath a mistress, Mademoiselle
La Valiere, one of the Princess Henriette's women, that he courts for
his pleasure every other day, but not so as to make him neglect his
publique affairs. He tells me how the King do carry himself nobly to
the relations of the dead Cardinall,--[Cardinal Mazarin died March 9th,
1661.]--and will not suffer one pasquill to come forth against him; and
that he acts by what directions he received from him before his death.
Having discoursed long with him, I took him by coach and set him down at
my Lord Crew's, and myself went and dined at Mr. Povy's, where Orlando
Massam, Mr. Wilks, a Wardrobe man, myself and Mr. Gawden, and had just
such another dinner as I had the other day there. But above all things
I do the most admire his piece of perspective especially, he opening me
the closett door, and there I saw that there is nothing but only a plain
picture hung upon the wall. After dinner Mr. Gauden and I to settle the
business of the Tangier victualling, which I perceive none of them yet
have hitherto understood but myself. Thence by coach to White Hall, and
met upon the Tangier Commission, our greatest business the discoursing
of getting things ready for my Lord Rutherford to go about the middle
of March next, and a proposal of Sir J. Lawson's and Mr. Cholmely's
concerning undertaking the Mole, which is referred to another time. So
by coach home, being melancholy, overcharged with business, and methinks
I fear that I have some ill offices done to Mr. Coventry, or else he
observes that of late I have not despatched business so as I did use to
do, which I confess I do acknowledge. But it may be it is but my fear
only, he is not so fond as he used to be of me. But I do believe that
Sir W. Batten has made him believe that I do too much crow upon having
his kindness, and so he may on purpose to countenance him seem a little
more strange to me, but I will study hard to bring him back again to the
same degree of kindness. So home, and after a little talk with my wife,
to the office, and did a great deal of business there till very late,
and then home to supper and to bed.
27th. Up and to the office, where sat till two o'clock, and then home
to dinner, whither by and by comes Mr. Creed, and he and I talked of our
Tangier business, and do find that there is nothing in the world done
with true integrity, but there is design along with it, as in my
Lord Rutherford, who designs to have the profit of victualling of the
garrison himself, and others to have the benefit of making the Mole, so
that I am almost discouraged from coming any more to the Committee, were
it not that it will possibly hereafter bring me to some acquaintance of
great men. Then to the office again, where very busy till past ten
at night, and so home to supper and to bed. I have news this day from
Cambridge that my brother hath had his bachelor's cap put on; but that
which troubles me is, that he hath the pain of the stone, and makes
bloody water with great pain, it beginning just as mine did. I pray God
help him.
28th. Up and all the morning at my office doing business, and at home
seeing my painters' work measured. So to dinner and abroad with my
wife, carrying her to Unthank's, where she alights, and I to my Lord
Sandwich's, whom I find missing his ague fit to-day, and is pretty well,
playing at dice (and by this I see how time and example may alter a man;
he being now acquainted with all sorts of pleasures and vanities, which
heretofore he never thought of nor loved, nor, it may be, hath allowed)
with Ned Pickering and his page Laud. Thence to the Temple to my cozen
Roger Pepys, and thence to Serjt. Bernard to advise with him and retain
him against my uncle, my heart and head being very heavy with the
business. Thence to Wotton's, the shoemaker, and there bought another
pair of new boots, for the other I bought my last would not fit me, and
here I drank with him and his wife, a pretty woman, they broaching a
vessel of syder a-purpose for me. So home, and there found my wife come
home, and seeming to cry; for bringing home in a coach her new ferrandin
[Ferrandin, which was sometimes spelt farendon, was a stuff made of
silk mixed with some other material, like what is now called poplin.
Both mohair and farendon are generally cheap materials; for in the
case of Manby v. Scott, decided in the Exchequer Chamber in 1663,
and reported in the first volume of "Modern Reports," the question
being as to the liability of a husband to pay for goods supplied
against his consent to his wife, who had separated from him, Mr.
Justice Hyde (whose judgment is most amusing) observes, in putting
various supposed cases, that "The wife will have a velvet gown and a
satin petticoat, and the husband thinks a mohair or farendon for a
gown, and watered tabby for a petticoat, is as fashionable, and
fitter for her quality."--B.]
waistecoate, in Cheapside, a man asked her whether that was the way to
the Tower; and while she was answering him, another, on the other side,
snatched away her bundle out of her lap, and could not be recovered, but
ran away with it, which vexes me cruelly, but it cannot be helped. So to
my office, and there till almost 12 at night with Mr. Lewes, learning
to understand the manner of a purser's account, which is very hard and
little understood by my fellow officers, and yet mighty necessary. So at
last with great content broke up and home to supper and bed.
29th. Lay chiding, and then pleased with my wife in bed, and did
consent to her having a new waistcoate made her for that which she lost
yesterday. So to the office, and sat all the morning. At noon dined with
Mr. Coventry at Sir J. Minnes his lodgings, the first time that ever I
did yet, and am sorry for doing it now, because of obliging me to do the
like to him again. Here dined old Captn. Marsh of the Tower with us.
So to visit Sir W. Pen, and then to the office, and there late upon
business by myself, my wife being sick to-day. So home and to supper and
to bed.
30th. A solemn fast for the King's murther, and we were forced to keep
it more than we would have done, having forgot to take any victuals into
the house. I to church in the forenoon, and Mr. Mills made a good sermon
upon David's heart smiting him for cutting off the garment of Saul.
[Samuel, chap. xxiv. v. 5, "And it came to pass afterward, that
David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt."]
Home, and whiled away some of the afternoon at home talking with my
wife. So to my office, and all alone making up my month's accounts,
which to my great trouble I find that I am got no further than L640.
But I have had great expenses this month. I pray God the next may be
a little better, as I hope it will. In the evening my manuscript is
brought home handsomely bound, to my full content; and now I think I
have a better collection in reference to the Navy, and shall have by
the time I have filled it, than any of my predecessors. So home and eat
something such as we have, bread and butter and milk, and so to bed.
31st. Up and to my office, and there we sat till noon. I home to dinner,
and there found my plate of the Soverayne with the table to it come from
Mr. Christopher Pett, of which I am very glad. So to dinner late, and
not very good, only a rabbit not half roasted, which made me angry with
my wife. So to the office, and there till late, busy all the while. In
the evening examining my wife's letter intended to my Lady, and another
to Mademoiselle; they were so false spelt that I was ashamed of them,
and took occasion to fall out about them with my wife, and so she wrote
none, at which, however, I was, sorry, because it was in answer to a
letter of Madam about business. Late home to supper and to bed.
FEBRUARY 1662-1663
February 1st (Lord's day). Up and to church, where Mr. Mills, a good
sermon, and so home and had a good dinner with my wife, with which I was
pleased to see it neatly done, and this troubled me to think of parting
with Jane, that is come to be a very good cook. After dinner walked to
my Lord Sandwich, and staid with him in the chamber talking almost all
the afternoon, he being not yet got abroad since his sickness. Many
discourses we had; but, among others, how Sir R. Bernard is turned out
of his Recordership of Huntingdon by the Commissioners for Regulation,
&c., at which I am troubled, because he, thinking it is done by my Lord
Sandwich, will act some of his revenge, it is likely, upon me in my
business, so that I must cast about me to get some other counsel to rely
upon. In the evening came Mr. Povey and others to see my Lord, and they
gone, my Lord and I and Povey fell to the business of Tangier, as to
the victualling, and so broke up, and I, it being a fine frost, my boy
lighting me I walked home, and after supper up to prayers, and then
alone with my wife and Jane did fall to tell her what I did expect would
become of her since, after so long being my servant, she had carried
herself so as to make us be willing to put her away, and desired God to
bless [her], but bid her never to let me hear what became of her,
for that I could never pardon ingratitude. So I to bed, my mind
much troubled for the poor girl that she leaves us, and yet she not
submitting herself, for some words she spoke boldly and yet I believe
innocently and out of familiarity to her mistress about us weeks ago, I
could not recall my words that she should stay with me. This day Creed
and I walking in White Hall garden did see the King coming privately
from my Lady Castlemaine's; which is a poor thing for a Prince to do;
and I expressed my sense of it to Creed in terms which I should not have
done, but that I believe he is trusty in that point.
2nd. Up, and after paying Jane her wages, I went away, because I could
hardly forbear weeping, and she cried, saying it was not her fault that
she went away, and indeed it is hard to say what it is, but only her not
desiring to stay that she do now go. By coach with Sir J. Minnes and
Sir W. Batten to the Duke; and after discourse as usual with him in his
closett, I went to my Lord's: the King and Duke being gone to chappell,
it being collar-day, it being Candlemas-day; where I staid with him a
while until towards noon, there being Jonas Moore talking about some
mathematical businesses, and thence I walked at noon to Mr. Povey's,
where Mr. Gawden met me, and after a neat and plenteous dinner as is
usual, we fell to our victualling business, till Mr. Gawden and I did
almost fall out, he defending himself in the readiness of his provision,
when I know that the ships everywhere stay for them. Thence Mr. Povey
and I walked to White Hall, it being a great frost still, and after a
turn in the Park seeing them slide, we met at the Committee for Tangier,
a good full Committee, and agreed how to proceed in the dispatching of
my Lord Rutherford, and treating about this business of Mr. Cholmely and
Sir J. Lawson's proposal for the Mole. Thence with Mr. Coventry down to
his chamber, where among other discourse he did tell me how he did make
it not only his desire, but as his greatest pleasure, to make himself
an interest by doing business truly and justly, though he thwarts others
greater than himself, not striving to make himself friends by addresses;
and by this he thinks and observes he do live as contentedly (now
he finds himself secured from fear of want), and, take one time with
another, as void of fear or cares, or more, than they that (as his own
termes were) have quicker pleasures and sharper agonies than he. Thence
walking with Mr. Creed homewards we turned into a house and drank a
cup of Cock ale and so parted, and I to the Temple, where at my cozen
Roger's chamber I met Madam Turner, and after a little stay led her home
and there left her, she and her daughter having been at the play to-day
at the Temple, it being a revelling time with them.
[The revels were held in the Inner Temple Hall. The last revel in
any of the Inns of Court was held in the Inner Temple in 1733.]
Thence called at my brother's, who is at church, at the buriall of young
Cumberland, a lusty young man. So home and there found Jane gone, for
which my wife and I are very much troubled, and myself could hardly
forbear shedding tears for fear the poor wench should come to any ill
condition after her being so long with me. So to my office and setting
papers to rights, and then home to supper and to bed. This day at my
Lord's I sent for Mr. Ashwell, and his wife came to me, and by discourse
I perceive their daughter is very fit for my turn if my family may be as
much for hers, but I doubt it will be to her loss to come to me for so
small wages, but that will be considered of.
3rd. To the office all the morning, at noon to dinner, where Mr. Creed
dined with me, and Mr. Ashwell, with whom after dinner I discoursed
concerning his daughter coming to live with us. I find that his daughter
will be very fit, I think, as any for our turn, but the conditions I
know not what they will be, he leaving it wholly to her, which will be
agreed on a while hence when my wife sees her. After an hour's discourse
after dinner with them, I to my office again, and there about business
of the office till late, and then home to supper and to bed.
4th. Up early and to Mr. Moore, and thence to Mr. Lovell about my law
business, and from him to Paul's School, it being Apposition-day there.
I heard some of their speeches, and they were just as schoolboys' used
to be, of the seven liberal sciences; but I think not so good as ours
were in our time. Away thence and to Bow Church, to the Court of Arches,
where a judge sits, and his proctors about him in their habits, and
their pleadings all in Latin. Here I was sworn to give a true answer to
my uncle's libells, and so paid my fee for swearing, and back again to
Paul's School, and went up to see the head forms posed in Latin, Greek,
and Hebrew, but I think they did not answer in any so well as we did,
only in geography they did pretty well: Dr. Wilkins and Outram were
examiners. So down to the school, where Dr. Crumlum did me much honour
by telling many what a present I had made to the school, shewing my
Stephanus, in four volumes, cost me L4 10s. He also shewed us, upon my
desire, an old edition of the grammar of Colett's, where his epistle
to the children is very pretty; and in rehearsing the creed it is said
"borne of the cleane Virgin Mary." Thence with Mr. Elborough (he being
all of my old acquaintance that I could meet with here) to a cook's shop
to dinner, but I found him a fool, as he ever was, or worse. Thence to
my cozen Roger Pepys and Mr. Phillips about my law businesses, which
stand very bad, and so home to the office, where after doing some
business I went home, where I found our new mayde Mary, that is come in
Jane's place.
5th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and then home
to dinner, and found it so well done, above what I did expect from
my mayde Susan, now Jane is gone, that I did call her in and give her
sixpence. Thence walked to the Temple, and there at my cozen Roger
Pepys's chamber met by appointment with my uncle Thomas and his son
Thomas, and there I shewing them a true state of my uncle's estate as
he has left it with the debts, &c., lying upon it, we did come to some
quiett talk and fair offers against an agreement on both sides, though I
do offer quite to the losing of the profit of the whole estate for 8 or
10 years together, yet if we can gain peace, and set my mind at a little
liberty, I shall be glad of it. I did give them a copy of this state,
and we are to meet tomorrow with their answer. So walked home, it being
a very great frost still, and to my office, there late writing letters
of office business, and so home to supper and to bed.
6th. Up and to my office about business, examining people what they
could swear against Field, and the whole is, that he has called us
cheating rogues and cheating knaves, for which we hope to be even with
him. Thence to Lincoln's Inn Fields; and it being too soon to go to
dinner, I walked up and down, and looked upon the outside of the new
theatre, now a-building in Covent Garden, which will be very fine. And
so to a bookseller's in the Strand, and there bought Hudibras again,
it being certainly some ill humour to be so against that which all the
world cries up to be the example of wit; for which I am resolved once
again to read him, and see whether I can find it or no. So to Mr.
Povy's, and there found them at dinner, and dined there, there being,
among others, Mr. Williamson, Latin Secretary, who, I perceive, is a
pretty knowing man and a scholler, but, it may be, thinks himself to
be too much so. Thence, after dinner, to the Temple, to my cozen Roger
Pepys, where met us my uncle Thomas and his son; and, after many high
demands, we at last came to a kind of agreement upon very hard terms,
which are to be prepared in writing against Tuesday next. But by the
way promising them to pay my cozen Mary's' legacys at the time of her
marriage, they afterwards told me that she was already married, and
married very well, so that I must be forced to pay it in some time. My
cozen Roger was so sensible of our coming to agreement that he could not
forbear weeping, and, indeed, though it is very hard, yet I am glad to
my heart that we are like to end our trouble. So we parted for to-night,
and I to my Lord Sandwich and there staid, there being a Committee to
sit upon the contract for the Mole, which I dare say none of us that
were there understood, but yet they agreed of things as Mr. Cholmely and
Sir J. Lawson demanded, who are the undertakers, and so I left them to
go on to agree, for I understood it not. So home, and being called by a
coachman who had a fare in him, he carried me beyond the Old Exchange,
and there set down his fare, who would not pay him what was his due,
because he carried a stranger with him, and so after wrangling he was
fain to be content with 6d., and being vexed the coachman would not
carry me home a great while, but set me down there for the other 6d.,
but with fair words he was willing to it, and so I came home and to my
office, setting business in order, and so to supper and to bed, my mind
being in disorder as to the greatness of this day's business that I have
done, but yet glad that my trouble therein is like to be over.
