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Title: Diary of Samuel Pepys, March 1966/67
Author: Samuel Pepys
Release Date: June, 2003 [Etext #4174]
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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
EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY
HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
MARCH
1666-1667
March 1st. Up, it being very cold weather again after a good deal of
warm summer weather, and to the office, where I settled to do much
business to-day. By and by sent for to Sir G. Carteret to discourse of
the business of the Navy, and our wants, and the best way of bestowing
the little money we have, which is about L30,000, but, God knows, we have
need of ten times as much, which do make my life uncomfortable, I
confess, on the King's behalf, though it is well enough as to my own
particular, but the King's service is undone by it. Having done with
him, back again to the office, and in the streets, in Mark Lane, I do
observe, it being St. David's day, the picture of a man dressed like a
Welchman, hanging by the neck upon one of the poles that stand out at the
top of one of the merchants' houses, in full proportion, and very
handsomely done; which is one of the oddest sights I have seen a good
while, for it was so like a man that one would have thought it was indeed
a man.
[From "Poor Robin's Almanack" for 1757 it appears that, in former
times in England, a Welshman was burnt in effigy on this
anniversary. Mr. W. C. Hazlitt, in his edition of Brand's "Popular
Antiquities," adds "The practice to which Pepys refers . . . was
very common at one time; and till very lately bakers made
gingerbread Welshmen, called taffies, on St. David's day, which were
made to represent a man skewered" (vol. i., pp. 60,61).]
Being returned home, I find Greeting, the flageolet-master, come, and
teaching my wife; and I do think my wife will take pleasure in it, and it
will be easy for her, and pleasant. So I, as I am well content with the
charge it will occasion me. So to the office till dinner-time, and then
home to dinner, and before dinner making my wife to sing. Poor wretch!
her ear is so bad that it made me angry, till the poor wretch cried to
see me so vexed at her, that I think I shall not discourage her so much
again, but will endeavour to make her understand sounds, and do her good
that way; for she hath a great mind to learn, only to please me; and,
therefore, I am mighty unjust to her in discouraging her so much, but we
were good friends, and to dinner, and had she not been ill with those and
that it were not Friday (on which in Lent there are no plays) I had
carried her to a play, but she not being fit to go abroad, I to the
office, where all the afternoon close examining the collection of my
papers of the accounts of the Navy since this war to my great content,
and so at night home to talk and sing with my-wife, and then to supper
and so to bed with great pleasure. But I cannot but remember that just
before dinner one of my people come up to me, and told me a man come from
Huntingdon would speak with me, how my heart come into my mouth doubting
that my father, who has been long sicke, was dead. It put me into a
trembling, but, blessed be [God]! it was no such thing, but a countryman
come about ordinary business to me, to receive L50 paid to my father in
the country for the Perkins's for their legacy, upon the death of their
mother, by my uncle's will. So though I get nothing at present, at least
by the estate, I am fain to pay this money rather than rob my father, and
much good may it do them that I may have no more further trouble from
them. I hear to-day that Tom Woodall, the known chyrurgeon, is killed at
Somerset House by a Frenchman, but the occasion Sir W. Batten could not
tell me.
2nd. Up, and to the office, where sitting all the morning, and among
other things did agree upon a distribution of L30,000 and odd, which is
the only sum we hear of like to come out of all the Poll Bill for the use
of this office for buying of goods. I did herein some few courtesies for
particular friends I wished well to, and for the King's service also, and
was therefore well pleased with what was done. Sir W. Pen this day did
bring an order from the Duke of York for our receiving from him a small
vessel for a fireship, and taking away a better of the King's for it, it
being expressed for his great service to the King. This I am glad of,
not for his sake, but that it will give me a better ground, I believe, to
ask something for myself of this kind, which I was fearful to begin. This
do make Sir W. Pen the most kind to me that can be. I suppose it is
this, lest it should find any opposition from me, but I will not oppose,
but promote it. After dinner, with my wife, to the King's house to see
"The Mayden Queene," a new play of Dryden's, mightily commended for the
regularity of it, and the strain and wit; and, the truth is, there is a
comical part done by Nell,
["Her skill increasing with her years, other poets sought to obtain
recommendations of her wit and beauty to the success of their
writings. I have said that Dryden was one of the principal
supporters of the King's house, and ere long in one of his new plays
a principal character was set apart for the popular comedian. The
drama was a tragi-comedy called 'Secret Love, or the Maiden Queen,'
and an additional interest was attached to its production from the
king having suggested the plot to its author, and calling it `his
play.'"--Cunningham's Story of Nell Gwyn, ed: 1892, pp. 38,39.]
which is Florimell, that I never can hope ever to see the like done
again, by man or woman. The King and Duke of York were at the play. But
so great performance of a comical part was never, I believe, in the world
before as Nell do this, both as a mad girle, then most and best of all
when she comes in like a young gallant; and hath the notions and carriage
of a spark the most that ever I saw any man have. It makes me, I
confess, admire her. Thence home and to the office, where busy a while,
and then home to read the lives of Henry 5th and 6th, very fine, in
Speede, and to bed. This day I did pay a bill of L50 from my father,
being so much out of my own purse gone to pay my uncle Robert's legacy to
my aunt Perkins's child.
3rd (Lord's day). Lay long, merrily talking with my wife, and then up
and to church, where a dull sermon of Mr. Mills touching Original Sin,
and then home, and there find little Michell and his wife, whom I love
mightily. Mightily contented I was in their company, for I love her
much; and so after dinner I left them and by water from the Old Swan to
White Hall, where, walking in the galleries, I in the first place met Mr.
Pierce, who tells me the story of Tom Woodall, the surgeon, killed in a
drunken quarrel, and how the Duke of York hath a mind to get him [Pierce]
one of his places in St. Thomas's Hospitall. Then comes Mr. Hayward, the
Duke of York's servant, and tells us that the Swede's Embassador hath
been here to-day with news that it is believed that the Dutch will yield
to have the treaty at London or Dover, neither of which will get our King
any credit, we having already consented to have it at The Hague; which,
it seems, De Witt opposed, as a thing wherein the King of England must
needs have some profound design, which in my conscience he hath not.
They do also tell me that newes is this day come to the King, that the
King of France is come with his army to the frontiers of Flanders,
demanding leave to pass through their country towards Poland, but is
denied, and thereupon that he is gone into the country. How true this is
I dare not believe till I hear more. From them I walked into the Parke,
it being a fine but very cold day; and there took two or three turns the
length of the Pell Mell: and there I met Serjeant Bearcroft, who was sent
for the Duke of Buckingham, to have brought him prisoner to the Tower.