7th. Up and to my office, whither by agreement Mr. Coventry came
before the time of sitting to confer about preparing an account of the
extraordinary charge of the Navy since the King's coming, more than is
properly to be applied and called the Navy charge. So by and by we sat,
and so till noon. Then home to dinner, and in the afternoon some of us
met again upon something relating to the victualling, and thence to my
writing of letters late, and making my Alphabet to my new Navy book
very pretty. And so after writing to my father by the post about the
endeavour to come to a composition with my uncle, though a very bad one,
desiring him to be contented therewith, I went home to supper and to
bed.
8th (Lord's day). Up, and it being a very great frost, I walked to White
Hall, and to my Lord Sandwich's by the fireside till chapel time, and so
to chappell, where there preached little Dr. Duport, of Cambridge,
upon Josiah's words,--"But I and my house, we will serve the Lord." But
though a great scholler, he made the most flat dead sermon, both for
matter and manner of delivery, that ever I heard, and very long beyond
his hour, which made it worse. Thence with Mr. Creed to the King's Head
ordinary, where we dined well, and after dinner Sir Thomas Willis and
another stranger, and Creed and I, fell a-talking; they of the errours
and corruption of the Navy, and great expence thereof, not knowing who
I was, which at last I did undertake to confute, and disabuse them: and
they took it very well, and I hope it was to good purpose, they being
Parliament-men. By and by to my Lord's, and with him a good while
talking upon his want of money, and ways of his borrowing some, &c.,
and then by other visitants, I withdrew and away, Creed and I and Captn.
Ferrers to the Park, and there walked finely, seeing people slide, we
talking all the while; and Captn. Ferrers telling me, among other Court
passages, how about a month ago, at a ball at Court, a child was dropped
by one of the ladies in dancing, but nobody knew who, it being taken
up by somebody in their handkercher. The next morning all the Ladies
of Honour appeared early at Court for their vindication, so that nobody
could tell whose this mischance should be. But it seems Mrs. Wells
[Winifred Wells, maid of honour to the Queen, who figures in the
"Grammont Memoirs." The king is supposed to have been father of the
child. A similar adventure is told of Mary Kirke (afterwards
married to Sir Thomas Vernon), who figures in the "Grammont Memoirs"
as Miss Warmestre.]
fell sick that afternoon, and hath disappeared ever since, so that it is
concluded that it was her. Another story was how my Lady Castlemaine, a
few days since, had Mrs. Stuart to an entertainment, and at night began
a frolique that they two must be married, and married they were, with
ring and all other ceremonies of church service, and ribbands and a sack
posset in bed, and flinging the stocking; but in the close, it is said
that my Lady Castlemaine, who was the bridegroom, rose, and the King
came and took her place with pretty Mrs. Stuart. This is said to be very
true. Another story was how Captain Ferrers and W. Howe both have often,
through my Lady Castlemaine's window, seen her go to bed and Sir Charles
Barkeley in the chamber all the while with her. But the other day Captn.
Ferrers going to Sir Charles to excuse his not being so timely at his
arms the other day, Sir Charles swearing and cursing told him before
a great many other gentlemen that he would not suffer any man of the
King's Guards to be absent from his lodging a night without leave. Not
but that, says he, once a week or so I know a gentleman must go..., and
I am not for denying it to any man, but however he shall be bound to
ask leave to lie abroad, and to give account of his absence, that we
may know what guard the King has to depend upon. The little Duke of
Monmouth, it seems, is ordered to take place of all Dukes, and so to
follow Prince Rupert now, before the Duke of Buckingham, or any else.
Whether the wind and the cold did cause it or no I know not, but having
been this day or two mightily troubled with an itching all over my
body' which I took to be a louse or two that might bite me, I found this
afternoon that all my body is inflamed, and my face in a sad redness and
swelling and pimpled, so that I was before we had done walking not only
sick but ashamed of myself to see myself so changed in my countenance,
so that after we had thus talked we parted and I walked home with much
ado (Captn. Ferrers with me as far as Ludgate Hill towards Mr. Moore
at the Wardrobe), the ways being so full of ice and water by peoples'
trampling. At last got home and to bed presently, and had a very bad
night of it, in great pain in my stomach, and in great fever.
9th. Could not rise and go to the Duke, as I should have done with the
rest, but keep my bed and by the Apothecary's advice, Mr. Battersby,
I am to sweat soundly, and that will carry all this matter away which
nature would of itself eject, but they will assist nature, it being some
disorder given the blood, but by what I know not, unless it be by my
late quantitys of Dantzic-girkins that I have eaten. In the evening came
Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten to see me, and Sir J. Minnes advises
me to the same thing, but would not have me take anything from the
apothecary, but from him, his Venice treacle being better than the
others, which I did consent to and did anon take and fell into a great
sweat, and about 10 or 11 o'clock came out of it and shifted myself, and
slept pretty well alone, my wife lying in the red chamber above.
10th. In the morning most of my disease, that is, itching and pimples,
were gone. In the morning visited by Mr. Coventry and others, and very
glad I am to see that I am so much inquired after and my sickness taken
notice of as I did. I keep my bed all day and sweat again at night, by
which I expect to be very well to-morrow. This evening Sir W. Warren
came himself to the door and left a letter and box for me, and went his
way. His letter mentions his giving me and my wife a pair of gloves;
but, opening the box, we found a pair of plain white gloves for my hand,
and a fair state dish of silver, and cup, with my arms, ready cut upon
them, worth, I believe, about L18, which is a very noble present, and
the best I ever had yet. So after some contentful talk with my wife, she
to bed and I to rest.
11th. Took a clyster in the morning and rose in the afternoon. My wife
and I dined on a pullet and I eat heartily, having eat nothing since
Sunday but water gruel and posset drink, but must needs say that our new
maid Mary has played her part very well in her readiness and discretion
in attending me, of which I am very glad. In the afternoon several
people came to see me, my uncle Thomas, Mr. Creed, Sir J. Minnes (who
has been, God knows to what end, mighty kind to me and careful of me in
my sickness). At night my wife read Sir H. Vane's tryall to me, which
she began last night, and I find it a very excellent thing, worth
reading, and him to have been a very wise man. So to supper and to bed.
12th. Up and find myself pretty well, and so to the office, and there
all the morning. Rose at noon and home to dinner in my green chamber,
having a good fire. Thither there came my wife's brother and brought
Mary Ashwell with him, whom we find a very likely person to please us,
both for person, discourse, and other qualitys. She dined with us, and
after dinner went away again, being agreed to come to us about three
weeks or a month hence. My wife and I well pleased with our choice, only
I pray God I may be able to maintain it. Then came an old man from Mr.
Povy, to give me some advice about his experience in the stone, which I
[am] beholden to him for, and was well pleased with it, his chief remedy
being Castle soap in a posset. Then in the evening to the office, late
writing letters and my Journall since Saturday, and so home to supper
and to bed.
13th. Lay very long with my wife in bed talking with great pleasure,
and then rose. This morning Mr. Cole, our timber merchant, sent me five
couple of ducks. Our maid Susan is very ill, and so the whole trouble of
the house lies upon our maid Mary, who do it very contentedly and mighty
well, but I am sorry she is forced to it. Dined upon one couple of ducks
to-day, and after dinner my wife and I by coach to Tom's, and I to the
Temple to discourse with my cozen Roger Pepys about my law business, and
so back again, it being a monstrous thaw after the long great frost, so
that there is no passing but by coach in the streets, and hardly that.
Took my wife home, and I to my office. Find myself pretty well but
fearful of cold, and so to my office, where late upon business; Mr.
Bland sitting with me, talking of my Lord Windsor's being come home from
Jamaica, unlooked-for; which makes us think that these young Lords are
not fit to do any service abroad, though it is said that he could not
have his health there, but hath razed a fort of the King of Spain upon
Cuba, which is considerable, or said to be so, for his honour. So home
to supper and to bed. This day I bought the second part of Dr. Bates's
Elenchus, which reaches to the fall of Richard, and no further, for
which I am sorry. This evening my wife had a great mind to choose
Valentines against to-morrow, I Mrs. Clerke, or Pierce, she Mr. Hunt or
Captain Ferrers, but I would not because of getting charge both to me
for mine and to them for her, which did not please her.
14th. Up and to my office, where we met and sate all the morning, only
Mr. Coventry, which I think is the first or second time he has missed
since he came to the office, was forced to be absent. So home to dinner,
my wife and I upon a couple of ducks, and then by coach to the Temple,
where my uncle Thomas, and his sons both, and I, did meet at my
cozen Roger's and there sign and seal to an agreement. Wherein I was
displeased at nothing but my cozen Roger's insisting upon my being
obliged to settle upon them as the will do all my uncle's estate that he
has left, without power of selling any for the payment of debts, but I
would not yield to it without leave of selling, my Lord Sandwich himself
and my cozen Thos. Pepys being judges of the necessity thereof, which
was done. One thing more that troubles me was my being forced to promise
to give half of what personal estate could be found more than L372,
which I reported to them, which though I do not know it to be less than
what we really have found, yet he would have been glad to have been at
liberty for that, but at last I did agree to it under my own handwriting
on the backside of the report I did make and did give them of the
estate, and have taken a copy of it upon the backside of one that I
have. All being done I took the father and his son Thos. home by coach,
and did pay them L30, the arrears of the father's annuity, and with
great seeming love parted, and I presently to bed, my head akeing
mightily with the hot dispute I did hold with my cozen Roger and them in
the business.
15th (Lord's day). This morning my wife did wake me being frighted with
the noise I made in my sleep, being a dream that one of our sea maisters
did desire to see the St. John's Isle of my drawing, which methought
I showed him, but methought he did handle it so hard that it put me to
very horrid pain.... Which what a strange extravagant dream it was. So
to sleep again and lay long in bed, and then trimmed by the barber, and
so sending Will to church, myself staid at home, hanging up in my green
chamber my picture of the Soveraigne, and putting some things in order
there. So to dinner, to three more ducks and two teals, my wife and
I. Then to Church, where a dull sermon, and so home, and after walking
about the house awhile discoursing with my wife, I to my office there to
set down something and to prepare businesses for tomorrow, having in the
morning read over my vows, which through sicknesse I could not do the
last Lord's day, and not through forgetfulness or negligence, so that
I hope it is no breach of my vow not to pay my forfeiture. So home, and
after prayers to bed, talking long with my wife and teaching her things
in astronomy.
16th. Up and by coach with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes to White
Hall, and, after we had done our usual business with the Duke, to my
Lord Sandwich and by his desire to Sir W. Wheeler, who was brought down
in a sedan chair from his chamber, being lame of the gout, to borrow
L1000 of him for my Lord's occasions, but he gave me a very kind denial
that he could not, but if any body else would, he would be bond with my
Lord for it. So to Westminster Hall, and there find great expectation
what the Parliament will do, when they come two days hence to sit again,
in matters of religion. The great question is, whether the Presbyters
will be contented to have the Papists have the same liberty of
conscience with them, or no, or rather be denied it themselves: and
the Papists, I hear, are very busy designing how to make the Presbyters
consent to take their liberty, and to let them have the same with them,
which some are apt to think they will. It seems a priest was taken
in his vests officiating somewhere in Holborn the other day, and was
committed by Secretary Morris, according to law; and they say the Bishop
of London did give him thanks for it. Thence to my Lord Crew's and dined
there, there being much company, and the above-said matter is now the
present publique discourse. Thence about several businesses to Mr.
Phillips my attorney, to stop all proceedings at law, and so to the
Temple, where at the Solicitor General's I found Mr. Cholmely and Creed
reading to him the agreement for him to put into form about the contract
for the Mole at Tangier, which is done at 13s. the Cubical yard,
though upon my conscience not one of the Committee, besides the parties
concerned, do understand what they do therein, whether they give
too much or too little. Thence with Mr. Creed to see Mr. Moore, who
continues sick still, within doors, and here I staid a good while after
him talking of all the things either business or no that came into my
mind, and so home and to see Sir W. Pen, and sat and played at cards
with him, his daughter, and Mrs. Rooth, and so to my office a while, and
then home and to bed.
17th. Up and to my office, and there we sat all the morning, and at
noon my wife being gone to Chelsey with her brother and sister and Mrs.
Lodum, to see the wassell at the school, where Mary Ashwell is, I took
home Mr. Pett and he dined with me all alone, and much discourse we had
upon the business of the office, and so after dinner broke up and with
much ado, it raining hard, which it has not done a great while now,
but only frost a great while, I got a coach and so to the Temple, where
discoursed with Mr. W. Montagu about borrowing some money for my Lord,
and so by water (where I have not been a good while through cold) to
Westminster to Sir W. Wheeler's, whom I found busy at his own house with
the Commissioners of Sewers, but I spoke to him about my Lord's business
of borrowing money, and so to my Lord of Sandwich, to give him an
account of all, whom I found at cards with Pickering; but he made an end
soon: and so all alone, he and I, after I had given him an account,
he told me he had a great secret to tell me, such as no flesh knew but
himself, nor ought; which was this: that yesterday morning Eschar, Mr.
Edward Montagu's man, did come to him from his master with some of the
Clerks of the Exchequer, for my Lord to sign to their books for the
Embassy money; which my Lord very civilly desired not to do till he had
spoke with his master himself. In the afternoon, my Lord and my Lady
Wright being at cards in his chamber, in comes Mr. Montagu; and desiring
to speak with my Lord at the window in his chamber, he begun to charge
my Lord with the greatest ingratitude in the world: that he that had
received his earldom, garter, L4000 per annum, and whatever he is in the
world, from him, should now study him all the dishonour that he could;
and so fell to tell my Lord, that if he should speak all that he knew of
him, he could do so and so. In a word, he did rip up all that could be
said that was unworthy, and in the basest terms they could be spoken
in. To which my Lord answered with great temper, justifying himself,
but endeavouring to lessen his heat, which was a strange temper in him,
knowing that he did owe all he hath in the world to my Lord, and that he
is now all that he is by his means and favour. But my Lord did forbear
to increase the quarrel, knowing that it would be to no good purpose
for the world to see a difference in the family; but did allay him so
as that he fell to weeping. And after much talk (among other things Mr.
Montagu telling him that there was a fellow in the town, naming me, that
had done ill offices, and that if he knew it to be so, he would have
him cudgelled) my Lord did promise him that, if upon account he saw that
there was not many tradesmen unpaid, he would sign the books; but if
there was, he could not bear with taking too great a debt upon him. So
this day he sent him an account, and a letter assuring him there was not
above L200 unpaid; and so my Lord did sign to the Exchequer books. Upon
the whole, I understand fully what a rogue he is, and how my Lord do
think and will think of him for the future; telling me that thus he
has served his father my Lord Manchester, and his whole family, and now
himself: and which is worst, that he hath abused, and in speeches every
day do abuse, my Lord Chancellor, whose favour he hath lost; and hath
no friend but Sir H. Bennet, and that (I knowing the rise of the
friendship) only from the likeness of their pleasures, and acquaintance,
and concernments, they have in the same matters of lust and baseness;
for which, God forgive them! But he do flatter himself, from promises of
Sir H. Bennet, that he shall have a pension of L2000 per annum, and be
made an Earl. My Lord told me he expected a challenge from him, but told
me there was no great fear of him, for there was no man lies under such
an imputation as he do in the business of Mr. Cholmely, who, though a
simple sorry fellow, do brave him and struts before him with the Queen,
to the sport and observation of the whole Court. He did keep my Lord at
the window, thus reviling and braving him above an hour, my Lady Wright
being by; but my Lord tells me she could not hear every word, but did
well know what their discourse was; she could hear enough to know that.