He come to towne this day, and brings word that, being overtaken and
outrid by the Duchesse of Buckingham within a few miles of the Duke's
house of Westhorp, he believes she got thither about a quarter of an
hour before him, and so had time to consider; so that, when he come, the
doors were kept shut against him. The next day, coming with officers of
the neighbour market-town to force open the doors, they were open for
him, but the Duke gone; so he took horse presently, and heard upon the
road that the Duke of Buckingham was gone before him for London: so that
he believes he is this day also come to towne before him; but no newes is
yet heard of him. This is all he brings. Thence to my Lord
Chancellor's, and there, meeting Sir H. Cholmly, he and I walked in my
Lord's garden, and talked; among other things, of the treaty: and he says
there will certainly be a peace, but I cannot believe it. He tells me
that the Duke of Buckingham his crimes, as far as he knows, are his being
of a caball with some discontented persons of the late House of Commons,
and opposing the desires of the King in all his matters in that House;
and endeavouring to become popular, and advising how the Commons' House
should proceed, and how he would order the House of Lords. And that he
hath been endeavouring to have the King's nativity calculated; which was
done, and the fellow now in the Tower about it; which itself hath
heretofore, as he says, been held treason, and people died for it; but by
the Statute of Treasons, in Queen Mary's times and since, it hath been
left out. He tells me that this silly Lord hath provoked, by his ill-
carriage, the Duke of York, my Lord Chancellor, and all the great
persons; and therefore, most likely, will die. He tells me, too, many
practices of treachery against this King; as betraying him in Scotland,
and giving Oliver an account of the King's private councils; which the
King knows very well, and hath yet pardoned him.
[Two of our greatest poets have drawn the character of the Duke of
Buckingham in brilliant verse, and both have condemned him to
infamy. There is enough in Pepys's reports to corroborate the main
features of Dryden's magnificent portrait of Zimri in "Absolom and
Achitophel":
"In the first rank of these did Zimri stand;
A man so various that he seemed to be
Not one, but all mankind's epitome;
Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong;
Was everything by starts, and nothing long,
But, in the course of one revolving moon,
Was chymist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon;
Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking,
Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking,
* * * * * * *
He laughed himself from Court, then sought relief
By forming parties, but could ne'er be chief."
Pope's facts are not correct, and hence the effect of his picture is
impaired. In spite of the duke's constant visits to the Tower,
Charles II. still continued his friend; but on the death of the
king, expecting little from James, he retired to his estate at
Helmsley, in Yorkshire, to nurse his property and to restore his
constitution. He died on April 16th, 1687, at Kirkby Moorside,
after a few days' illness, caused by sitting on the damp grass when
heated from a fox chase. The scene of his death was the house of a
tenant, not "the worst inn's worst room" (Moral Essays," epist.
iii.). He was buried in Westminster Abbey.]
Here I passed away a little time more talking with him and Creed, whom I
met there, and so away, Creed walking with me to White Hall, and there I
took water and stayed at Michell's to drink. I home, and there to read
very good things in Fuller's "Church History," and "Worthies," and so to
supper, and after supper had much good discourse with W. Hewer, who
supped with us, about the ticket office and the knaveries and extortions
every day used there, and particularly of the business of Mr. Carcasse,
whom I fear I shall find a very rogue. So parted with him, and then to
bed.
4th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes and [Sir] W. Batten by barge to Deptford
by eight in the morning, where to the King's yard a little to look after
business there, and then to a private storehouse to look upon some
cordage of Sir W. Batten's, and there being a hole formerly made for a
drain for tarr to run into, wherein the barrel stood still, full of
stinking water, Sir W. Batten did fall with one leg into it, which might
have been very bad to him by breaking a leg or other hurt, but, thanks be
to God, he only sprained his foot a little. So after his shifting his
stockings at a strong water shop close by, we took barge again, and so to
Woolwich, where our business was chiefly to look upon the ballast wharfe
there, which is offered us for the King's use to hire, but we do not
think it worth the laying out much money upon, unless we could buy the
fee-simple of it, which cannot be sold us, so we wholly flung it off: So
to the Dockyard, and there staid a while talking about business of the
yard, and thence to the Rope-yard, and so to the White Hart and there
dined, and Captain Cocke with us, whom we found at the Rope-yard, and
very merry at dinner, and many pretty tales of Sir J. Minnes, which I
have entered in my tale book. But by this time Sir W. Batten was come to
be in much pain in his foot, so as he was forced to be carried down in a
chair to the barge again, and so away to Deptford, and there I a little
in the yard, and then to Bagwell's, where I find his wife washing, and
also I did 'hazer tout que je voudrais con' her, and then sent for her
husband, and discoursed of his going to Harwich this week to his charge
of the new ship building there, which I have got him, and so away, walked
to Redriffe, and there took boat and away home, and upon Tower Hill, near
the ticket office, meeting with my old acquaintance Mr. Chaplin, the
cheesemonger, and there fell to talk of news, and he tells me that for
certain the King of France is denied passage with his army through
Flanders, and that he hears that the Dutch do stand upon high terms with
us, and will have a promise of not being obliged to strike the flag to us
before they will treat with us, and other high things, which I am ashamed
of and do hope will never be yielded to. That they do make all
imaginable preparations, but that he believes they will be in mighty want
of men; that the King of France do court us mightily. He tells me too
that our Lord-Treasurer is going to lay down, and that Lord Arlington is
to be Lord Treasurer, but I believe nothing of it, for he is not yet of
estate visible enough to have the charge I suppose upon him. So being
parted from him I home to the office, and after having done business
there I home to supper, and there mightily pleased with my wife's
beginning the flagellette, believing that she will come to very well
thereon. This day in the barge I took Berckenshaw's translation of
Alsted his Templum, but the most ridiculous book, as he has translated
it, that ever I saw in my life, I declaring that I understood not three
lines together from one end of the book to the other.
5th. Up, and to the office, where met and sat all the morning, doing
little for want of money, but only bear the countenance of an office. At
noon home to dinner, and then to the office again, and there comes Martin
my purser, and I walked with him awhile in the garden, I giving him good
advice to beware of coming any more with high demands for supernumeraries
or other things, for now Sir W. Pen is come to mind the business, the
passing of his accounts will not be so easy as the last. He tells me he
will never need it again, it being as easy, and to as much purpose to do
the same thing otherwise, and how he do keep his Captain's table, and by
that means hath the command of his Captains, and do not fear in a 5th-
rate ship constantly employed to get a L1000 in five years time, and this
year, besides all his spendings, which are I fear high, he hath got at
this day clear above L150 in a voyage of about five or six months, which
is a brave trade. He gone I to the office, and there all the afternoon
late doing much business, and then to see Sir W. Batten, whose leg is all
but better than it was, and like to do well. I by discourse do perceive
he and his Lady are to their hearts out with my Lord Bruncker and Mrs.
Williams, to which I added something, but, I think, did not venture too
far with them. But, Lord! to see to what a poor content any acquaintance
among these people, or the people of the world, as they now-adays go, is
worth; for my part I and my wife will keep to one another and let the
world go hang, for there is nothing but falseness in it. So home to
supper and hear my wife and girle sing a little, and then to bed with
much content of mind.