So that he commands me to keep it as the greatest secret in the world,
and bids me beware of speaking words against Mr. Montagu, for fear I
should suffer by his passion thereby. After he had told me this I took
coach and home, where I found my wife come home and in bed with her
sister in law in the chamber with her, she not being able to stay to see
the wassel, being so ill..., which I was sorry for. Hither we sent for
her sister's viall, upon which she plays pretty well for a girl, but
my expectation is much deceived in her, not only for that, but in her
spirit, she being I perceive a very subtle witty jade, and one that will
give her husband trouble enough as little as she is, whereas I took her
heretofore for a very child and a simple fool. I played also, which I
have not done this long time before upon any instrument, and at last
broke up and I to my office a little while, being fearful of being too
much taken with musique, for fear of returning to my old dotage thereon,
and so neglect my business as I used to do. Then home and to bed. Coming
home I brought Mr. Pickering as far as the Temple, who tells me the
story is very true of a child being dropped at the ball at Court; and
that the King had it in his closett a week after, and did dissect it;
and making great sport of it, said that in his opinion it must have been
a month and three hours old; and that, whatever others think, he hath
the greatest loss (it being a boy, as he says), that hath lost a subject
by the business. He tells me, too, that the other story, of my Lady
Castlemaine's and Stuart's marriage, is certain, and that it was in
order to the King's coming to Stuart, as is believed generally. He tells
me that Sir H. Bennet is a Catholique, and how all the Court almost is
changed to the worse since his coming in, they being afeard of him. And
that the Queen-Mother's Court is now the greatest of all; and that our
own Queen hath little or no company come to her, which I know also to be
very true, and am sorry to see it.
18th. Up, leaving my wife sick as last night in bed. I to my office all
the morning, casting up with Captain Cocke their accounts of 500 tons
of hemp brought from Riga, and bought by him and partners upon account,
wherein are many things worth my knowledge. So at noon to dinner, taking
Mr. Hater with me because of losing them, and in the afternoon he and
I alone at the office, finishing our account of the extra charge of the
Navy, not properly belonging to the Navy, since the King's coming in to
Christmas last; and all extra things being abated, I find that the true
charge of the Navy to that time hath been after the rate of L374,743
a-year. I made an end by eleven o'clock at night, and so home to bed
almost weary. This day the Parliament met again, after their long
prorogation; but I know not any thing what they have done, being within
doors all day.
19th. Up and to my office, where abundance of business all the morning.
Dined by my wife's bedside, she not being yet well. We fell out almost
upon my discourse of delaying the having of Ashwell, where my wife
believing that I have a mind to have Pall, which I have not, though I
could wish she did deserve to be had. So to my office, where by and by
we sat, this afternoon being the first we have met upon a great while,
our times being changed because of the parliament sitting. Being rose, I
to my office till twelve at night, drawing out copies of the overcharge
of the Navy, one to send to Mr. Coventry early to-morrow. So home and to
bed, being weary, sleepy, and my eyes begin to fail me, looking so long
by candlelight upon white paper. This day I read the King's speech to
the Parliament yesterday; which is very short, and not very obliging;
but only telling them his desire to have a power of indulging tender
consciences, not that he will yield to have any mixture in the
uniformity of the Church's discipline; and says the same for the
Papists, but declares against their ever being admitted to have any
offices or places of trust in the kingdom; but, God knows, too many
have.
20th. Up and by water with Commissioner Pett to Deptford, and there
looked over the yard, and had a call, wherein I am very highly pleased
with our new manner of call-books, being my invention. Thence thinking
to have gone down to Woolwich in the Charles pleasure boat, but she
run aground, it being almost low water, and so by oars to the town, and
there dined, and then to the yard at Mr. Ackworth's, discoursing with
the officers of the yard about their stores of masts, which was our
chief business, and having done something therein, took boat and to the
pleasure boat, which was come down to fetch us back, and I could have
been sick if I would in going, the wind being very fresh, but very
pleasant it was, and the first time I have sailed in any one of them. It
carried us to Cuckold's Point, and so by oars to the Temple, it raining
hard, where missed speaking with my cosen Roger, and so walked home and
to my office; there spent the night till bed time, and so home to supper
and to bed.
21st. Up and to the office, where Sir J. Minnes (most of the rest being
at the Parliament-house), all the morning answering petitions and
other business. Towards noon there comes a man in as if upon ordinary
business, and shows me a writ from the Exchequer, called a Commission
of Rebellion, and tells me that I am his prisoner in Field's business;
which methought did strike me to the heart, to think that we could not
sit in the middle of the King's business. I told him how and where we
were employed, and bid him have a care; and perceiving that we were
busy, he said he would, and did withdraw for an hour: in which time Sir
J. Minnes took coach and to Court, to see what he could do from thence;
and our solicitor against Field came by chance and told me that he would
go and satisfy the fees of the Court, and would end the business. So he
went away about that, and I staid in my closett, till by and by the man
and four more of his fellows came to know what I would do; I told them
stay till I heard from the King or my Lord Chief Baron, to both whom
I had now sent. With that they consulted, and told me that if I would
promise to stay in the house they would go and refresh themselves, and
come again, and know what answer I had: so they away, and I home to
dinner, whither by chance comes Mr. Hawley and dined with me. Before I
had dined, the bayleys come back again with the constable, and at the
office knock for me, but found me not there; and I hearing in what
manner they were come, did forbear letting them know where I was; so
they stood knocking and enquiring for me. By and by at my parler-window
comes Sir W. Batten's Mungo, to tell me that his master and lady would
have me come to their house through Sir J. Minnes's lodgings, which I
could not do; but, however, by ladders, did get over the pale between
our yards, and so to their house, where I found them (as they have
reason) to be much concerned for me, my lady especially. The fellows
staid in the yard swearing with one or two constables, and some time we
locked them into the yard, and by and by let them out again, and so kept
them all the afternoon, not letting them see me, or know where I was.
One time I went up to the top of Sir W. Batten's house, and out of one
of their windows spoke to my wife out of one of ours; which methought,
though I did it in mirth, yet I was sad to think what a sad thing it
would be for me to be really in that condition. By and by comes Sir J.
Minnes, who (like himself and all that he do) tells us that he can do
no good, but that my Lord Chancellor wonders that we did not cause the
seamen to fall about their ears: which we wished we could have done
without our being seen in it; and Captain Grove being there, he did give
them some affront, and would have got some seamen to have drubbed them,
but he had not time, nor did we think it fit to have done it, they
having executed their commission; but there was occasion given that he
did draw upon one of them and he did complain that Grove had pricked him
in the breast, but no hurt done; but I see that Grove would have done
our business to them if we had bid him. By and by comes Mr. Clerke, our
solicitor, who brings us a release from our adverse atturney, we paying
the fees of the commission, which comes to five marks, and pay the
charges of these fellows, which are called the commissioners, but are
the most rake-shamed rogues that ever I saw in my life; so he showed
them this release, and they seemed satisfied, and went away with him to
their atturney to be paid by him. But before they went, Sir W. Batten
and my lady did begin to taunt them, but the rogues answered them as
high as themselves, and swore they would come again, and called me rogue
and rebel, and they would bring the sheriff and untile his house, before
he should harbour a rebel in his house, and that they would be here
again shortly. Well, at last they went away, and I by advice took
occasion to go abroad, and walked through the street to show myself
among the neighbours, that they might not think worse than the business
is. Being met by Captn. Taylor and Bowry, whose ship we have hired
for Tangier, they walked along with me to Cornhill talking about their
business, and after some difference about their prices we agreed, and so
they would have me to a tavern, and there I drank one glass of wine
and discoursed of something about freight of a ship that may bring me
a little money, and so broke up, and I home to Sir W. Batten's again,
where Sir J. Lawson, Captain Allen, Spragg, and several others, and all
our discourse about the disgrace done to our office to be liable to this
trouble, which we must get removed. Hither comes Mr. Clerke by and by,
and tells me that he hath paid the fees of the Court for the commission;
but the men are not contented with under; L5 for their charges, which
he will not give them, and therefore advises me not to stir abroad till
Monday that he comes or sends to me again, whereby I shall not be
able to go to White Hall to the Duke of York, as I ought. Here I staid
vexing, and yet pleased to see every body, man and woman, my Lady and
Mr. Turner especially, for me, till 10 at night; and so home, where my
people are mightily surprized to see this business, but it troubles me
not very much, it being nothing touching my particular person or estate.
Being in talk to-day with Sir W. Batten he tells me that little is done
yet in the Parliament-house, but only this day it was moved and ordered
that all the members of the House do subscribe to the renouncing of the
Covenant, which is thought will try some of them. There is also a bill
brought in for the wearing of nothing but cloth or stuffs of our own
manufacture, and is likely to be passed. Among other talk this evening,
my lady did speak concerning Commissioner Pett's calling the present
King bastard, and other high words heretofore; and Sir W. Batten did
tell us, that he did give the Duke or Mr. Coventry an account of that
and other like matters in writing under oath, of which I was ashamed,
and for which I was sorry, but I see there is an absolute hatred never
to be altered there, and Sir J. Minnes, the old coxcomb, has got it by
the end, which troubles me for the sake of the King's service, though
I do truly hate the expressions laid to him. To my office and set down
this day's journall, and so home with my mind out of order, though not
very sad with it, but ashamed for myself something, and for the honour
of the office much more. So home and to bed.
22d (Lord's day). Lay long in bed and went not out all day; but after
dinner to Sir W. Batten's and Sir W. Pen's, where discoursing much of
yesterday's trouble and scandal; but that which troubled me most was
Sir J. Minnes coming from Court at night, and instead of bringing great
comfort from thence (but I expected no better from him), he tells me
that the Duke and Mr. Coventry make no great matter of it. So at night
discontented to prayers, and to bed.
23d. Up by times; and not daring to go by land, did (Griffin going along
with me for fear), slip to White Hall by water; where to Mr. Coventry,
and, as we used to do, to the Duke; the other of my fellows being come.
But we said nothing of our business, the Duke being sent for to the
King, that he could not stay to speak with us. This morning came my Lord
Windsor to kiss the Duke's hand, being returned from Jamaica. He tells
the Duke, that from such a degree of latitude going thither he begun to
be sick, and was never well till his coming so far back again, and then
presently begun to be well. He told the Duke of their taking the fort of
St. Jago, upon Cuba, by his men; but, upon the whole, I believe that he
did matters like a young lord, and was weary of being upon service out
of his own country, where he might have pleasure. For methought it was a
shame to see him this very afternoon, being the first day of his coming
to town, to be at a playhouse. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, who though he
has been abroad again two or three days is falling ill again, and is let
blood this morning, though I hope it is only a great cold that he has
got. It was a great trouble to me (and I had great apprehensions of
it) that my Lord desired me to go to Westminster Hall, to the
Parliament-house door, about business; and to Sir Wm. Wheeler, which I
told him I would do, but durst not go for fear of being taken by these
rogues; but was forced to go to White Hall and take boat, and so land
below the Tower at the Iron-gate; and so the back way over Little Tower
Hill; and with my cloak over my face, took one of the watermen along
with me, and staid behind a wall in the New-buildings behind our garden,
while he went to see whether any body stood within the Merchants' Gate,
under which we pass to go into our garden, and there standing but a
little dirty boy before the gate, did make me quake and sweat to think
he might be a Trepan. But there was nobody, and so I got safe into the
garden, and coming to open my office door, something behind it fell
in the opening, which made me start. So that God knows in what a sad
condition I should be in if I were truly in the condition that many a
poor man is for debt: and therefore ought to bless God that I have
no such reall reason, and to endeavour to keep myself, by my good
deportment and good husbandry, out of any such condition. At home I
found Mr. Creed with my wife, and so he dined with us, I finding by a
note that Mr. Clerke in my absence hath left here, that I am free; and
that he hath stopped all matters in Court; I was very glad of it, and
immediately had a light thought of taking pleasure to rejoice my heart,
and so resolved to take my wife to a play at Court to-night, and the
rather because it is my birthday, being this day thirty years old, for
which let me praise God. While my wife dressed herself, Creed and
I walked out to see what play was acted to-day, and we find it "The
Slighted Mayde." But, Lord! to see that though I did know myself to be
out of danger, yet I durst not go through the street, but round by the
garden into Tower Street. By and by took coach, and to the Duke's house,
where we saw it well acted, though the play hath little good in it,
being most pleased to see the little girl dance in boy's apparel, she
having very fine legs, only bends in the hams, as I perceive all women
do. The play being done, we took coach and to Court, and there got good
places, and saw "The Wilde Gallant," performed by the King's house, but
it was ill acted, and the play so poor a thing as I never saw in my life
almost, and so little answering the name, that from beginning to end,
I could not, nor can at this time, tell certainly which was the Wild
Gallant. The King did not seem pleased at all, all the whole play, nor
any body else, though Mr. Clerke whom we met here did commend it to
us. My Lady Castlemaine was all worth seeing tonight, and little
Steward.--[Mrs. Stuart]--Mrs. Wells do appear at Court again, and looks
well; so that, it may be, the late report of laying the dropped child to
her was not true. It being done, we got a coach and got well home about
12 at night. Now as my mind was but very ill satisfied with these two
plays themselves, so was I in the midst of them sad to think of the
spending so much money and venturing upon the breach of my vow, which
I found myself sorry for, I bless God, though my nature would well be
contented to follow the pleasure still. But I did make payment of my
forfeiture presently, though I hope to save it back again by forbearing
two plays at Court for this one at the Theatre, or else to forbear that
to the Theatre which I am to have at Easter. But it being my birthday
and my day of liberty regained to me, and lastly, the last play that is
likely to be acted at Court before Easter, because of the Lent coming
in, I was the easier content to fling away so much money. So to bed.
This day I was told that my Lady Castlemaine hath all the King's
Christmas presents, made him by the peers, given to her, which is a
most abominable thing; and that at the great ball she was much richer in
jewells than the Queen and Duchess put both together.
24th. Slept hard till 8 o'clock, then waked by Mr. Clerke's being come
to consult me about Field's business, which we did by calling him up
to my bedside, and he says we shall trounce him. Then up, and to
the office, and at 11 o'clock by water to Westminster, and to Sir W.
Wheeler's about my Lord's borrowing of money that I was lately upon with
him, and then to my Lord, who continues ill, but will do well I doubt
not. Among other things, he tells me that he hears the Commons will not
agree to the King's late declaration, nor will yield that the Papists
have any ground given them to raise themselves up again in England,
which I perceive by my Lord was expected at Court. Thence home again
by water presently, and with a bad dinner, being not looked for, to
the office, and there we sat, and then Captn. Cocke and I upon his hemp
accounts till 9 at night, and then, I not very well, home to supper and
to bed. My late distemper of heat and itching being come upon me again,
so that I must think of sweating again as I did before.
25th. Up and to my office, where with Captain Cocke making an end of his
last night's accounts till noon, and so home to dinner, my wife being
come in from laying out about L4 in provision of several things against
Lent. In the afternoon to the Temple, my brother's, the Wardrobe, to
Mr. Moore, and other places, called at about small businesses, and so
at night home to my office and then to supper and to bed. The Commons in
Parliament, I hear, are very high to stand to the Act of Uniformity, and
will not indulge the Papists (which is endeavoured by the Court Party)
nor the Presbyters.
26th. Up and drinking a draft of wormewood wine with Sir W. Batten at
the Steelyard, he and I by water to the Parliament-house: he went
in, and I walked up and down the Hall. All the news is the great odds
yesterday in the votes between them that are for the Indulgence to the
Papists and Presbyters, and those that are against it, which did carry
it by 200 against 30. And pretty it is to consider how the King would
appear to be a stiff Protestant and son of the Church; and yet would
appear willing to give a liberty to these people, because of his promise
at Breda. And yet all the world do believe that the King would not have
this liberty given them at all. Thence to my Lord's, who, I hear, has
his ague again, for which I am sorry, and Creed and I to the King's Head
ordinary, where much good company. Among the rest a young gallant lately
come from France, who was full of his French, but methought not very
good, but he had enough to make him think himself a wise man a great
while. Thence by water from the New Exchange home to the Tower, and so
sat at the office, and then writing letters till 11 at night. Troubled
this evening that my wife is not come home from Chelsey, whither she
is gone to see the play at the school where Ashwell is, but she came
at last, it seems, by water, and tells me she is much pleased with
Ashwell's acting and carriage, which I am glad of. So home and to supper
and bed.
27th. Up and to my office, whither several persons came to me about
office business. About 11 o'clock, Commissioner Pett and I walked to
Chyrurgeon's Hall (we being all invited thither, and promised to dine
there); where we were led into the Theatre; and by and by comes the
reader, Dr. Tearne, with the Master and Company, in a very handsome
manner: and all being settled, he begun his lecture, this being the
second upon the kidneys, ureters, &c., which was very fine; and his
discourse being ended, we walked into the Hall, and there being great
store of company, we had a fine dinner and good learned company, many
Doctors of Phisique, and we used with extraordinary great respect. Among
other observables we drank the King's health out of a gilt cup given by
King Henry VIII. to this Company, with bells hanging at it, which every
man is to ring by shaking after he hath drunk up the whole cup. There is
also a very excellent piece of the King, done by Holbein, stands up in
the Hall, with the officers of the Company kneeling to him to receive
their Charter. After dinner Dr. Scarborough took some of his friends,
and I went along with them, to see the body alone, which we did, which
was a lusty fellow, a seaman, that was hanged for a robbery. I did touch
the dead body with my bare hand: it felt cold, but methought it was
a very unpleasant sight. It seems one Dillon, of a great family, was,
after much endeavours to have saved him, hanged with a silken halter
this Sessions (of his own preparing), not for honour only, but it seems,
it being soft and sleek, it do slip close and kills, that is, strangles
presently: whereas, a stiff one do not come so close together, and so
the party may live the longer before killed. But all the Doctors at
table conclude, that there is no pain at all in hanging, for that it do
stop the circulation of the blood; and so stops all sense and motion in
an instant. Thence we went into a private room, where I perceive they
prepare the bodies, and there were the kidneys, ureters [&c.], upon
which he read to-day, and Dr. Scarborough upon my desire and the
company's did show very clearly the manner of the disease of the stone
and the cutting and all other questions that I could think of... how the
water [comes] into the bladder through the three skins or coats just as
poor Dr. Jolly has heretofore told me. Thence with great satisfaction
to me back to the Company, where I heard good discourse, and so to the
afternoon Lecture upon the heart and lungs, &c., and that being done we
broke up, took leave, and back to the office, we two, Sir W. Batten, who
dined here also, being gone before. Here late, and to Sir W. Batten's
to speak upon some business, where I found Sir J. Minnes pretty well
fuddled I thought: he took me aside to tell me how being at my Lord
Chancellor's to-day, my Lord told him that there was a Great Seal
passing for Sir W. Pen, through the impossibility of the Comptroller's
duty to be performed by one man; to be as it were joynt-comptroller with
him, at which he is stark mad; and swears he will give up his place,
and do rail at Sir W. Pen the cruellest; he I made shift to encourage
as much as I could, but it pleased me heartily to hear him rail against
him, so that I do see thoroughly that they are not like to be great
friends, for he cries out against him for his house and yard and God
knows what. For my part, I do hope, when all is done, that my following
my business will keep me secure against all their envys. But to see
how the old man do strut, and swear that he understands all his duty as
easily as crack a nut, and easier, he told my Lord Chancellor, for
his teeth are gone; and that he understands it as well as any man in
England; and that he will never leave to record that he should be said
to be unable to do his duty alone; though, God knows, he cannot do it
more than a child. All this I am glad to see fall out between them and
myself safe, and yet I hope the King's service well done for all
this, for I would not that should be hindered by any of our private
differences. So to my office, and then home to supper and to bed.
28th. Waked with great pain in my right ear (which I find myself much
subject to) having taken cold. Up and to my office, where we sat all
the morning, and I dined with Sir W. Batten by chance, being in business
together about a bargain of New England masts. Then to the Temple to
meet my uncle Thomas, who I found there, but my cozen Roger not
being come home I took boat and to Westminster, where I found him in
Parliament this afternoon. The House have this noon been with the
King to give him their reasons for refusing to grant any indulgence
to Presbyters or Papists; which he, with great content and seeming
pleasure, took, saying, that he doubted not but he and they should
agree in all things, though there may seem a difference in judgement,
he having writ and declared for an indulgence: and that he did believe
never prince was happier in a House of Commons, than he was in them.
Thence he and I to my Lord Sandwich, who continues troubled with his
cold. Our discourse most upon the outing of Sir R. Bernard, and my
Lord's being made Recorder of Huntingdon in his stead, which he seems
well contented with, saying, that it may be for his convenience to have
the chief officer of the town dependent upon him, which is very true.
Thence he and I to the Temple, but my uncle being gone we parted, and I
walked home, and to my office, and at nine o'clock had a good supper of
an oxe's cheek, of my wife's dressing and baking, and so to my office
again till past eleven at night, making up my month's account, and find
that I am at a stay with what I was last, that is L640. So home and to
bed. Coming by, I put in at White Hall, and at the Privy Seal I did see
the docquet by which Sir W. Pen is made the Comptroller's assistant, as
Sir J. Minnes told me last night, which I must endeavour to prevent.
MARCH 1662-1663
March 1st (Lord's day). Up and walked to White Hall, to the Chappell,
where preached one Dr. Lewes, said heretofore to have been a great witt;
but he read his sermon every word, and that so brokenly and so low, that
nobody could hear at any distance, nor I anything worth hearing that
sat near. But, which was strange, he forgot to make any prayer before
sermon, which all wonder at, but they impute it to his forgetfulness.
After sermon a very fine anthem; so I up into the house among the
courtiers, seeing the fine ladies, and, above all, my Lady Castlemaine,
who is above all, that only she I can observe for true beauty. The King
and Queen being set to dinner I went to Mr. Fox's, and there dined with
him. Much genteel company, and, among other things, I hear for certain
that peace is concluded between the King of France and the Pope; and
also I heard the reasons given by our Parliament yesterday to the King
why they dissent from him in matter of Indulgence, which are very good
quite through, and which I was glad to hear. Thence to my Lord Sandwich,
who continues with a great cold, locked up; and, being alone, we fell
into discourse of my uncle the Captain's death and estate, and I took
the opportunity of telling my Lord how matters stand, and read his
will, and told him all, what a poor estate he hath left, at all which he
wonders strangely, which he may well do. Thence after singing some new
tunes with W. Howe I walked home, whither came Will. Joyce, whom I have
not seen here a great while, nor desire it a great while again, he is so
impertinent a coxcomb, and yet good natured, and mightily concerned for
my brother's late folly in his late wooing at the charge to no purpose,
nor could in any probability a it. He gone, we all to bed, without
prayers, it being washing day to-morrow.
2nd. Up early and by water with Commissioner Pett to Deptford, and there
took the Jemmy yacht (that the King and the Lords virtuosos built the
other day) down to Woolwich, where we discoursed of several matters both
there and at the Ropeyard, and so to the yacht again, and went down four
or five miles with extraordinary pleasure, it being a fine day, and a
brave gale of wind, and had some oysters brought us aboard newly taken,
which were excellent, and ate with great pleasure. There also coming
into the river two Dutchmen, we sent a couple of men on board and bought
three Hollands cheeses, cost 4d. a piece, excellent cheeses, whereof I
had two and Commissioner Pett one. So back again to Woolwich, and going
aboard the Hulke to see the manner of the iron bridles, which we are
making of for to save cordage to put to the chain, I did fall from the
shipside into the ship (Kent), and had like to have broke my left hand,
but I only sprained some of my fingers, which, when I came ashore I sent
to Mrs. Ackworth for some balsam, and put to my hand, and was pretty
well within a little while after. We dined at the White Hart with
several officers with us, and after dinner went and saw the Royal James
brought down to the stern of the Docke (the main business we came for),
and then to the Ropeyard, and saw a trial between Riga hemp and a sort
of Indian grass, which is pretty strong, but no comparison between it
and the other for strength, and it is doubtful whether it will take
tarre or no. So to the yacht again, and carried us almost to London, so
by our oars home to the office, and thence Mr. Pett and I to Mr. Grant's
coffee-house, whither he and Sir J. Cutler came to us and had much
discourse, mixed discourse, and so broke up, and so home where I found
my poor wife all alone at work, and the house foul, it being washing
day, which troubled me, because that tomorrow I must be forced to have
friends at dinner. So to my office, and then home to supper and to bed.
3rd (Shrove Tuesday). Up and walked to the Temple, and by promise
calling Commissioner Pett, he and I to White Hall to give Mr. Coventry
an account of what we did yesterday. Thence I to the Privy Seal Office,
and there got a copy of Sir W. Pen's grant to be assistant to Sir J.
Minnes, Comptroller, which, though there be not much in it, yet I intend
to stir up Sir J. Minnes to oppose, only to vex Sir W. Pen. Thence by
water home, and at noon, by promise, Mrs. Turner and her daughter, and
Mrs. Morrice, came along with Roger Pepys to dinner. We were as merry
as I could be, having but a bad dinner for them; but so much the better,
because of the dinner which I must have at the end of this month. And
here Mrs. The. shewed me my name upon her breast as her Valentine, which
will cost me 20s. After dinner I took them down into the wine-cellar,
and broached my tierce of claret for them. Towards the evening we
parted, and I to the office awhile, and then home to supper and to bed,
the sooner having taken some cold yesterday upon the water, which brings
me my usual pain. This afternoon Roger Pepys tells me, that for certain
the King is for all this very highly incensed at the Parliament's late
opposing the Indulgence; which I am sorry for, and fear it will breed
great discontent.
4th. Lay long talking with my wife about ordering things in our family,
and then rose and to my office, there collecting an alphabet for my
Navy Manuscript, which, after a short dinner, I returned to and by night
perfected to my great content. So to other business till 9 at night, and
so home to supper and to bed.
5th. Rose this morning early, only to try with intention to begin my
last summer's course in rising betimes. So to my office a little, and
then to Westminster by coach with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten, in
our way talking of Sir W. Pen's business of his patent, which I think
I have put a stop to wholly, for Sir J. Minnes swears he will never
consent to it. Here to the Lobby, and spoke with my cozen Roger, who is
going to Cambridge to-morrow. In the Hall I do hear that the Catholiques
are in great hopes for all this, and do set hard upon the King to get
Indulgence. Matters, I hear, are all naught in Ireland, and that the
Parliament has voted, and the people, that is, the Papists, do cry out
against the Commissioners sent by the King; so that they say the English
interest will be lost there. Thence I went to see my Lord Sandwich, who
I found very ill, and by his cold being several nights hindered from
sleep, he is hardly able to open his eyes, and is very weak and sad
upon it, which troubled me much. So after talking with Mr. Cooke, whom
I found there, about his folly for looking and troubling me and other
friends in getting him a place (that is, storekeeper of the Navy at
Tangier) before there is any such thing, I returned to the Hall, and
thence back with the two knights home again by coach, where I found Mr.
Moore got abroad, and dined with me, which I was glad to see, he having
not been able to go abroad a great while. Then came in Mr. Hawley and
dined with us, and after dinner I left them, and to the office, where
we sat late, and I do find that I shall meet with nothing to oppose my
growing great in the office but Sir W. Pen, who is now well again, and
comes into the office very brisk, and, I think, to get up his time
that he has been out of the way by being mighty diligent at the office,
which, I pray God, he may be, but I hope by mine to weary him out, for
I am resolved to fall to business as hard as I can drive, God giving me
health. At my office late, and so home to supper and to bed.
6th. Up betimes, and about eight o'clock by coach with four horses, with
Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten, to Woolwich, a pleasant day. There at
the yard we consulted and ordered several matters, and thence to the
rope yard and did the like, and so into Mr. Falconer's, where we had
some fish, which we brought with us, dressed; and there dined with us
his new wife, which had been his mayde, but seems to be a genteel woman,
well enough bred and discreet. Thence after dinner back to Deptford,
where we did as before, and so home, good discourse in our way, Sir J.
Minnes being good company, though a simple man enough as to the business
of his office, but we did discourse at large again about Sir W. Pen's
patent to be his assistant, and I perceive he is resolved never to let
it pass. To my office, and thence to Sir W. Batten's, where Major Holmes
was lately come from the Streights, but do tell me strange stories of
the faults of Cooper his master, put in by me, which I do not believe,
but am sorry to hear and must take some course to have him removed,
though I believe that the Captain is proud, and the fellow is not supple
enough to him. So to my office again to set down my Journall, and so
home and to bed. This evening my boy Waynman's brother was with me, and
I did tell him again that I must part with the boy, for I will not keep
him. He desires my keeping him a little longer till he can provide for
him, which I am willing for a while to do. This day it seems the House
of Commons have been very high against the Papists, being incensed by
the stir which they make for their having an Indulgence; which, without
doubt, is a great folly in them to be so hot upon at this time, when
they see how averse already the House have showed themselves from it.
This evening Mr. Povy was with me at my office, and tells me that my
Lord Sandwich is this day so ill that he is much afeard of him, which
puts me to great pain, not more for my own sake than for his poor
family's.
7th. Up betimes, and to the office, where some of us sat all the
morning. At noon Sir W. Pen began to talk with me like a counterfeit
rogue very kindly about his house and getting bills signed for all our
works, but he is a cheating fellow, and so I let him talk and answered
nothing. So we parted. I to dinner, and there met The. Turner, who is
come on foot in a frolique to beg me to get a place at sea for John,
their man, which is a rogue; but, however, it may be, the sea may do
him good in reclaiming him, and therefore I will see what I can do. She
dined with me; and after dinner I took coach, and carried her home; in
our way, in Cheapside, lighting and giving her a dozen pair of white
gloves as my Valentine. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, who is gone to Sir
W. Wheeler's for his more quiet being, where he slept well last night,
and I took him very merry, playing at cards, and much company with him.
So I left him, and Creed and I to Westminster Hall, and there walked a
good while. He told me how for some words of my Lady Gerard's
[Jane, wife of Lord Gerard (see ante, January 1st, 1662-63). The
king had previously put a slight upon Lady Gerard, probably at the
instigation of Lady Castlemaine, as the two ladies were not friends.
On the 4th of January of this same year Lady Gerard had given a
supper to the king and queen, when the king withdrew from the party
and proceeded to the house of Lady Castlemaine, and remained there
throughout the evening (see Steinman's "Memoir of Barbara, Duchess
of Cleveland," 1871, p. 47).]
against my Lady Castlemaine to the Queen, the King did the other day
affront her in going out to dance with her at a ball, when she desired
it as the ladies do, and is since forbid attending the Queen by the
King; which is much talked of, my Lord her husband being a great
favourite. Thence by water home and to my office, wrote by the post and
so home to bed.