6th. Up, and with [Sir] W. Pen to White Hall by coach, and by the way
agreed to acquaint [Sir] W. Coventry with the business of Mr. Carcasse,
and he and I spoke to Sir W. Coventry that we might move it to the Duke
of York, which I did in a very indifferent, that is, impartial manner,
but vexed I believe Lord Bruncker. Here the Duke of York did acquaint
us, and the King did the like also, afterwards coming in, with his
resolution of altering the manner of the war this year; that is, we shall
keep what fleete we have abroad in several squadrons: so that now all is
come out; but we are to keep it as close as we can, without hindering the
work that is to be done in preparation to this. Great preparations there
are to fortify Sheernesse and the yard at Portsmouth, and forces are
drawing down to both those places, and elsewhere by the seaside; so that
we have some fear of an invasion; and the Duke of York himself did
declare his expectation of the enemy's blocking us up here in the River,
and therefore directed that we should send away all the ships that we
have to fit out hence. Sir W. Pen told me, going with me this morning to
White Hall, that for certain the Duke of Buckingham is brought into the
Tower, and that he hath had an hour's private conference with the King
before he was sent thither. To Westminster Hall. There bought some news
books, and, as every where else, hear every body complain of the dearness
of coals, being at L4 per chaldron, the weather, too, being become most
bitter cold, the King saying to-day that it was the coldest day he ever
knew in England. Thence by coach to my Lord Crew's, where very welcome.
Here I find they are in doubt where the Duke of Buckingham is; which
makes me mightily reflect on the uncertainty of all history, when, in a
business of this moment, and of this day's growth, we cannot tell the
truth. Here dined my old acquaintance, Mr. Borfett, that was my Lord
Sandwich's chaplain, and my Lady Wright and Dr. Boreman, who is preacher
at St. Gyles's in the Fields, who, after dinner, did give my Lord an
account of two papist women lately converted, whereof one wrote her
recantation, which he shewed under her own hand mighty well drawn, so as
my Lord desired a copy of it, after he had satisfied himself from the
Doctor, that to his knowledge she was not a woman under any necessity.
Thence by coach home and staid a very little, and then by water to
Redriffe, and walked to Bagwell's, where 'la moher' was 'defro, sed'
would not have me 'demeurer' there 'parce que' Mrs. Batters and one of my
'ancillas', I believe Jane (for she was gone abroad to-day), was in the
town, and coming thither; so I away presently, esteeming it a great
escape. So to the yard and spoke a word or two, and then by water home,
wondrous cold, and reading a ridiculous ballad made in praise of the Duke
of Albemarle, to the tune of St. George, the tune being printed, too; and
I observe that people have some great encouragement to make ballads of
him of this kind. There are so many, that hereafter he will sound like
Guy of Warwicke. Then abroad with my wife, leaving her at the 'Change,
while I to Sir H. Cholmly's, a pretty house, and a fine, worthy, well-
disposed gentleman he is. He and I to Sir Ph. Warwicke's, about money
for Tangier, but to little purpose. H. Cholmley tells me, among other
things, that he hears of little hopes of a peace, their demands being so
high as we shall never grant, and could tell me that we shall keep no
fleete abroad this year, but only squadrons. And, among other things,
that my Lord Bellasses, he believes, will lose his command of Tangier by
his corrupt covetous ways of .endeavouring to sell his command, which I
am glad [of], for he is a man of no worth in the world but compliment.
So to the 'Change, and there bought 32s. worth of things for Mrs. Knipp,
my Valentine, which is pretty to see how my wife is come to convention
with me, that, whatever I do give to anybody else, I shall give her as
much, which I am not much displeased with. So home and to the office and
Sir W. Batten, to tell him what I had done to-day about Carcasse's
business, and God forgive me I am not without design to give a blow to
Sir W. Batten by it. So home, where Mr. Batelier supped with us and
talked away the evening pretty late, and so he gone and we to bed.
7th. So up, and to the office, my head full of Carcasse's business; then
hearing that Knipp is at my house, I home, and it was about a ticket for
a friend of hers. I do love the humour of the jade very well. So to the
office again, not being able to stay, and there about noon my Lord
Bruncker did begin to talk of Carcasse's business. Only Commissioner
Pett, my Lord, and I there, and it was pretty to see how Pett hugged the
occasion of having anything against Sir W. Batten, which I am not much
troubled at, for I love him not neither. Though I did really endeavour
to quash it all I could, because I would prevent their malice taking
effect. My Lord I see is fully resolved to vindicate Carcasse, though to
the undoing of Sir W. Batten, but I believe he will find himself in a
mistake, and do himself no good, and that I shall be glad of, for though
I love the treason I hate the traitor. But he is vexed at my moving it
to the Duke of York yesterday, which I answered well, so as I think he
could not answer. But, Lord! it is pretty to see how Pett hugs this
business, and how he favours my Lord Bruncker; who to my knowledge hates
him, and has said more to his disadvantage, in my presence, to the King
and Duke of York than any man in England, and so let them thrive one with
another by cheating one another, for that is all I observe among them.
Thence home late, and find my wife hath dined, and she and Mrs. Hewer
going to a play. Here was Creed, and he and I to Devonshire House, to a
burial of a kinsman of Sir R. Viner's; and there I received a ring, and
so away presently to Creed, who staid for me at an alehouse hard by, and
thence to the Duke's playhouse, where he parted, and I in and find my
wife and Mrs. Hewer, and sat by them and saw "The English Princesse, or
Richard the Third;" a most sad, melancholy play, and pretty good; but
nothing eminent in it, as some tragedys are; only little Mis. Davis did
dance a jig after the end of the play, and there telling the next day's
play; so that it come in by force only to please the company to see her
dance in boy's 'clothes; and, the truth is, there is no comparison
between Nell's dancing the other day at the King's house in boy's clothes
and this, this being infinitely beyond the other. Mere was Mr. Clerke
and Pierce, to whom one word only of "How do you," and so away home, Mrs:
Hewer with us, and I to the office and so to [Sir] W. Batten's, and there
talked privately with him and [Sir] W. Pen about business of Carcasse
against tomorrow, wherein I think I did give them proof enough of my
ability as well as friendship to [Sir] W. Batten, and the honour of the
office, in my sense of the rogue's business. So back to finish my office
business, and then home to supper, and to bed. This day, Commissioner
Taylor come to me for advice, and would force me to take ten pieces in
gold of him, which I had no mind to, he being become one of our number at
the Board. This day was reckoned by all people the coldest day that ever
was remembered in England; and, God knows! coals at a very great price.
8th. Up, and to the Old Swan, where drank at Michell's, but not seeing
her whom I love I by water to White Hall, and there acquainted Sir G.
Carteret betimes what I had to say this day before the Duke of York in
the business of Carcasse, which he likes well of, being a great enemy to
him, and then I being too early here to go to Sir W. Coventry's chamber,
having nothing to say to him, and being able to give him but a bad
account of the business of the office (which is a shame to me, and that
which I shall rue if I do not recover), to the Exchequer about getting a
certificate of Mr. Lanyon's entered at Sir R. Longs office, and strange
it is to see what horrid delays there are at this day in the business of
money, there being nothing yet come from my Lord Treasurer to set the
business of money in action since the Parliament broke off,
notwithstanding the greatness and number of the King's occasions for it.
So to the Swan, and there had three or four baisers of the little ancilla
there, and so to Westminster Hall, where I saw Mr. Martin, the purser,
come through with a picture in his hand, which he had bought, and
observed how all the people of the Hall did fleer and laugh upon him,
crying, "There is plenty grown upon a sudden;" and, the truth is, I was a
little troubled that my favour should fall on so vain a fellow as he, and
the more because, methought, the people do gaze upon me as the man that
had raised him, and as if they guessed whence my kindness to him springs.