8th (Lord's day). Being sent to by Sir J. Minnes to know whether I would
go with him to White Hall to-day, I rose but could not get ready before
he was gone, but however I walked thither and heard Dr. King, Bishop of
Chichester, make a good and eloquent sermon upon these words, "They that
sow in tears, shall reap in joy." Thence (the chappell in Lent being
hung with black, and no anthem sung after sermon, as at other times), to
my Lord Sandwich at Sir W. Wheeler's. I found him out of order, thinking
himself to be in a fit of an ague, but in the afternoon he was very
cheery. I dined with Sir William, where a good but short dinner, not
better than one of mine commonly of a Sunday. After dinner up to my
Lord, there being Mr. Kumball. My Lord, among other discourse, did tell
us of his great difficultys passed in the business of the Sound, and
of his receiving letters from the King there, but his sending them by
Whetstone was a great folly; and the story how my Lord being at dinner
with Sydney, one of his fellow plenipotentiarys and his mortal enemy,
did see Whetstone, and put off his hat three times to him, but the
fellow would not be known, which my Lord imputed to his coxcombly humour
(of which he was full), and bid Sydney take notice of him too, when at
the very time he had letters in his pocket from the King, as it proved
afterwards. And Sydney afterwards did find it out at Copenhagen, the
Dutch Commissioners telling him how my Lord Sandwich had hired one
of their ships to carry back Whetstone to Lubeck, he being come from
Flanders from the King. But I cannot but remember my Lord's aequanimity
in all these affairs with admiration. Thence walked home, in my way
meeting Mr. Moore, with whom I took a turn or two in the street among
the drapers in Paul's Churchyard, talking of business, and so home to
bed.
9th. Up betimes, to my office, where all the morning. About noon Sir J.
Robinson, Lord Mayor, desiring way through the garden from the Tower,
called in at the office and there invited me (and Sir W. Pen, who
happened to be in the way) to dinner, which we did; and there had a
great Lent dinner of fish, little flesh. And thence he and I in his
coach, against my will (for I am resolved to shun too great fellowship
with him) to White Hall, but came too late, the Duke having been with
our fellow officers before we came, for which I was sorry. Thence he
and I to walk one turn in the Park, and so home by coach, and I to my
office, where late, and so home to supper and bed. There dined with us
to-day Mr. Slingsby, of the Mint, who showed us all the new pieces both
gold and silver (examples of them all), that are made for the King,
by Blondeau's' way; and compared them with those made for Oliver. The
pictures of the latter made by Symons, and of the King by one Rotyr, a
German, I think, that dined with us also. He extolls those of Rotyr's
above the others; and, indeed, I think they are the better, because the
sweeter of the two; but, upon my word, those of the Protector are more
like in my mind, than the King's, but both very well worth seeing. The
crowns of Cromwell are now sold, it seems, for 25s. and 30s. apiece.
10th. Up and to my office all the morning, and great pleasure it is to
be doing my business betimes. About noon Sir J. Minnes came to me and
staid half an hour with me in my office talking about his business with
Sir W. Pen, and (though with me an old doter) yet he told me freely how
sensible he is of Sir W. Pen's treachery in this business, and what poor
ways he has taken all along to ingratiate himself by making Mr. Turner
write out things for him and then he gives them to the Duke, and how
he directed him to give Mr. Coventry L100 for his place, but that Mr.
Coventry did give him L20 back again. All this I am pleased to hear that
his knavery is found out. Dined upon a poor Lenten dinner at home, my
wife being vexed at a fray this morning with my Lady Batten about my
boy's going thither to turn the watercock with their maydes' leave, but
my Lady was mighty high upon it and she would teach his mistress better
manners, which my wife answered aloud that she might hear, that she
could learn little manners of her. After dinner to my office, and there
we sat all the afternoon till 8 at night, and so wrote my letters by
the post and so before 9 home, which is rare with me of late, I staying
longer, but with multitude of business my head akes, and so I can stay
no longer, but home to supper and to bed.
11th. Up betimes, and to my office, walked a little in the garden with
Sir W. Batten, talking about the difference between his Lady and my wife
yesterday, and I doubt my wife is to blame. About noon had news by Mr.
Wood that Butler, our chief witness against Field, was sent by him to
New England contrary to our desire, which made me mad almost; and so
Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Pen, and I dined together at Trinity House, and
thither sent for him to us and told him our minds, which he seemed not
to value much, but went away. I wrote and sent an express to Walthamstow
to Sir W. Pen, who is gone thither this morning, to tell him of it.
However, in the afternoon Wood sends us word that he has appointed
another to go, who shall overtake the ship in the Downes. So I was
late at the office, among other things writing to the Downes, to the
Commander-in-Chief, and putting things into the surest course I could to
help the business. So home and to bed.
12th. Up betimes and to my office all the morning with Captain Cocke
ending their account of their Riga contract for hemp. So home to dinner,
my head full of business against the office. After dinner comes my uncle
Thomas with a letter to my father, wherein, as we desire, he and his son
do order their tenants to pay their rents to us, which pleases me well.
In discourse he tells me my uncle Wight thinks much that I do never see
them, and they have reason, but I do apprehend that they have been too
far concerned with my uncle Thomas against us, so that I have had no
mind hitherto, but now I shall go see them. He being gone, I to the
office, where at the choice of maisters and chyrurgeons for the fleet
now going out, I did my business as I could wish, both for the persons
I had a mind to serve, and in getting the warrants signed drawn by my
clerks, which I was afeard of. Sat late, and having done I went home,
where I found Mary Ashwell come to live with us, of whom I hope well,
and pray God she may please us, which, though it cost me something,
yet will give me much content. So to supper and to bed, and find by her
discourse and carriage to-night that she is not proud, but will do
what she is bid, but for want of being abroad knows not how to give the
respect to her mistress, as she will do when she is told it, she having
been used only to little children, and there was a kind of a mistress
over them. Troubled all night with my cold, I being quite hoarse with it
that I could not speak to be heard at all almost.
13th. Up pretty early and to my office all the morning busy. At noon
home to dinner expecting Ashwell's father, who was here in the morning
and promised to come but he did not, but there came in Captain Grove,
and I found him to be a very stout man, at least in his discourse he
would be thought so, and I do think that he is, and one that bears
me great respect and deserves to be encouraged for his care in all
business. Abroad by water with my wife and Ashwell, and left them at
Mr. Pierce's, and I to Whitehall and St. James's Park (there being no
Commission for Tangier sitting to-day as I looked for) where I walked
an hour or two with great pleasure, it being a most pleasant day. So to
Mrs. Hunt's, and there found my wife, and so took them up by coach, and
carried them to Hide Park, where store of coaches and good faces. Here
till night, and so home and to my office to write by the post, and so to
supper and to bed.
14th. 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 Bewpers,--[Bewpers is the old name for
bunting.]--which he serves in for flaggs, which did trouble me, but
yet it was in defence of what was truth. So home to dinner, where Creed
dined with me, and walked a good while in the garden with me after
dinner, talking, among other things, of the poor service which Sir J.
Lawson did really do in the Streights, for which all this great fame
and honour done him is risen. So to my office, where all the afternoon
giving maisters their warrants for this voyage, for which I hope
hereafter to get something at their coming home. In the evening my
wife and I and Ashwell walked in the garden, and I find she is a pretty
ingenuous
[For ingenious. The distinction of the two words ingenious and
ingenuous by which the former indicates mental, and the second moral
qualities, was not made in Pepys's day.]
girl at all sorts of fine work, which pleases me very well, and I hope
will be very good entertainment for my wife without much cost. So to
write by the post, and so home to supper and to bed.
15th (Lord's day). Up and with my wife and her woman Ashwell the first
time to church, where our pew was so full with Sir J. Minnes's sister
and her daughter, that I perceive, when we come all together, some of us
must be shut out, but I suppose we shall come to some order what to do
therein. Dined at home, and to church again in the afternoon, and so
home, and I to my office till the evening doing one thing or other and
reading my vows as I am bound every Lord's day, and so home to supper
and talk, and Ashwell is such good company that I think we shall be very
lucky in her. So to prayers and to bed. This day the weather, which of
late has been very hot and fair, turns very wet and cold, and all the
church time this afternoon it thundered mightily, which I have not heard
a great while.
16th. Up very betimes and to my office, where, with several Masters
of the King's ships, Sir J. Minnes and I advising upon the business of
Slopps, wherein the seaman is so much abused by the Pursers, and
that being done, then I home to dinner, and so carried my wife to her
mother's, set her down and Ashwell to my Lord's lodging, there left
her, and I to the Duke, where we met of course, and talked of our Navy
matters. Then to the Commission of Tangier, and there, among other
things, had my Lord Peterborough's Commission read over; and Mr.
Secretary Bennet did make his querys upon it, in order to the drawing
one for my Lord Rutherford more regularly, that being a very extravagant
thing. Here long discoursing upon my Lord Rutherford's despatch, and so
broke up, and so going out of the Court I met with Mr. Coventry, and
so he and I walked half an hour in the long Stone Gallery, where we
discoursed of many things, among others how the Treasurer doth intend to
come to pay in course, which is the thing of the world that will do the
King the greatest service in the Navy, and which joys my heart to hear
of. He tells me of the business of Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Pen, which
I knew before, but took no notice or little that I did know it. But
he told me it was chiefly to make Mr. Pett's being joyned with Sir
W. Batten to go down the better, and do tell me how he well sees that
neither one nor the other can do their duties without help. But however
will let it fall at present without doing more in it to see whether they
will do their duties themselves, which he will see, and saith they
do not. We discoursed of many other things to my great content and so
parted, and I to my wife at my Lord's lodgings, where I heard Ashwell
play first upon the harpsicon, and I find she do play pretty well, which
pleaseth me very well. Thence home by coach, buying at the Temple the
printed virginal-book for her, and so home and to my office a while, and
so home and to supper and to bed.
17th. Up betimes and to my office a while, and then home and to Sir W.
Batten, with whom by coach to St. Margaret's Hill in Southwark, where
the judge of the Admiralty came, and the rest of the Doctors of the
Civill law, and some other Commissioners, whose Commission of Oyer
and Terminer was read, and then the charge, given by Dr. Exton, which
methought was somewhat dull, though he would seem to intend it to be
very rhetoricall, saying that justice had two wings, one of which spread
itself over the land, and the other over the water, which was this
Admiralty Court. That being done, and the jury called, they broke up,
and to dinner to a tavern hard by, where a great dinner, and I with
them; but I perceive that this Court is yet but in its infancy (as
to its rising again), and their design and consultation was, I could
overhear them, how to proceed with the most solemnity, and spend time,
there being only two businesses to do, which of themselves could not
spend much time. In the afternoon to the court again, where, first,
Abraham, the boatswain of the King's pleasure boat, was tried for
drowning a man; and next, Turpin, accused by our wicked rogue Field, for
stealing the King's timber; but after full examination, they were both
acquitted, and as I was glad of the first, for the saving the man's
life, so I did take the other as a very good fortune to us; for if
Turpin had been found guilty, it would have sounded very ill in the ears
of all the world, in the business between Field and us. So home with my
mind at very great ease, over the water to the Tower, and thence, there
being nobody at the office, we being absent, and so no office could be
kept. Sir W. Batten and I to my Lord Mayor's, where we found my Lord
with Colonel Strangways and Sir Richard Floyd, Parliament-men, in the
cellar drinking, where we sat with them, and then up; and by and by
comes in Sir Richard Ford. In our drinking, which was always going, we
had many discourses, but from all of them I do find Sir R. Ford a very
able man of his brains and tongue, and a scholler. But my Lord Mayor
I find to be a talking, bragging Bufflehead, a fellow that would be
thought to have led all the City in the great business of bringing in
the King, and that nobody understood his plots, and the dark lanthorn he
walked by; but led them and plowed with them as oxen and asses (his own
words) to do what he had a mind when in every discourse I observe him to
be as very a coxcomb as I could have thought had been in the City.
But he is resolved to do great matters in pulling down the shops quite
through the City, as he hath done in many places, and will make a
thorough passage quite through the City, through Canning-street, which
indeed will be very fine. And then his precept, which he, in vain-glory,
said he had drawn up himself, and hath printed it, against coachmen and
carrmen affronting of the gentry in the street; it is drawn so like a
fool, and some faults were openly found in it, that I believe he will
have so much wit as not to proceed upon it though it be printed. Here we
staid talking till eleven at night, Sir R. Ford breaking to my Lord our
business of our patent to be justices of the Peace in the City, which he
stuck at mightily; but, however, Sir R. Ford knows him to be a fool, and
so in his discourse he made him appear, and cajoled him into a consent
to it: but so as I believe when he comes to his right mind tomorrow
he will be of another opinion; and though Sir R. Ford moved it very
weightily and neatly, yet I had rather it had been spared now. But to
see how he do rant, and pretend to sway all the City in the Court of
Aldermen, and says plainly that they cannot do, nor will he suffer them
to do, any thing but what he pleases; nor is there any officer of the
City but of his putting in; nor any man that could have kept the City
for the King thus well and long but him. And if the country can be
preserved, he will undertake that the City shall not dare to stir again.
When I am confident there is no man almost in the City cares a turd for
him, nor hath he brains to outwit any ordinary tradesman. So home and
wrote a letter to Commissioner Pett to Chatham by all means to compose
the business between Major Holmes and Cooper his master, and so to bed.
18th. Wake betimes and talk a while with my wife about a wench that she
has hired yesterday, which I would have enquired of before she comes,
she having lived in great families, and so up and to my office, where
all the morning, and at noon home to dinner. After dinner by water to
Redriffe, my wife and Ashwell with me, and so walked and left them at
Halfway house; I to Deptford, where up and down the store-houses, and
on board two or three ships now getting ready to go to sea, and so
back, and find my wife walking in the way. So home again, merry with our
Ashwell, who is a merry jade, and so awhile to my office, and then
home to supper, and to bed. This day my tryangle, which was put in tune
yesterday, did please me very well, Ashwell playing upon it pretty well.
19th. Up betimes and to Woolwich all alone by water, where took the
officers most abed. I walked and enquired how all matters and businesses
go, and by and by to the Clerk of the Cheque's house, and there eat some
of his good Jamaica brawne, and so walked to Greenwich. Part of the way
Deane walking with me; talking of the pride and corruption of most of
his fellow officers of the yard, and which I believe to be true. So
to Deptford, where I did the same to great content, and see the people
begin to value me as they do the rest. At noon Mr. Wayth took me to his
house, where I dined, and saw his wife, a pretty woman, and had a good
fish dinner, and after dinner he and I walked to Redriffe talking of
several errors in the Navy, by which I learned a great deal, and was
glad of his company. So by water home, and by and by to the office,
where we sat till almost 9 at night. So after doing my own business in
my office, writing letters, &c., home to supper, and to bed, being weary
and vexed that I do not find other people so willing to do business as
myself, when I have taken pains to find out what in the yards is wanting
and fitting to be done.
20th. Up betimes and over the water, and walked to Deptford, where up
and down the yarde, and met the two clerks of the Cheques to conclude by
our method their callbooks, which we have done to great perfection, and
so walked home again, where I found my wife in great pain abed.... I
staid and dined by her, and after dinner walked forth, and by water
to the Temple, and in Fleet Street bought me a little sword, with gilt
handle, cost 23s., and silk stockings to the colour of my riding cloth
suit, cost I 5s., and bought me a belt there too, cost 15s., and so
calling at my brother's I find he has got a new maid, very likely girl,
I wish he do not play the fool with her. Thence homewards, and
meeting with Mr. Kirton's kinsman in Paul's Church Yard, he and I to a
coffee-house; where I hear how there had like to have been a surprizall
of Dublin by some discontented protestants, and other things of like
nature; and it seems the Commissioners have carried themselves so high
for the Papists that the others will not endure it. Hewlett and some
others are taken and clapped up; and they say the King hath sent over
to dissolve the Parliament there, who went very high against the
Commissioners. Pray God send all well! Hence home and in comes Captain
Ferrers and by and by Mr. Bland to see me and sat talking with me till
9 or 10 at night, and so good night. The Captain to bid my wife to his
child's christening. So my wife being pretty well again and Ashwell
there we spent the evening pleasantly, and so to bed.