So thence to White Hall, where I find all met at the Duke of York's
chamber; and, by and by, the Duke of York comes, and Carcasse is called
in, and I read the depositions and his answers, and he added with great
confidence and good words, even almost to persuasion, what to say; and my
Lord Bruncker, like a very silly solicitor, argued against me and us all
for him; and, being asked first by the Duke of York his opinion, did give
it for his being excused. I next did answer the contrary very plainly,
and had, in this dispute, which vexed and will never be forgot by my
Lord, many occasions of speaking severely, and did, against his bad
practices. Commissioner Pett, like a fawning rogue, sided with my Lord,
but to no purpose; and [Sir] W. Pen, like a cunning rogue, spoke mighty
indifferently, and said nothing in all the fray, like a knave as he is.
But [Sir] W. Batten spoke out, and did come off himself by the Duke's
kindness very well; and then Sir G. Carteret, and Sir W. Coventry, and
the Duke of York himself, flatly as I said; and so he was declared unfit
to continue in, and therefore to be presently discharged the office;
which, among other good effects, I hope, will make my Lord Bruncker not
'alloquer' so high, when he shall consider he hath had such a publick
foyle as this is. So home with [Sir] W. Batten, and [Sir] W. Pen, by
coach, and there met at the office, and my Lord Bruncker presently after
us, and there did give order to Mr. Stevens for securing the tickets in
Carcasses hands, which my Lord against his will could not refuse to sign,
and then home to dinner, and so away with my wife by coach, she to Mrs.
Pierce's and I to my Lord Bellasses, and with him to [my] Lord
Treasurer's, where by agreement we met with Sir H. Cholmly, and there sat
and talked all the afternoon almost about one thing or other, expecting
Sir Philip Warwicke's coming, but he come not, so we away towards night,
Sir H. Cholmly and I to the Temple, and there parted, telling me of my
Lord Bellasses's want of generosity, and that he [Bellasses] will
certainly be turned out of his government, and he thinks himself stands
fair for it. So home, and there found, as I expected, Mrs. Pierce and
Mr. Batelier; he went for Mrs. Jones, but no Mrs. Knipp come, which vexed
me, nor any other company. So with one fidler we danced away the
evening, but I was not well contented with the littleness of the room,
and my wife's want of preparing things ready, as they should be, for
supper, and bad. So not very merry, though very well pleased. So after
supper to bed, my wife and Mrs. Pierce, and her boy James and I.
Yesterday I began to make this mark (V) stand instead of three pricks,
which therefore I must observe every where, it being a mark more easy to
make.
9th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning busy. At noon
home to dinner, where Mrs. Pierce did continue with us and her boy (who I
still find every day more and more witty beyond his age), and did dine
with us, and by and by comes in her husband and a brother-in-law of his,
a parson, one of the tallest biggest men that ever I saw in my life. So
to the office, where a meeting extraordinary about settling the number
and wages of my Lord Bruncker's clerks for his new work upon the
Treasurer's accounts, but this did put us upon running into the business
of yesterday about Carcasse, wherein I perceive he is most dissatisfied
with me, and I am not sorry for it, having all the world but him of my
side therein, for it will let him know another time that he is not to
expect our submitting to him in every thing, as I think he did heretofore
expect. He did speak many severe words to me, and I returned as many to
him, so that I do think there cannot for a great while, be, any right
peace between us, and I care not a fart for it; but however, I must look
about me and mind my business, for I perceive by his threats and
enquiries he is and will endeavour to find out something against me or
mine. Breaking up here somewhat brokenly I home, and carried Mrs. Pierce
and wife to the New Exchange, and there did give her and myself a pair of
gloves, and then set her down at home, and so back again straight home
and thereto do business, and then to Sir W. Batten's, where [Sir] W. Pen
and others, and mighty merry, only I have got a great cold, and the
scolding this day at the office with my Lord Bruncker hath made it worse,
that I am not able to speak. But, Lord! to see how kind Sir W. Batten
and his Lady are to me upon this business of my standing by [Sir] W.
Batten against Carcasse, and I am glad of it. Captain Cocke, who was
here to-night, did tell us that he is certain that yesterday a
proclamation was voted at the Council, touching the proclaiming of my
Lord Duke of Buckingham a traytor, and that it will be out on Monday.
So home late, and drank some buttered ale, and so to bed and to sleep.
This cold did most certainly come by my staying a little too long bare-
legged yesterday morning when I rose while I looked out fresh socks and
thread stockings, yesterday's having in the night, lying near the window,
been covered with snow within the window, which made me I durst not put
them on.
10th (Lord's day). Having my cold still grown more upon me, so as I am
not able to speak, I lay in bed till noon, and then up and to my chamber
with a good fire, and there spent an hour on Morly's Introduction to
Musique, a very good but unmethodical book. Then to dinner, my wife and
I, and then all the afternoon alone in my chamber preparing a letter for
Commissioner Taylor to the City about getting his accounts for The Loyal
London,
[The "Loyal London" was the ship given to the king by the City. It
was launched at Deptford on June loth, 1666]
by him built for them, stated and discharged, they owing him still about
L4000. Towards the evening comes Mr. Spong to see me, whose discourse
about several things I proposed to him was very good, better than I have
had with any body a good while. He gone, I to my business again, and
anon comes my Lady Pen and her son-in law and daughter, and there we
talked all the evening away, and then to supper; and after supper comes
Sir W. Pen, and there we talked together, and then broke up, and so to
bed. He tells me that our Mr. Turner has seen the proclamation against
the Duke of Buckingham, and that therefore it is true what we heard last
night. Yesterday and to-day I have been troubled with a hoarseness
through cold that I could not almost speak.