21st. Up betimes and to my office, where busy all the morning, and
at noon, after a very little dinner, to it again, and by and by, by
appointment, our full board met, and Sir Philip Warwick and Sir Robert
Long came from my Lord Treasurer to speak with us about the state of
the debts of the Navy; and how to settle it, so as to begin upon the new
foundation of L200,000 per annum, which the King is now resolved not to
exceed. This discourse done, and things put in a way of doing, they went
away, and Captain Holmes being called in he began his high complaint
against his Master Cooper, and would have him forthwith discharged.
Which I opposed, not in his defence but for the justice of proceeding
not to condemn a man unheard, upon [which] we fell from one word to
another that we came to very high terms, such as troubled me, though
all and the worst that I ever said was that that was insolently or ill
mannerdly spoken. When he told me that it was well it was here that I
said it. But all the officers, Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, Sir
W. Batten, and Sir W. Pen cried shame of it. At last he parted and we
resolved to bring the dispute between him and his Master to a trial next
week, wherein I shall not at all concern myself in defence of any thing
that is unhandsome on the Master's part nor willingly suffer him to have
any wrong. So we rose and I to my office, troubled though sensible that
all the officers are of opinion that he has carried himself very much
unbecoming him. So wrote letters by the post, and home to supper and to
bed.
22d (Lord's day). Up betimes and in my office wrote out our bill for the
Parliament about our being made justices of Peace in the City. So home
and to church, where a dull formall fellow that prayed for the Right
Hon. John Lord Barkeley, Lord President of Connaught, &c. So home
to dinner, and after dinner my wife and I and her woman by coach to
Westminster, where being come too soon for the Christening we took up
Mr. Creed and went out to take some ayre, as far as Chelsey and further,
I lighting there and letting them go on with the coach while I went
to the church expecting to see the young ladies of the school, Ashwell
desiring me, but I could not get in far enough, and so came out and at
the coach's coming back went in again and so back to Westminster, and
led my wife and her to Captain Ferrers, and I to my Lord Sandwich,
and with him talking a good while; I find the Court would have this
Indulgence go on, but the Parliament are against it. Matters in Ireland
are full of discontent. Thence with Mr. Creed to Captain Ferrers, where
many fine ladies; the house well and prettily furnished. She [Mrs.
Ferrers] lies in, in great state, Mr. G. Montagu, Collonel Williams,
Cromwell that was,
[Colonel Williams--"Cromwell that was"--appears to have been Henry
Cromwell, grandson of Sir Oliver Cromwell, and first cousin, once
removed, to the Protector. He was seated at Bodsey House, in the
parish of Ramsey, which had been his father's residence, and held
the commission of a colonel. He served in several Parliaments for
Huntingdonshire, voting, in 1660, for the restoration of the
monarchy; and as he knew the name of Cromwell would not be grateful
to the Court, he disused it, and assumed that of Williams, which had
belonged to his ancestors; and he is so styled in a list of knights
of the proposed Order of the Royal Oak. He died at Huntingdon, 3rd
August, 1673. (Abridged from Noble's "Memoirs of the Cromwells,"
vol. i., p. 70.)--B.]
and Mrs. Wright as proxy for my Lady Jemimah, were witnesses. Very
pretty and plentiful entertainment, could not get away till nine at
night, and so home. My coach cost me 7s. So to prayers, and to bed. This
day though I was merry enough yet I could not get yesterday's quarrel
out of my mind, and a natural fear of being challenged by Holmes for
the words I did give him, though nothing but what did become me as a
principal officer.
23rd. Up betimes and to my office, before noon my wife and I eat
something, thinking to have gone abroad together, but in comes Mr. Hunt,
who we were forced to stay to dinner, and so while that was got ready
he and I abroad about 2 or 3 small businesses of mine, and so back to
dinner, and after dinner he went away, and my wife and I and Ashwell by
coach, set my wife down at her mother's and Ashwell at my Lord's, she
going to see her father and mother, and I to Whitehall, being fearful
almost, so poor a spirit I have, of meeting Major Holmes. By and by
the Duke comes, and we with him about our usual business, and then
the Committee for Tangier, where, after reading my Lord Rutherford's
commission and consented to, Sir R. Ford, Sir W. Rider, and I were
chosen to bring in some laws for the Civill government of it, which I am
little able to do, but am glad to be joyned with them, for I shall learn
something of them. Thence to see my Lord Sandwich, and who should I meet
at the door but Major Holmes. He would have gone away, but I told him I
would not spoil his visitt, and would have gone, but however we fell to
discourse and he did as good as desire excuse for the high words that
did pass in his heat the other day, which I was willing enough to close
with, and after telling him my mind we parted, and I left him to speak
with my Lord, and I by coach home, where I found Will. Howe come home
to-day with my wife, and staid with us all night, staying late up
singing songs, and then he and I to bed together in Ashwell's bed and
she with my wife. This the first time that I ever lay in the room. This
day Greatorex brought me a very pretty weather-glass for heat and cold.
[The thermometer was invented in the sixteenth century, but it is
disputed who the inventor was. The claims of Santorio are supported
by Borelli and Malpighi, while the title of Cornelius Drebbel is
considered undoubted by Boerhaave. Galileo's air thermometer, made
before 1597, was the foundation of accurate thermometry. Galileo
also invented the alcohol thermometer about 1611 or 1612. Spirit
thermometers were made for the Accademia del Cimento, and described
in the Memoirs of that academy. When the academy was dissolved by
order of the Pope, some of these thermometers were packed away in a
box, and were not discovered until early in the nineteenth century.
Robert Hooke describes the manufacture and graduation of
thermometers in his "Micrographia" (1665).]
24th. Lay pretty long, that is, till past six o'clock, and them up and
W. Howe and I very merry together, till having eat our breakfast, he
went away, and I to my office. By and by Sir J. Minnes and I to the
Victualling Office by appointment to meet several persons upon stating
the demands of some people of money from the King. Here we went into
their Bakehouse, and saw all the ovens at work, and good bread too, as
ever I would desire to eat. Thence Sir J. Minnes and I homewards calling
at Browne's, the mathematician in the Minnerys, with a design of buying
White's ruler to measure timber with, but could not agree on the price.
So home, and to dinner, and so to my office, where we sat anon, and
among other things had Cooper's business tried against Captain Holmes,
but I find Cooper a fuddling, troublesome fellow, though a good artist,
and so am contented to have him turned out of his place, nor did I see
reason to say one word against it, though I know what they did against
him was with great envy and pride. So anon broke up, and after writing
letters, &c., home to supper and to bed.
25th (Lady-day). Up betimes and to my office, where all the morning, at
noon dined and to the Exchange, and thence to the Sun Tavern, to my
Lord Rutherford, and dined with him, and some others, his officers, and
Scotch gentlemen, of fine discourse and education. My Lord used me with
great respect, and discoursed upon his business as with one that he did
esteem of, and indeed I do believe that this garrison is likely to come
to something under him. By and by he went away, forgetting to take leave
of me, my back being turned, looking upon the aviary, which is there
very pretty, and the birds begin to sing well this spring. Thence home
and to my office till night, reading over and consulting upon the book
and Ruler that I bought this morning of Browne concerning the lyne of
numbers, in which I find much pleasure. This evening came Captain Grove
about hiring ships for Tangier. I did hint to him my desire that I could
make some lawfull profit thereof, which he promises that he will tell
me of all that he gets and that I shall have a share, which I did not
demand, but did silently consent to it, and money I perceive something
will be got thereby. At night Mr. Bland came and sat with me at my
office till late, and so I home and to bed. This day being washing day
and my maid Susan ill, or would be thought so, put my house so out of
order that we had no pleasure almost in anything, my wife being troubled
thereat for want of a good cook-maid, and moreover I cannot have my
dinner as I ought in memory of my being cut for the stone, but I must
have it a day or two hence.
26th. Up betimes and to my office, leaving my wife in bed to take her
physique, myself also not being out of some pain to-day by some cold
that I have got by the sudden change of the weather from hot to cold.
This day is five years since it pleased God to preserve me at my being
cut of the stone, of which I bless God I am in all respects well. Only
now and then upon taking cold I have some pain, but otherwise in very
good health always. But I could not get my feast to be kept to-day as
it used to be, because of my wife's being ill and other disorders by my
servants being out of order. This morning came a new cook-maid at L4 per
annum, the first time I ever did give so much, but we hope it will be
nothing lost by keeping a good cook. She did live last at my Lord Monk's
house, and indeed at dinner did get what there was very prettily ready
and neat for me, which did please me much. This morning my uncle Thomas
was with me according to agreement, and I paid him the L50, which was
against my heart to part with, and yet I must be contented; I used him
very kindly, and I desire to continue so voyd of any discontent as to
my estate, that I may follow my business the better. At the Change I
met him again, with intent to have met with my uncle Wight to have
made peace with him, with whom by my long absence I fear I shall have a
difference, but he was not there, so we missed. All the afternoon sat
at the office about business till 9 or 10 at night, and so dispatch
business and home to supper and to bed. My maid Susan went away to-day,
I giving her something for her lodging and diet somewhere else a while
that I might have room for my new maid.
27th. Up betimes and at my office all the morning, at noon to the
Exchange, and there by appointment met my uncles Thomas and Wight, and
from thence with them to a tavern, and there paid my uncle Wight three
pieces of gold for himself, my aunt, and their son that is dead, left
by my uncle Robert, and read over our agreement with my uncle Thomas and
the state of our debts and legacies, and so good friendship I think is
made up between us all, only we have the worst of it in having so much
money to pay. Thence I to the Exchequer again, and thence with Creed
into Fleet Street, and calling at several places about business; in
passing, at the Hercules pillars he and I dined though late, and thence
with one that we found there, a friend of Captain Ferrers I used to
meet at the playhouse, they would have gone to some gameing house, but I
would not but parted, and staying a little in Paul's Churchyard, at the
foreign Bookseller's looking over some Spanish books, and with much ado
keeping myself from laying out money there, as also with them, being
willing enough to have gone to some idle house with them, I got home,
and after a while at my office, to supper, and to bed.
28th. Up betimes and to my office, where all the morning. Dined at home
and Creed with me, and though a very cold day and high wind, yet I
took him by land to Deptford, my common walk, where I did some little
businesses, and so home again walking both forwards and backwards, as
much along the street as we could to save going by water. So home, and
after being a little while hearing Ashwell play on the tryangle, to
my office, and there late, writing a chiding letter--to my poor father
about his being so unwilling to come to an account with me, which I
desire he might do, that I may know what he spends, and how to order the
estate so as to pay debts and legacys as far as may be. So late home to
supper and to bed.
29th (Lord's day). Waked as I used to do betimes, but being Sunday and
very cold I lay long, it raining and snowing very hard, which I did
never think it would have done any more this year. Up and to church,
home to dinner. After dinner in comes Mr. Moore, and sat and talked with
us a good while; among other things telling me, that [neither] my Lord
nor he are under apprehensions of the late discourse in the House of
Commons, concerning resumption of Crowne lands, which I am very glad of.
He being gone, up to my chamber, where my wife and Ashwell and I all the
afternoon talking and laughing, and by and by I a while to my office,
reading over some papers which I found in my man William's chest of
drawers, among others some old precedents concerning the practice of
this office heretofore, which I am glad to find and shall make use of,
among others an oath, which the Principal Officers were bound to swear
at their entrance into their offices, which I would be glad were in use
still. So home and fell hard to make up my monthly accounts, letting my
family go to bed after prayers. I staid up long, and find myself, as
I think, fully worth L670. So with good comfort to bed, finding that
though it be but little, yet I do get ground every month. I pray God it
may continue so with me.
30th. Up betimes and found my weather-glass sunk again just to the
same position which it was last night before I had any fire made in my
chamber, which had made it rise in two hours time above half a degree.
So to my office where all the morning and at the Glass-house, and after
dinner by coach with Sir W. Pen I carried my wife and her woman to
Westminster, they to visit Mrs. Ferrers and Clerke, we to the Duke,
where we did our usual business, and afterwards to the Tangier
Committee, where among other things we all of us sealed and signed the
Contract for building the Mole with my Lord Tiviott, Sir J. Lawson, and
Mr. Cholmeley. A thing I did with a very ill will, because a thing which
I did not at all understand, nor any or few of the whole board. We
did also read over the propositions for the Civill government and
Law Merchant of the town, as they were agreed on this morning at the
Glasshouse by Sir R. Ford and Sir W. Rider, who drew them, Mr. Povy and
myself as a Committee appointed to prepare them, which were in substance
but not in the manner of executing them independent wholly upon the
Governor consenting to. Thence to see my Lord Sandwich, who I found
very merry and every day better and better. So to my wife, who waited my
coming at my Lord's lodgings, and took her up and by coach home, where
no sooner come but to bed, finding myself just in the same condition I
was lately by the extreme cold weather, my pores stopt and so my body
all inflamed and itching. So keeping myself warm and provoking myself to
a moderate sweat, and so somewhat better in the morning,
31st. And to that purpose I lay long talking with my wife about my
father's coming, which I expect to-day, coming up with the horses
brought up for my Lord. Up and to my office, where doing business all
the morning, and at Sir W. Batten's, whither Mr. Gauden and many others
came to us about business. Then home to dinner, where W. Joyce came,
and he still a talking impertinent fellow. So to the office again, and
hearing by and by that Madam Clerke, Pierce, and others were come to see
my wife I stepped in and staid a little with them, and so to the office
again, where late, and so home to supper and to bed.
APRIL 1663
April 1st. Up betimes and abroad to my brother's, but he being gone out
I went to the Temple to my Cozen Roger Pepys, to see and talk with him
a little; who tells me that, with much ado, the Parliament do agree to
throw down Popery; but he says it is with so much spite and passion, and
an endeavour of bringing all Non-conformists into the same condition,
that he is afeard matters will not yet go so well as he could wish.
Thence back to my brother's, in my way meeting Mr. Moore and talking
with him about getting me some money, and calling at my brother's they
tell me that my brother is still abroad, and that my father is not
yet up. At which I wondered, not thinking that he was come, though
I expected him, because I looked for him at my house. So I up to his
bedside and staid an hour or two talking with him. Among other things
he tells me how unquiett my mother is grown, that he is not able to live
almost with her, if it were not for Pall. All other matters are as well
as upon so hard conditions with my uncle Thomas we can expect them.
I left him in bed, being very weary, to come to my house to-night or
tomorrow, when he pleases, and so I home, calling on the virginall
maker, buying a rest for myself to tune my tryangle, and taking one of
his people along with me to put it in tune once more, by which I learned
how to go about it myself for the time to come. So to dinner, my
wife being lazily in bed all this morning. Ashwell and I dined below
together, and a pretty girl she is, and I hope will give my wife and
myself good content, being very humble and active, my cook maid do also
dress my meat very well and neatly. So to my office all the afternoon
till night, and then home, calling at Sir W. Batten's, where was Sir
J. Minnes and Sir W. Pen, I telling them how by my letter this day from
Commissioner Pett I hear that his Stempeese
[Stemples, cross pieces which are put into a frame of woodwork to
cure and strengthen a shaft.]
he undertook for the new ship at Woolwich, which we have been so long,
to our shame, in looking for, do prove knotty and not fit for service.