11th. Up, and with my cold still upon me and hoarseness, but I was
forced to rise and to the office, where all the morning busy, and among
other things Sir W. Warren come to me, to whom of late I have been very
strange, partly from my indifference how more than heretofore to get
money, but most from my finding that he is become great with my Lord
Bruncker, and so I dare not trust him as I used to do, for I will not be
inward with him that is open to another. By and by comes Sir H. Cholmly
to me about Tangier business, and then talking of news he tells me how
yesterday the King did publiquely talk of the King of France's dealing
with all the Princes of Christendome. As to the States of Holland, he
[the King of France] hath advised them, on good grounds, to refuse to
treat with us at the Hague, because of having opportunity of spies, by
reason of our interest in the House of Orange; and then, it being a town
in one particular province, it would not be fit to have it, but in a town
wherein the provinces have equal interest, as at Mastricht, and other
places named. That he advises them to offer no terms, nor accept of any,
without his privity and consent, according to agreement; and tells them,
if not so, he hath in his power to be even with them, the King of England
being come to offer him any terms he pleases; and that my Lord St. Albans
is now at Paris, Plenipotentiary, to make what peace he pleases; and so
he can make it, and exclude them, the Dutch, if he sees fit. A copy of
this letter of the King of France's the Spanish Ambassador here gets, and
comes and tells all to our King; which our King denies, and says the King
of France only uses his power of saying anything. At the same time, the
King of France writes to the Emperor, that he is resolved to do all
things to express affection to the Emperor, having it now in his power to
make what peace he pleases between the King of England and him, and the
States of the United Provinces; and, therefore, that he would not have
him to concern himself in a friendship with us; and assures him that,
on that regard, he will not offer anything to his disturbance, in his
interest in Flanders, or elsewhere. He writes, at the same time, to
Spayne, to tell him that he wonders to hear of a league almost ended
between the Crown of Spayne and England, by my Lord Sandwich, and all
without his privity, while he was making a peace upon what terms he
pleased with England: that he is a great lover of the Crown of Spayne,
and would take the King and his affairs, during his minority, into his
protection, nor would offer to set his foot in Flanders, or any where
else, to disturb him; and, therefore, would not have him to trouble
himself to make peace with any body; only he hath a desire to offer an
exchange, which he thinks may be of moment to both sides: that is, that
he [France] will enstate the King of Spayne in the kingdom of Portugall,
and he and the Dutch will put him into possession of Lisbon; and, that
being done, he [France] may have Flanders: and this, they say; do
mightily take in Spayne, which is sensible of the fruitless expence
Flanders, so far off, gives them; and how much better it would be for
them to be master of Portugall; and the King of France offers, for
security herein, that the King of England shall be bond for him, and that
he will countersecure the King of England with Amsterdam; and, it seems,
hath assured our King, that if he will make a league with him, he will
make a peace exclusive to the Hollander. These things are almost
romantique, but yet true, as Sir H. Cholmly tells me the King himself did
relate it all yesterday; and it seems as if the King of France did think
other princes fit for nothing but to make sport for him: but simple
princes they are, that are forced to suffer this from him. So at noon
with Sir W. Pen by coach to the Sun in Leadenhall Streete, where Sir R.
Ford, Sir W. Batten, and Commissioner Taylor (whose feast it was) were,
and we dined and had a very good dinner. Among other discourses Sir R.
Ford did tell me that he do verily believe that the city will in few
years be built again in all the greatest streets, and answered the
objections I did give to it. Here we had the proclamation this day come
out against the Duke of Buckingham, commanding him to come in to one of
the Secretaries, or to the Lieutenant of the Tower. A silly, vain man to
bring himself to this: and there be many hard circumstances in the
proclamation of the causes of this proceeding of the King's, which speak
great displeasure of the King's, and crimes of his. Then to discourse of
the business of the day, that is, to see Commissioner Taylor's accounts
for his ship he built, The Loyall London, and it is pretty to see how
dully this old fellow makes his demands, and yet plaguy wise sayings will
come from the man sometimes, and also how Sir R. Ford and [Sir] W. Batten
did with seeming reliance advise him what to do, and how to come prepared
to answer objections to the Common Council. Thence away to the office,
where late busy, and then home to supper, mightily pleased with my wife's
trill, and so to bed. This night Mr. Carcasse did come to me again to
desire favour, and that I would mediate that he might be restored, but I
did give him no kind answer at all, but was very angry, and I confess a
good deal of it from my Lord Bruncker's simplicity and passion.
12th. Up, and to the office, where all-the morning, and my Lord Bruncker
mighty quiet, and no words all day, which I wonder at, expecting that he
would have fallen again upon the business of Carcasse, and the more for
that here happened that Perkins, who was the greatest witness of all
against him, was brought in by Sir W. Batten to prove that he did really
belong to The Prince, but being examined was found rather a fool than
anything, as not being able to give any account when he come in nor when
he come out of her, more than that he was taken by the Dutch in her, but
did agree in earnest to Sir W. Pen's saying that she lay up all, the
winter before at Lambeth. This I confess did make me begin to doubt the
truth of his evidence, but not to doubt the faults of Carcasse, for he
was condemned by, many other better evidences than his, besides the whole
world's report. At noon home, and there find Mr. Goodgroome, whose
teaching of my wife only by singing over and over again to her, and
letting her sing with him, not by herself, to correct her faults, I do
not like at all, but was angry at it; but have this content, that I do
think she will come to sing pretty well, and to trill in time, which
pleases me well. He dined with us, and then to the office, when we had a
sorry meeting to little purpose, and then broke up, and I to my office,
and busy late to good purpose, and so home to supper and to bed. This
day a poor seaman, almost starved for want of food, lay in our yard a-
dying. I sent him half-a-crown, and we ordered his ticket to be paid.
13th. Up, and with [Sir] W. Batten to the Duke of York to our usual
attendance, where I did fear my Lord Bruncker might move something in
revenge that might trouble me, but he did not, but contrarily had the
content to hear Sir G. Carteret fall foul on him in the Duke of York's
bed chamber for his directing people with tickets and petitions to him,
bidding him mind his Controller's place and not his, for if he did he
should be too hard for him, and made high words, which I was glad of.
Having done our usual business with the Duke of York, I away; and meeting
Mr. D. Gawden in the presence-chamber, he and I to talk; and among other
things he tells me, and I do find every where else, also, that our
masters do begin not to like of their councils in fitting out no fleete,
but only squadrons, and are finding out excuses for it; and, among
others, he tells me a Privy-Councillor did tell him that it was said in
Council that a fleete could not be set out this year, for want of
victuals, which gives him and me a great alarme, but me especially for
had it been so, I ought to have represented it; and therefore it puts me
in policy presently to prepare myself to answer this objection, if ever
it should come about, by drawing up a state of the Victualler's stores,
which I will presently do. So to Westminster Hall, and there staid and
talked, and then to Sir G. Carteret's, where I dined with the ladies, he
not at home, and very well used I am among them, so that I am heartily
ashamed that my wife hath not been there to see them; but she shall very
shortly. So home by water, and stepped into Michell's, and there did
baiser my Betty, 'que aegrotat' a little. At home find Mr. Holliard, and
made him eat a bit of victuals. Here I find Mr. Greeten, who teaches my
wife on the flageolet, and I think she will come to something on it. Mr.
Holliard advises me to have my father come up to town, for he doubts else
in the country he will never find ease, for, poor man, his grief is now
grown so great upon him that he is never at ease, so I will have him up
at Easter. By and by by coach, set down Mr. Holliard near his house at
Hatton Garden and myself to Lord Treasurer's, and sent my wife to the New
Exchange. I staid not here, but to Westminster Hall, and thence to
Martin's, where he and she both within, and with them the little widow
that was once there with her when I was there, that dissembled so well to
be grieved at hearing a tune that her, late husband liked, but there
being so much company, I had no pleasure here, and so away to the Hall
again, and there met Doll Lane coming out, and 'par contrat did hazer
bargain para aller to the cabaret de vin', called the Rose, and 'ibi' I
staid two hours, 'sed' she did not 'venir', 'lequel' troubled me, and so
away by coach and took up my wife, and away home, and so to Sir W.
Batten's, where I am told that it is intended by Mr. Carcasse to pray me
to be godfather with Lord Bruncker to-morrow to his child, which I
suppose they tell me in mirth, but if he should ask me I know not whether
I should refuse it or no. Late at my office preparing a speech against
to-morrow morning, before the King, at my Lord Treasurer's, and the truth
is it run in my head all night. So home to supper and to bed. The Duke
of Buckingham is concluded gone over sea, and, it is thought, to France.
14th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen to my Lord
Treasurer's, where we met with my Lord Bruncker an hour before the King
come, and had time to talk a little of our business. Then come much
company, among others Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me that undoubtedly my
Lord Bellasses will go no more as Governor to Tangier, and that he do put
in fair for it, and believes he shall have it, and proposes how it may
conduce to his account and mine in the business of money. Here we fell
into talk with Sir Stephen Fox, and, among other things, of the Spanish
manner of walking, when three together, and shewed me how, which was
pretty, to prevent differences. By and by comes the King and Duke of
York, and presently the officers of the Ordnance were called; my Lord
Berkeley, Sir John Duncomb, and Mr. Chichly; then we, my Lord Bruncker,
[Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and myself; where we find only the King
and Duke of York, and my Lord Treasurer, and Sir G. Carteret; where I
only did speak, laying down the state of our wants, which the King and
Duke of York seemed very well pleased with, and we did get what we asked,
L500,000, assigned upon the eleven months' tax: but that is not so much
ready money, or what will raise L40,000 per week, which we desired, and
the business will want. Yet are we fain to come away answered, when, God
knows, it will undo the King's business to have matters of this moment
put off in this manner. The King did prevent my offering anything by and
by as Treasurer for Tangier, telling me that he had ordered us L30,000 on
the same tax; but that is not what we would have to bring our payments to
come within a year. So we gone out, in went others; viz., one after
another, Sir Stephen Fox for the army, Captain Cocke for sick and
wounded, Mr. Ashburnham for the household. Thence [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir]
W. Pen, and I, back again; I mightily pleased with what I had said and
done, and the success thereof. But, it being a fine clear day, I did,
'en gayete de coeur', propose going to Bow for ayre sake, and dine there,
which they embraced, and so [Sir] W. Batten and I (setting [Sir] W. Pen
down at Mark Lane end) straight to Bow, to the Queen's Head, and there
bespoke our dinner, carrying meat with us from London; and anon comes
[Sir] W. Pen with my wife and Lady Batten, and then Mr. Lowder with his
mother and wife. While [Sir] W. Batten and I were alone, we had much
friendly discourse, though I will never trust him far; but we do propose
getting "The Flying Greyhound," our privateer, to us and [Sir] W. Pen at
the end of the year when we call her home, by begging her of the King,
and I do not think we shall be denied her. They being come, we to
oysters and so to talk, very pleasant I was all day, and anon to dinner,
and I made very good company. Here till the evening, so as it was dark
almost before we got home (back again in the same method, I think, we
went), and spent the night talking at Sir W. Batten's, only a little at
my office, to look over the Victualler's contract, and draw up some
arguments for him to plead for his charges in transportation of goods
beyond the ports which the letter of one article in his contract do lay
upon him. This done I home to supper and to bed. Troubled a little at
my fear that my Lord Bruncker should tell Sir W. Coventry of our
neglecting the office this afternoon (which was intended) to look after
our pleasures, but nothing will fall upon me alone about this.
15th. Up, and pleased at Tom's teaching of Barker something to sing a
3rd part to a song, which will please mightily. So I to the office all
the morning, and at noon to the 'Change, where I do hear that letters
this day come to Court do tell us that we are likely not to agree, the
Dutch demanding high terms, and the King of France the like, in a most
braving manner. The merchants do give themselves over for lost, no man
knowing what to do, whether to sell or buy, not knowing whether peace or
war to expect, and I am told that could that be now known a man might get
L20,000 in a week's time by buying up of goods in case there should be
war. Thence home and dined well, and then with my wife, set her at
Unthanke's and I to Sir G. Carteret, where talked with the ladies a
while, and my Lady Carteret talks nothing but sorrow and afflictions
coming on us, and indeed I do fear the same. So away and met Dr. Fuller,
Bishop of Limricke, and walked an hour with him in the Court talking of
newes only, and he do think that matters will be bad with us. Then to
Westminster Hall, and there spent an hour or two walking up and down,
thinking 'para avoir' got out Doll Lane, 'sed je ne' could do it, having
no opportunity 'de hazer le, ainsi lost the tota' afternoon, and so away
and called my wife and home, where a little at the office, and then home
to my closet to enter my journalls, and so to supper and to bed. This
noon come little Mis. Tooker, who is grown a little woman; ego had
opportunity 'para baiser her . . . . This morning I was called up by
Sir John Winter, poor man! come in his sedan from the other end of the
town, before I was up, and merely about the King's business, which is a
worthy thing of him, and I believe him to be a worthy good man, and I
will do him the right to tell the Duke of it, who did speak well of him
the other day. It was about helping the King in the business of bringing
down his timber to the sea-side, in the Forest of Deane.
16th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning; at noon home to
dinner, and then to the office again in the afternoon, and there all day
very busy till night, and then, having done much business, home to
supper, and so to bed. This afternoon come home Sir J. Minnes, who has
been down, but with little purpose, to pay the ships below at the Nore.
This evening, having done my letters, I did write out the heads of what I
had prepared to speak to the King the other day at my Lord Treasurer's,
which I do think convenient to keep by me for future use. The weather is
now grown warm again, after much cold; and it is observable that within
these eight days I did see smoke remaining, coming out of some cellars,
from the late great fire, now above six months since. There was this day
at the office (as he is most days) Sir W. Warren, against whom I did
manifestly plead, and heartily too, God forgive me! But the reason is
because I do find that he do now wholly rely almost upon my Lord
Bruncker, though I confess I have no greater ground of my leaving him
than the confidence which I perceive he hath got in my Lord Bruncker,
whose seeming favours only do obtain of him as much compensation as, I
believe (for he do know well the way of using his bounties), as mine more
real. Besides, my Lord and I being become antagonistic, I do not think
it safe for me to trust myself in the hands of one whom I know to be a
knave, and using all means to become gracious there.
17th (Lord's day). Up betime with my wife, and by coach with Sir W. Pen
and Sir Thomas Allen to White Hall, there my wife and I the first time
that ever we went to my Lady Jemimah's chamber at Sir Edward Carteret's
lodgings. I confess I have been much to blame and much ashamed of our
not visiting her sooner, but better now than never. Here we took her
before she was up, which I was sorry for, so only saw her, and away to
chapel, leaving further visit till after sermon. I put my wife into the
pew below, but it was pretty to see, myself being but in a plain band,
and every way else ordinary, how the verger took me for her man, I think,
and I was fain to tell him she was a kinswoman of my Lord Sandwich's, he
saying that none under knights-baronets' ladies are to go into that pew.
So she being there, I to the Duke of York's lodging, where in his
dressing-chamber he talking of his journey to-morrow or next day to
Harwich, to prepare some fortifications there; so that we are wholly upon
the defensive part this year, only we have some expectations that we may
by our squadrons annoy them in their trade by the North of Scotland and
to the Westward. Here Sir W. Pen did show the Duke of York a letter of
Hogg's about a prize he drove in within the Sound at Plymouth, where the
Vice-Admiral claims her. Sir W. Pen would have me speak to the latter,
which I did, and I think without any offence, but afterwards I was sorry
for it, and Sir W. Pen did plainly say that he had no mind to speak to
the Duke of York about it, so that he put me upon it, but it shall be,
the last time that I will do such another thing, though I think no manner
of hurt done by it to me at all. That done I to walk in the Parke, where
to the Queene's Chapel, and there heard a fryer preach with his cord
about his middle, in Portuguese, something I could understand, showing
that God did respect the meek and humble, as well as the high and rich.