Lord! how Sir J. Minnes, like a mad coxcomb, did swear and stamp,
swearing that Commissioner Pett hath still the old heart against the
King that ever he had, and that this was his envy against his brother
that was to build the ship, and all the damnable reproaches in the
world, at which I was ashamed, but said little; but, upon the whole,
I find him still a fool, led by the nose with stories told by Sir W.
Batten, whether with or without reason. So, vexed in my mind to see
things ordered so unlike gentlemen, or men of reason, I went home and to
bed.
2nd. Up by very betimes and to my office, where all the morning till
towards noon, and then by coach to Westminster Hall with Sir W. Pen, and
while he went up to the House I walked in the Hall with Mr. Pierce, the
surgeon, that I met there, talking about my business the other day with
Holmes, whom I told my mind, and did freely tell how I do depend upon my
care and diligence in my employment to bear me out against the pride
of Holmes or any man else in things that are honest, and much to that
purpose which I know he will make good use of. But he did advise me to
take as few occasions as I can of disobliging Commanders, though this is
one that every body is glad to hear that he do receive a check. By and
by the House rises and I home again with Sir W. Pen, and all the way
talking of the same business, to whom I did on purpose tell him my mind
freely, and let him see that it must be a wiser man than Holmes (in
these very words) that shall do me any hurt while I do my duty. I to
remember him of Holmes's words against Sir J. Minnes, that he was a
knave, rogue, coward, and that he will kick him and pull him by the
ears, which he remembered all of them and may have occasion to do it
hereafter to his owne shame to suffer them to be spoke in his presence
without any reply but what I did give him, which, has caused all this
feud. But I am glad of it, for I would now and then take occasion to
let the world know that I will not be made a novice. Sir W. Pen took
occasion to speak about my wife's strangeness to him and his daughter,
and that believing at last that it was from his taking of Sarah to be
his maid, he hath now put her away, at which I am glad. He told me, that
this day the King hath sent to the House his concurrence wholly with
them against the Popish priests, Jesuits, &c., which gives great
content, and I am glad of it. So home, whither my father comes and dines
with us, and being willing to be merry with him I made myself so as much
as I could, and so to the office, where we sat all the afternoon, and at
night having done all my business I went home to my wife and father, and
supped, and so to bed, my father lying with me in Ashwell's bed in the
red chamber.
3rd. Waked betimes and talked half an hour with my father, and so I
rose and to my office, and about 9 o'clock by water from the Old Swan to
White Hall and to chappell, which being most monstrous full, I could
not go into my pew, but sat among the quire. Dr. Creeton, the Scotchman,
preached a most admirable, good, learned, honest and most severe
sermon, yet comicall, upon the words of the woman concerning the Virgin,
"Blessed is the womb that bare thee (meaning Christ) and the paps that
gave thee suck; and he answered, Nay; rather is he blessed that heareth
the word of God, and keepeth it." He railed bitterly ever and anon
against John Calvin, and his brood, the Presbyterians, and against the
present term, now in use, of "tender consciences." He ripped up Hugh
Peters (calling him the execrable skellum--[A villain or scoundrel; the
cant term for a thief.]--), his preaching and stirring up the maids of
the city to bring in their bodkins and thimbles. Thence going out of
White Hall, I met Captain Grove, who did give me a letter directed
to myself from himself. I discerned money to be in it, and took it,
knowing, as I found it to be, the proceed of the place I have got him to
be, the taking up of vessels for Tangier. But I did not open it till I
came home to my office, and there I broke it open, not looking into
it till all the money was out, that I might say I saw no money in the
paper, if ever I should be questioned about it. There was a piece in
gold and L4 in silver. So home to dinner with my father and wife, and
after dinner up to my tryangle, where I found that above my expectation
Ashwell has very good principles of musique and can take out a lesson
herself with very little pains, at which I am very glad. Thence away
back again by water to Whitehall, and there to the Tangier Committee,
where we find ourselves at a great stand; the establishment being but
L70,000 per annum, and the forces to be kept in the town at the least
estimate that my Lord Rutherford can be got to bring it is L53,000. The
charge of this year's work of the Mole will be L13,000; besides L1000
a-year to my Lord Peterborough as a pension, and the fortifications and
contingencys, which puts us to a great stand, and so unsettled what to
do therein we rose, and I to see my Lord Sandwich, whom I found merry at
cards, and so by coach home, and after supper a little to my office and
so home and to bed. I find at Court that there is some bad news from
Ireland of an insurrection of the Catholiques there, which puts them
into an alarm. I hear also in the City that for certain there is an
embargo upon all our ships in Spayne, upon this action of my Lord
Windsor's at Cuba, which signifies little or nothing, but only he hath a
mind to say that he hath done something before he comes back again.
Late tonight I sent to invite my uncle Wight and aunt with Mrs. Turner
to-morrow.
4th. Up betimes and to my office. By and by to Lombard street by
appointment to meet Mr. Moore, but the business not being ready I
returned to the office, where we sat a while, and, being sent for, I
returned to him and there signed to some papers in the conveying of some
lands mortgaged by Sir Rob. Parkhurst in my name to my Lord Sandwich,
which I having done I returned home to dinner, whither by and by comes
Roger Pepys, Mrs. Turner her daughter, Joyce Norton, and a young lady, a
daughter of Coll. Cockes, my uncle Wight, his wife and Mrs. Anne Wight.
This being my feast, in lieu of what I should have had a few days ago
for my cutting of the stone, for which the Lord make me truly thankful.
Very merry at, before, and after dinner, and the more for that my
dinner was great, and most neatly dressed by our own only maid. We had a
fricasee of rabbits and chickens, a leg of mutton boiled, three carps
in a dish, a great dish of a side of lamb, a dish of roasted pigeons, a
dish of four lobsters, three tarts, a lamprey pie (a most rare pie),
a dish of anchovies, good wine of several sorts, and all things mighty
noble and to my great content. After dinner to Hide Park; my aunt,
Mrs. Wight and I in one coach, and all the rest of the women in Mrs.
Turner's; Roger being gone in haste to the Parliament about the carrying
this business of the Papists, in which it seems there is great contest
on both sides, and my uncle and father staying together behind. At
the Park was the King, and in another coach my Lady Castlemaine, they
greeting one another at every tour.
[The company drove round and round the Ring in Hyde Park. The
following two extracts illustrate this, and the second one shows
how the circuit was called the Tour: "Here (1697) the people of
fashion take the diversion of the Ring. In a pretty high place,
which lies very open, they have surrounded a circumference of two or
three hundred paces diameter with a sorry kind of balustrade, or
rather with postes placed upon stakes but three feet from the
ground; and the coaches drive round this. When they have turned for
some time round one way they face about and turn t'other: so rowls
the world!"--Wilson's Memoirs, 1719, p. 126.]
["It is in this Park where the Grand Tour or Ring is kept for the
Ladies to take the air in their coaches, and in fine weather I have
seen above three hundred at a time."--[Macky's] Journey through
England, 1724, vol. i., p. 75.]
Here about an hour, and so leaving all by the way we home and found
the house as clean as if nothing had been done there to-day from top to
bottom, which made us give the cook 12d. a piece, each of us. So to
my office about writing letters by the post, one to my brother John at
Brampton telling him (hoping to work a good effect by it upon my mother)
how melancholy my father is, and bidding him use all means to get my
mother to live peaceably and quietly, which I am sure she neither do nor
I fear can ever do, but frightening her with his coming down no more,
and the danger of her condition if he should die I trust may do good. So
home and to bed.
5th (Lord's day). Up and spent the morning, till the Barber came, in
reading in my chamber part of Osborne's Advice to his Son (which I shall
not never enough admire for sense and language), and being by and
by trimmed, to Church, myself, wife, Ashwell, &c. Home to dinner, it
raining, while that was prepared to my office to read over my vows with
great affection and to very good purpose. So to dinner, and very well
pleased with it. Then to church again, where a simple bawling young Scot
preached. So home to my office alone till dark, reading some papers of
my old navy precedents, and so home to supper, and, after some pleasant
talk, my wife, Ashwell, and I to bed.
6th. Up very betimes and to my office, and there made an end of reading
my book that I have of Mr. Barlow's of the Journal of the Commissioners
of the Navy, who begun to act in the year 1628 and continued six years,
wherein is fine observations and precedents out of which I do purpose
to make a good collection. By and by, much against my will, being twice
sent for, to Sir G. Carteret's to pass his accounts there, upon which
Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Batten, Sir W. Pen, and myself all the morning,
and again after dinner to it, being vexed at my heart to see a thing
of that importance done so slightly and with that neglect for which God
pardon us, and I would I could mend it. Thence leaving them I made an
excuse and away home, and took my wife by coach and left her at Madam
Clerk's, to make a visit there, and I to the Committee of Tangier, where
I found, to my great joy, my Lord Sandwich, the first time I have seen
him abroad these some months, and by and by he rose and took leave,
being, it seems, this night to go to Kensington or Chelsey, where he
hath taken a lodging for a while to take the ayre. We staid, and after
business done I got Mr. Coventry into the Matted Gallery and told him
my whole mind concerning matters of our office, all my discontent to
see things of so great trust carried so neglectfully, and what pitiful
service the Controller and Surveyor make of their duties, and I
disburdened my mind wholly to him and he to me his own, many things,
telling me that he is much discouraged by seeing things not to grow
better and better as he did well hope they would have done. Upon the
whole, after a full hour's private discourse, telling one another our
minds, we with great content parted, and with very great satisfaction
for my [having] thus cleared my conscience, went to Dr. Clerk's and
thence fetched my wife, and by coach home. To my office a little to set
things in order, and so home to supper and to bed.
7th. Up very betimes, and angry with Will that he made no more haste to
rise after I called him. So to my office, and all the morning there. At
noon to the Exchange, and so home to dinner, where I found my wife had
been with Ashwell to La Roche's to have her tooth drawn, which it seems
aches much, but my wife could not get her to be contented to have it
drawn after the first twich, but would let it alone, and so they came
home with it undone, which made my wife and me good sport. After dinner
to the office, where Sir J. Minnes did make a great complaint to me
alone, how my clerk Mr. Hater had entered in one of the Sea books a
ticket to have been signed by him before it had been examined, which
makes the old fool mad almost, though there was upon enquiry the
greatest reason in the world for it. Which though it vexes me, yet it
is most to see from day to day what a coxcomb he is, and that so great a
trust should lie in the hands of such a fool. We sat all the afternoon,
and I late at my office, it being post night, and so home to supper, my
father being come again to my house, and after supper to bed, and after
some talk to sleep.
8th. Up betimes and to my office, and by and by, about 8 o'clock, to the
Temple to Commissioner Pett lately come to town and discoursed about the
affairs of our office, how ill they go through the corruption and folly
of Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes. Thence by water to White Hall, to
chappell; where preached Dr. Pierce, the famous man that preached the
sermon so much cried up, before the King against the Papists. His matter
was the Devil tempting our Saviour, being carried into the Wilderness
by the spirit. And he hath as much of natural eloquence as most men that
ever I heard in my life, mixed with so much learning. After sermon I
went up and saw the ceremony of the Bishop of Peterborough's paying
homage upon the knee to the King, while Sir H. Bennet, Secretary, read
the King's grant of the Bishopric of Lincoln, to which he is translated.
His name is Dr. Lany. Here I also saw the Duke of Monmouth, with his
Order of the Garter, the first time I ever saw it. I am told that the
University of Cambridge did treat him a little while since with all the
honour possible, with a comedy at Trinity College, and banquet; and made
him Master of Arts there. All which, they say, the King took very well.
Dr. Raynbow, Master of Magdalen, being now Vice-Chancellor. Home by
water to dinner, and with my father, wife, and Ashwell, after dinner,
by water towards Woolwich, and in our way I bethought myself that we had
left our poor little dog that followed us out of doors at the waterside,
and God knows whether he be not lost, which did not only strike my
wife into a great passion but I must confess myself also; more than was
becoming me. We immediately returned, I taking another boat and with my
father went to Woolwich, while they went back to find the dog. I took
my father on board the King's pleasure boat and down to Woolwich, and
walked to Greenwich thence and turning into the park to show my father
the steps up the hill, we found my wife, her woman, and dog attending
us, which made us all merry again, and so took boats, they to Deptford
and so by land to Half-way house, I into the King's yard and overlook
them there, and eat and drank with them, and saw a company of seamen
play drolly at our pence, and so home by water. I a little at the
office, and so home to supper and to bed, after having Ashwell play my
father and me a lesson upon her Tryangle.
9th. Up betimes and to my office, and anon we met upon finishing the
Treasurer's accounts. At noon dined at home and am vexed to hear my wife
tell me how our maid Mary do endeavour to corrupt our cook maid, which
did please me very well, but I am resolved to rid the house of her as
soon as I can. To the office and sat all the afternoon till 9 at night,
and an hour after home to supper and bed. My father lying at Tom's
to-night, he dining with my uncle Fenner and his sons and a great many
more of the gang at his own cost to-day. To bed vexed also to think
of Sir J. Minnes finding fault with Mr. Hater for what he had done the
other day, though there be no hurt in the thing at all but only the old
fool's jealousy, made worse by Sir W. Batten.
10th. Up very betimes and to my office, where most hard at business
alone all the morning. At noon to the Exchange, where I hear that after
great expectation from Ireland, and long stop of letters, there is good
news come, that all is quiett after our great noise of troubles there,
though some stir hath been as was reported. Off the Exchange with Sir J.
Cutler and Mr. Grant to the Royall Oak Tavern, in Lumbard Street, where
Alexander Broome the poet was, a merry and witty man, I believe, if he
be not a little conceited, and here drank a sort of French wine, called
Ho Bryan,
[Haut Brion, a claret; one of the first growths of the red wines of
Medoc.]
that hath a good and most particular taste that I never met with. Home
to dinner, and then by water abroad to Whitehall, my wife to see Mrs.
Ferrers, I to Whitehall and the Park, doing no business. Then to my
Lord's lodgings, met my wife, and walked to the New Exchange. There laid
out 10s. upon pendents and painted leather gloves, very pretty and all
the mode. So by coach home and to my office till late, and so to supper
and to bed.
11th. Up betimes and to my office, where we sat also all the morning
till noon, and then home to dinner, my father being there but not very
well. After dinner in comes Captain Lambert of the Norwich, this day
come from Tangier, whom I am glad to see. There came also with him
Captain Wager, and afterwards in came Captain Allen to see me, of the
Resolution. All staid a pretty while, and so away, and I a while to my
office, then abroad into the street with my father, and left him to go
to see my aunt Wight and uncle, intending to lie at Tom's to-night, or
my cozen Scott's, where it seems he has hitherto lain and is most kindly
used there. So I home and to my office very late making up my Lord's
navy accounts, wherein I find him to stand debtor L1200. So home to
supper and to bed.
12th (Lord's day). Lay till 8 o'clock, which I have not done a great
while, then up and to church, where I found our pew altered by taking
some of the hind pew to make ours bigger, because of the number of
women, more by Sir J. Minnes company than we used to have. Home
to dinner, and after dinner, intending to go to Chelsey to my Lord
Sandwich, my wife would needs go with me, though she walked on foot to
Whitehall. Which she did and staid at my Lord's lodgings while Creed and
I took a turn at Whitehall, but no coach to be had, and so I returned
to them and sat talking till evening, and then got a coach and to Gray's
Inn walks, where some handsome faces, and so home and there to supper,
and a little after 8 o'clock to bed, a thing I have not done God knows
when. Coming home to-night, a drunken boy was carrying by our constable
to our new pair of stocks to handsel them, being a new pair and very
handsome.
13th. Up by five o'clock and to my office, where hard at work till
towards noon, and home and eat a bit, and so going out met with Mr.
Mount my old acquaintance, and took him in and drank a glass or two of
wine to him and so parted, having not time to talk together, and I with
Sir W. Batten to the Stillyard, and there eat a lobster together, and
Wyse the King's fishmonger coming in we were very merry half an hour,
and so by water to Whitehall, and by and by being all met we went in to
the Duke and there did our business and so away, and anon to the Tangier
Committee, where we had very fine discourse from Dr. Walker and Wiseman,
civilians, against our erecting a court-merchant at Tangier, and well
answered in many things by my Lord Sandwich (whose speaking I never till
now observed so much to be very good) and Sir R. Ford. By and by the
discourse being ended, we fell to my Lord Rutherford's dispatch, which
do not please him, he being a Scott, and one resolved to scrape every
penny that he can get by any way, which the Committee will not agree to.
He took offence at something and rose away, without taking leave of the
board, which all took ill, though nothing said but only by the Duke of
Albemarle, who said that we ought to settle things as they ought to be,
and if he will not go upon these terms another man will, no doubt.
Here late, quite finishing things against his going, and so rose, and I
walked home, being accompanied by Creed to Temple Bar, talking of this
afternoon's passage, and so I called at the Wardrobe in my way home,
and there spoke at the Horn tavern with Mr. Moore a word or two, but
my business was with Mr. Townsend, who is gone this day to his country
house, about sparing Charles Pepys some money of his bills due to him
when he can, but missing him lost my labour. So walked home, finding my
wife abroad, at my aunt, Wight's, who coming home by and by, I home to
supper and to bed.
14th. Up betimes to my office, where busy till 8 o'clock that Sir W.
Batten, Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Pen and I down by barge to Woolwich, to
see "The Royal James" launched, where she has been under repair a great
while. We staid in the yard till almost noon, and then to Mr. Falconer's
to a dinner of fish of our own sending, and when it was just ready to
come upon the table, word is brought that the King and Duke are come,
so they all went away to shew themselves, while I staid and had a little
dish or two by myself, resolving to go home, and by the time I had dined
they came again, having gone to little purpose, the King, I believe,
taking little notice of them. So they to dinner, and I staid a little
with them, and so good bye. I walked to Greenwich, studying the slide
rule for measuring of timber, which is very fine. Thence to Deptford by
water, and walked through the yard, and so walked to Redriffe, and so
home pretty weary, to my office, where anon they all came home, the ship
well launched, and so sat at the office till 9 at night, and I longer
doing business at my office, and so home to supper, my father being
come, and to bed. Sir G. Carteret tells me to-night that he perceives
the Parliament is likely to make a great bustle before they will give
the King any money; will call all things into question; and, above
all, the expences of the Navy; and do enquire into the King's expences
everywhere, and into the truth of the report of people being forced to
sell their bills at 15 per cent. loss in the Navy; and, lastly, that
they are in a very angry pettish mood at present, and not likely to be
better.
15th. Up betimes, and after talking with my father awhile, I to my
office, and there hard at it till almost noon, and then went down the
river with Maynes, the purveyor, to show a ship's lading of Norway
goods, and called at Sir W. Warren's yard, and so home to dinner. After
dinner up with my wife and Ashwell a little to the Tryangle, and so I
down to Deptford by land about looking out a couple of catches fitted
to be speedily set forth in answer to a letter of Mr. Coventry's to
me. Which done, I walked back again, all the way reading of my book of
Timber measure, comparing it with my new Sliding Rule brought home this
morning with great pleasure. Taking boat again I went to Shishe's yard,
but he being newly gone out towards Deptford I followed him thither
again, and there seeing him I went with him and pitched upon a couple,
and so by water home, it being late, past 8 at night, the wind cold, and
I a little weary. So home to my office, then to supper and bed.
16th. Up betimes and to my office, met to pass Mr. Pitt's (anon Sir J.
Lawson's Secretary and Deputy Treasurer) accounts for the voyage last to
the Streights, wherein the demands are strangely irregular, and I dare
not oppose it alone for making an enemy and do no good, but only bring a
review upon my Lord Sandwich, but God knows it troubles my heart to see
it, and to see the Comptroller, whose duty it is, to make no more matter
of it. At noon home for an hour to dinner, and so to the office public
and private till late at night, so home to supper and bed with my
father.
17th. Up by five o'clock as I have long done and to my office all the
morning, at noon home to dinner with my father with us. Our dinner, it
being Good Friday, was only sugarsopps and fish; the only time that
we have had a Lenten dinner all this Lent. This morning Mr. Hunt, the
instrument maker, brought me home a Basse Viall to see whether I like
it, which I do not very well, besides I am under a doubt whether I had
best buy one yet or no, because of spoiling my present mind and love to
business. After dinner my father and I walked into the city a little,
and parted and to Paul's Church Yard, to cause the title of my English
"Mare Clausum"
[Selden's work was highly esteemed, and Charles I. made an order in
council that a copy should be kept in the Council chest, another in
the Court of Exchequer, and a third in the Court of Admiralty. The
book Pepys refers to is Nedham's translation, which was entitled,
"Of the Dominion or Ownership of the Sea. Two Books...,
written at first in Latin and entituled Mare Clausum, by John
Selden. Translated into English by Marchamont Nedham. London,
1652." This has the Commonwealth arms on the title-page and a
dedication "To the Supreme Autoritie of the Nation-The Parliament of
the Commonwealth of England." The dedication to Charles I. in
Selden's original work was left out. Apparently a new title-page
and dedication was prepared in 1663, but the copy in the British
Museum, which formerly belonged to Charles Killigrew, does not
contain these additions.]
to be changed, and the new title, dedicated to the King, to be put
to it, because I am ashamed to have the other seen dedicated to the
Commonwealth. So home and to my office till night, and so home to talk
with my father, and supper and to bed, I have not had yet one quarter of
an hour's leisure to sit down and talk with him since he came to town,
nor do I know till the holidays when I shall.
18th. Up betimes and to my office, where all the morning. At noon to
dinner. With us Mr. Creed, who has been deeply engaged at the office
this day about the ending of his accounts, wherein he is most unhappy
to have to do with a company of fools who after they have signed his
accounts and made bills upon them yet dare not boldly assert to the
Treasurer that they are satisfied with his accounts. Hereupon all
dinner, and walking in the garden the afternoon, he and I talking of the
ill management of our office, which God knows is very ill for the King's
advantage. I would I could make it better. In the evening to my office,
and at night home to supper and bed.
19th (Easter day). Up and this day put on my close-kneed coloured suit,
which, with new stockings of the colour, with belt, and new gilt-handled
sword, is very handsome. To church alone, and so to dinner, where my
father and brother Tom dined with us, and after dinner to church again,
my father sitting below in the chancel. After church done, where the
young Scotchman preaching I slept all the while, my father and I to see
my uncle and aunt Wight, and after a stay of an hour there my father to
my brother's and I home to supper, and after supper fell in discourse of
dancing, and I find that Ashwell hath a very fine carriage, which
makes my wife almost ashamed of herself to see herself so outdone, but
to-morrow she begins to learn to dance for a month or two. So to prayers
and to bed. Will being gone, with my leave, to his father's this day for
a day or two, to take physique these holydays.
20th. Up betimes as I use to do, and in my chamber begun to look over
my father's accounts, which he brought out of the country with him by
my desire, whereby I may see what he has received and spent, and I find
that he is not anything extravagant, and yet it do so far outdo his
estate that he must either think of lessening his charge, or I must be
forced to spare money out of my purse to help him through, which I would
willing do as far as L20 goes. So to my office the remaining part of
the morning till towards noon, and then to Mr. Grant's. There saw his
prints, which he shewed me, and indeed are the best collection of any
things almost that ever I saw, there being the prints of most of the
greatest houses, churches, and antiquitys in Italy and France and brave
cutts. I had not time to look them over as I ought, and which I will
take time hereafter to do, and therefore left them and home to dinner.
After dinner, it raining very hard, by coach to Whitehall, where, after
Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, Mr. Coventry and I had been with the
Duke, we to the Committee of Tangier and did matters there dispatching
wholly my Lord Teviott, and so broke up. With Sir G. Carteret and Sir
John Minnes by coach to my Lord Treasurer's, thinking to have spoken
about getting money for paying the Yards; but we found him with some
ladies at cards: and so, it being a bad time to speak, we parted, and
Sir J. Minnes and I home, and after walking with my wife in the garden
late, to supper and to bed, being somewhat troubled at Ashwell's
desiring and insisting over eagerly upon her going to a ball to meet
some of her old companions at a dancing school here in town next Friday,
but I am resolved she shall not go. So to bed. This day the little
Duke of Monmouth was marryed at White Hall, in the King's chamber;
and tonight is a great supper and dancing at his lodgings, near
Charing-Cross. I observed his coat at the tail of his coach he gives the
arms of England, Scotland, and France, quartered upon some other fields,
but what it is that speaks his being a bastard I know not.
21st. Up betimes and to my office, where first I ruled with red ink my
English "Mare Clausum," which, with the new orthodox title, makes it now
very handsome. So to business, and then home to dinner, and after dinner
to sit at the office in the afternoon, and thence to my study late, and
so home to supper to play a game at cards with my wife, and so to bed.
Ashwell plays well at cards, and will teach us to play; I wish it do not
lose too much of my time, and put my wife too much upon it.
22nd. Up betimes and to my office very busy all the morning there,
entering things into my Book Manuscript, which pleases me very much.
So to the Change, and so to my uncle Wight's, by invitation, whither my
father, wife, and Ashwell came, where we had but a poor dinner, and
not well dressed; besides, the very sight of my aunt's hands and greasy
manner of carving, did almost turn my stomach. After dinner by coach
to the King's Playhouse, where we saw but part of "Witt without mony,"
which I do not like much, but coming late put me out of tune, and it
costing me four half-crowns for myself and company. So, the play done,
home, and I to my office a while and so home, where my father (who is so
very melancholy) and we played at cards, and so to supper and to bed.
23rd. St. George's day and Coronacion, the King and Court being at
Windsor, at the installing of the King of Denmark by proxy and the Duke
of Monmouth. I up betimes, and with my father, having a fire made in my
wife's new closet above, it being a wet and cold day, we sat there all
the morning looking over his country accounts ever since his going
into the country. I find his spending hitherto has been (without
extraordinary charges) at full L100 per annum, which troubles me, and
I did let him apprehend it, so as that the poor man wept, though he did
make it well appear to me that he could not have saved a farthing of
it. I did tell him how things stand with us, and did shew my distrust of
Pall, both for her good nature and housewifery, which he was sorry for,
telling me that indeed she carries herself very well and carefully,
which I am glad to hear, though I doubt it was but his doting and
not being able to find her miscarriages so well nowadays as he could
heretofore have done. We resolve upon sending for Will Stankes up to
town to give us a right understanding in all that we have in Brampton,
and before my father goes to settle every thing so as to resolve how to
find a living for my father and to pay debts and legacies, and also to
understand truly how Tom's condition is in the world, that we may know
what we are like to expect of his doing ill or well. So to dinner,
and after dinner to the office, where some of us met and did a little
business, and so to Sir W. Batten's to see a little picture drawing of
his by a Dutchman which is very well done. So to my office and put a
few things in order, and so home to spend the evening with my father. At
cards till late, and being at supper, my boy being sent for some mustard
to a neat's tongue, the rogue staid half an hour in the streets, it
seems at a bonfire, at which I was very angry, and resolve to beat him
to-morrow.
24th. Up betimes, and with my salt eel
[A salt eel is a rope's end cut from the piece to be used on the
back of a culprit. "Yeow shall have salt eel for supper" is an
emphatic threat.]
went down in the parler and there got my boy and did beat him till I was
fain to take breath two or three times, yet for all I am afeard it will
make the boy never the better, he is grown so hardened in his tricks,
which I am sorry for, he being capable of making a brave man, and is
a boy that I and my wife love very well. So made me ready, and to my
office, where all the morning, and at noon home, whither came Captain
Holland, who is lately come home from sea, and has been much harassed in
law about the ship which he has bought, so that it seems in a despair
he endeavoured to cut his own throat, but is recovered it; and it seems
whether by that or any other persuasion (his wife's mother being a great
zealot) he is turned almost a Quaker, his discourse being nothing but
holy, and that impertinent, that I was weary of him. At last pretending
to go to the Change we walked thither together, and there I left him and
home to dinner, sending my boy by the way to enquire after two dancing
masters at our end of the town for my wife to learn, of whose names
the boy brought word. After dinner all the afternoon fiddling upon my
viallin (which I have not done many a day) while Ashwell danced above in
my upper best chamber, which is a rare room for musique, expecting this
afternoon my wife to bring my cozen Scott and Stradwick, but they came
not, and so in the evening we by ourselves to Half-way house to walk,
but did not go in there, but only a walk and so home again and to
supper, my father with us, and had a good lobster intended for part of
our entertainment to these people to-day, and so to cards, and then
to bed, being the first day that I have spent so much to my pleasure a
great while.
25th. Up betimes and to my vyall and song book a pretty while, and so to
my office, and there we sat all the morning. Among other things Sir W.
Batten had a mind to cause Butler (our chief witness in the business of
Field, whom we did force back from an employment going to sea to come
back to attend our law sute) to be borne as a mate on the Rainbow in
the Downes in compensation for his loss for our sakes. This he orders
an order to be drawn by Mr. Turner for, and after Sir J. Minnes, Sir W.
Batten, and Sir W. Pen had signed it, it came to me and I was going
to put it up into my book, thinking to consider of it and give them my
opinion upon it before I parted with it, but Sir W. Pen told me I must
sign it or give it him again, for it should not go without my hand. I
told him what I meant to do, whereupon Sir W. Batten was very angry,
and in a great heat (which will bring out any thing which he has in his
mind, and I am glad of it, though it is base in him to have a thing so
long in his mind without speaking of it, though I am glad this is the
worst, for if he had worse it would out as well as this some time or
other) told me that I should not think as I have heretofore done, make
them sign orders and not sign them myself. Which what ignorance or worse
it implies is easy to judge, when he shall sign to things (and the rest
of the board too as appears in this business) for company and not out of
their judgment for. After some discourse I did convince them that it was
not fit to have it go, and Sir W. Batten first, and then the rest, did
willingly cancel all their hands and tear the order, for I told them,
Butler being such a rogue as I know him, and we have all signed him to
be to the Duke, it will be in his power to publish this to our great
reproach, that we should take such a course as this to serve ourselves
in wronging the King by putting him into a place he is no wise capable
of, and that in an Admiral ship. At noon we rose, Sir W. Batten ashamed
and vexed, and so home to dinner, and after dinner walked to the old
Exchange and so all along to Westminster Hall, White Hall, my Lord
Sandwich's lodgings, and going by water back to the Temple did pay my
debts in several places in order to my examining my accounts tomorrow to
my great content. So in the evening home, and after supper (my father at
my brother's) and merrily practising to dance, which my wife hath begun
to learn this day of Mr. Pembleton,
[Pembleton, the dancing-master, made Pepys very jealous, and there
are many allusions to him in the following pages. His lessons
ceased on May 27th.]
but I fear will hardly do any great good at it, because she is conceited
that she do well already, though I think no such thing.
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