He was full of action, but very decent and good, I thought, and his
manner of delivery very good. Then I went back to White Hall, and there
up to the closet, and spoke with several people till sermon was ended,
which was preached by the Bishop of Hereford, an old good man, that they
say made an excellent sermon. He was by birth a Catholique, and a great
gallant, having L1500 per annum, patrimony, and is a Knight Barronet; was
turned from his persuasion by the late Archbishop Laud. He and the
Bishop of Exeter, Dr. Ward, are the two Bishops that the King do say he
cannot have bad sermons from. Here I met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells
me, that undoubtedly my Lord Bellasses do go no more to Tangier, and that
he do believe he do stand in a likely way to go Governor; though he says,
and showed me, a young silly Lord, one Lord Allington, who hath offered a
great sum of money to go, and will put hard for it, he having a fine
lady, and a great man would be glad to have him out of the way. After
Chapel I down and took out my wife from the pew, where she was talking
with a lady whom I knew not till I was gone. It was Mrs. Ashfield of
Brampton, who had with much civility been, it seems, at our house to see
her. I am sorry I did not show her any more respect. With my wife to
Sir G. Carteret's, where we dined and mightily made of, and most
extraordinary people they are to continue friendship with for goodness,
virtue, and nobleness and interest. After dinner he and I alone awhile
and did joy ourselves in my Lord Sandwich's being out of the way all this
time. He concurs that we are in a way of ruin by thus being forced to
keep only small squadrons out, but do tell me that it was not choice, but
only force, that we could not keep out the whole fleete. He tells me
that the King is very kind to my Lord Sandwich, and did himself observe
to him (Sir G. Carteret), how those very people, meaning the Prince and
Duke of Albemarle, are punished in the same kind as they did seek to
abuse my Lord Sandwich. Thence away, and got a hackney coach and carried
my wife home, and there only drank, and myself back again to my Lord
Treasurer's, where the King, Duke of York, and Sir G. Carteret and Lord
Arlington were and none else, so I staid not, but to White Hall, and
there meeting nobody I would speak with, walked into the Park and took
two or three turns all alone, and then took coach and home, where I find
Mercer, who I was glad to see, but durst [not] shew so, my wife being
displeased with her, and indeed I fear she is grown a very gossip. I to
my chamber, and there fitted my arguments which I had promised Mr. Gawden
in his behalf in some pretences to allowance of the King, and then to
supper, and so to my chamber a little again, and then to bed. Duke of
Buckingham not heard of yet.
18th. Up betimes, and to the office to write fair my paper for D. Gawden
against anon, and then to other business, where all the morning.
D. Gawden by and by comes, and I did read over and give him the paper,
which I think I have much obliged him in. A little before noon comes my
old good friend, Mr. Richard Cumberland,--[Richard Cumberland, afterwards
Bishop of Peterborough]--to see me, being newly come to town, whom I have
not seen almost, if not quite, these seven years. In his plain country-
parson's dress. I could not spend much time with him, but prayed him
come with his brother, who was with him, to dine with me to-day; which he
did do and I had a great deal of his good company; and a most excellent
person he is as any I know, and one that I am sorry should be lost and
buried in a little country town, and would be glad to remove him thence;
and the truth is, if he would accept of my sister's fortune, I should
give L100 more with him than to a man able to settle her four times as
much as, I fear, he is able to do; and I will think of it, and a way how
to move it, he having in discourse said he was not against marrying, nor
yet engaged. I shewed him my closet, and did give him some very good
musique, Mr. Caesar being here upon his lute. They gone I to the office,
where all the afternoon very busy, and among other things comes Captain
Jenifer to me, a great servant of my Lord Sandwich's, who tells me that
he do hear for certain, though I do not yet believe it, that Sir W.
Coventry is to be Secretary of State, and my Lord Arlington Lord
Treasurer. I only wish that the latter were as fit for the latter office
as the former is for the former, and more fit than my Lord Arlington.
Anon Sir W. Pen come and talked with me in the garden, and tells me that
for certain the Duke of Richmond is to marry Mrs. Stewart, he having this
day brought in an account of his estate and debts to the King on that
account. At night home to supper and so to bed. My father's letter this
day do tell me of his own continued illness, and that my mother grows so
much worse, that he fears she cannot long continue, which troubles me
very much. This day, Mr. Caesar told me a pretty experiment of his, of
angling with a minikin, a gut-string varnished over, which keeps it from
swelling, and is beyond any hair for strength and smallness. The secret
I like mightily.
19th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon
dined at home very pleasantly with my wife, and after dinner with a great
deal of pleasure had her sing, which she begins to do with some pleasure
to me, more than I expected. Then to the office again, where all the
afternoon close, and at night home to supper and to bed. It comes in my
mind this night to set down how a house was the other day in Bishopsgate
Street blowed up with powder; a house that was untenanted, and between a
flax shop and a -----------, both bad for fire; but, thanks be to God,
it did no more hurt; and all do conclude it a plot. I would also
remember to my shame how I was pleased yesterday, to find the righteous
maid of Magister Griffin sweeping of 'nostra' office, 'elle con the Roman
nariz and bonne' body which I did heretofore like, and do still refresh
me to think 'que elle' is come to us, that I may 'voir her aliquando'.
This afternoon I am told again that the town do talk of my Lord
Arlington's being to be Lord Treasurer, and Sir W. Coventry to be
Secretary of State; and that for certain the match is concluded between
the Duke of Richmond and Mrs. Stewart, which I am well enough pleased
with; and it is pretty to consider how his quality will allay people's
talk; whereas, had a meaner person married her, he would for certain have
been reckoned a cuckold at first-dash.
20th. Up pretty betimes, and to the Old Swan, and there drank at
Michell's, but his wife is not there, but gone to her mother's, who is
ill, and so hath staid there since Sunday. Thence to Westminster Hall
and drank at the Swan, and 'baiserais the petite misse'; and so to Mrs.
Martin's. . . . I sent for some burnt wine, and drank and then away,
not pleased with my folly, and so to the Hall again, and there staid a
little, and so home by water again, where, after speaking with my wife,
I with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes to our church to the vestry, to
be assessed by the late Poll Bill, where I am rated as an Esquire, and
for my office, all will come to about L50. But not more than I expected,
nor so much by a great deal as I ought to be, for all my offices. So
shall be glad to escape so. Thence by water again to White Hall, and
there up into the house, and do hear that newes is come now that the
enemy do incline again to a peace, but could hear no particulars, so do
not believe it. I had a great mind to have spoke with the King, about a
business proper enough for me, about the French prize man-of-war, how he
would have her altered, only out of a desire to show myself mindful of
business, but my linen was so dirty and my clothes mean, that I neither
thought it fit to do that, nor go to other persons at the Court, with
whom I had business, which did vex me, and I must remedy [it]. Here I
hear that the Duke of Richmond and Mrs. Stewart were betrothed last
night. Thence to Westminster Hall again, and there saw Betty Michell,
and bought a pair of gloves of her, she being fain to keep shop there,
her mother being sick, and her father gathering of the tax. I 'aimais
her de toute my corazon'. Thence, my mind wandering all this day upon
'mauvaises amours' which I be merry for. So home by water again, where I
find my wife gone abroad, so I to Sir W. Batten to dinner, and had a good
dinner of ling and herring pie, very good meat, best of the kind that
ever I had. Having dined, I by coach to the Temple, and there did buy a
little book or two, and it is strange how "Rycaut's Discourse of Turky,"
which before the fire I was asked but 8s. for, there being all but
twenty-two or thereabouts burned, I did now offer 20s., and he demands
50s., and I think I shall give it him, though it be only as a monument of
the fire. So to the New Exchange, where I find my wife, and so took her
to Unthanke's, and left her there, and I to White Hall, and thence to
Westminster, only out of idleness, and to get some little pleasure to my
'mauvais flammes', but sped not, so back and took up my wife; and to
Polichinelli at Charing Crosse, which is prettier and prettier, and so
full of variety that it is extraordinary good entertainment. Thence by
coach home, that is, my wife home, and I to the Exchange, and there met
with Fenn, who tells me they have yet no orders out of the Exchequer for
money upon the Acts, which is a thing not to be borne by any Prince of
understanding or care, for no money can be got advanced upon the Acts
only from the weight of orders in form out of the Exchequer so long time
after the passing of the Acts. So home to the office a little, where I
met with a sad letter from my brother, who tells me my mother is declared
by the doctors to be past recovery, and that my father is also very ill
every hour: so that I fear we shall see a sudden change there. God fit
them and us for it! So to Sir W. Pen's, where my wife was, and supped
with a little, but yet little mirth, and a bad, nasty supper, which makes
me not love the family, they do all things so meanly, to make a little
bad show upon their backs. Thence home and to bed, very much troubled
about my father's and my mother's illness.
21st. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning. At noon home to
dinner, and had some melancholy discourse with my wife about my mother's
being so ill and my father, and after dinner to cheer myself, I having
the opportunity of Sir W. Coventry and the Duke of York's being out of
town, I alone out and to the Duke of York's play-house, where
unexpectedly I come to see only the young men and women of the house act;
they having liberty to act for their own profit on Wednesdays and Fridays
this Lent: and the play they did yesterday, being Wednesday, was so well-
taken, that they thought fit to venture it publickly to-day; a play of my
Lord Falkland's' called "The Wedding Night," a kind of a tragedy, and
some things very good in it, but the whole together, I thought, not so.
I confess I was well enough pleased with my seeing it: and the people did
do better, without the great actors, than I did expect, but yet far short
of what they do when they are there, which I was glad to find the
difference of. Thence to rights home, and there to the office to my
business hard, being sorry to have made this scape without my wife, but I
have a good salvo to my oath in doing it. By and by, in the evening,
comes Sir W. Batten's Mingo to me to pray me to come to his master and
Sir Richard Ford, who have very ill news to tell me. I knew what it was,
it was about our trial for a good prize to-day, "The Phoenix,"
[There are references to the "Phoenix," a Dutch ship taken as a
prize, among the State Papers (see "Calendar," 1666-67, p. 404).
Pepys appears to have got into trouble at a later date in respect to
this same ship, for among the Rawlinson MSS. (A. 170) are "Papers
relating to the charge brought against him in the House of Commons
in 1689 with reference to the ship Phoenix and the East India
Company in 1681-86."]
a worth two or L3000. I went to them, where they told me with much
trouble how they had sped, being cast and sentenced to make great
reparation for what we had embezzled, and they did it so well that I was
much troubled at it, when by and by Sir W. Batten asked me whether I was
mortified enough, and told me we had got the day, which was mighty
welcome news to me and us all. But it is pretty to see what money will
do. Yesterday, Walker was mighty cold on our behalf, till Sir W. Batten
promised him, if we sped in this business of the goods, a coach; and if
at the next trial we sped for the ship, we would give him a pair of
horses. And he hath strove for us today like a prince, though the
Swedes' Agent was there with all the vehemence he could to save the
goods, but yet we carried it against him. This put me in mighty good
heart, and then we go to Sir W. Pen, who is come back to-night from
Chatham, and did put him into the same condition, and then comforted him.
So back to my office, and wrote an affectionate and sad letter to my
father about his and my mother's illness, and so home to supper and to
bed late.
22nd. Up and by coach to Sir Ph. Warwicke about business for Tangier
about money, and then to Sir Stephen Fox to give him account of a little
service I have done him about money coming to him from our office, and
then to Lovett's and saw a few baubling things of their doing which are
very pretty, but the quality of the people, living only by shifts, do not
please me, that it makes me I do no more care for them, nor shall have
more acquaintance with them after I have got my Lady Castlemayne's
picture home. So to White Hall, where the King at Chapel, and I would
not stay, but to Westminster to Howlett's, and there, he being not well,
I sent for a quart of claret and burnt it and drank, and had a 'basado'
or three or four of Sarah, whom 'je trouve ici', and so by coach to Sir
Robt. Viner's about my accounts with him, and so to the 'Change, where I
hear for certain that we are going on with our treaty of peace, and that
we are to treat at Bredah. But this our condescension people do think
will undo us, and I do much fear it. So home to dinner, where my wife
having dressed herself in a silly dress of a blue petticoat uppermost,
and a white satin waistcoat and whitehood, though I think she did it
because her gown is gone to the tailor's, did, together with my being
hungry, which always makes me peevish, make me angry, but when my belly
was full were friends again, and dined and then by water down to
Greenwich and thence walked to Woolwich, all the way reading Playford's
"Introduction to Musique," wherein are some things very pretty. At
Woolwich I did much business, taking an account of the state of the ships
there under hand, thence to Blackwall, and did the like for two ships we
have repairing there, and then to Deptford and did the like there, and so
home. Captain Perriman with me from Deptford, telling me many
particulars how the King's business is ill ordered, and indeed so they
are, God knows! So home and to the office, where did business, and so
home to my chamber, and then to supper and to bed. Landing at the Tower
to-night I met on Tower Hill with Captain Cocke and spent half an hour
walking in the dusk of the evening with him, talking of the sorrowful
condition we are in, that we must be ruined if the Parliament do not come
and chastize us, that we are resolved to make a peace whatever it cost,
that the King is disobliging the Parliament in this interval all that may
be, yet his money is gone and he must have more, and they likely not to
give it, without a great deal of do. God knows what the issue of it will
be. But the considering that the Duke of York, instead of being at sea
as Admirall, is now going from port to port, as he is at this day at
Harwich, and was the other day with the King at Sheernesse, and hath
ordered at Portsmouth how fortifications shall be made to oppose the
enemy, in case of invasion, [which] is to us a sad consideration, and as
shameful to the nation, especially after so many proud vaunts as we have
made against the Dutch, and all from the folly of the Duke of Albemarle,
who made nothing of beating them, and Sir John Lawson he always declared
that we never did fail to beat them with lesser numbers than theirs,
which did so prevail with the King as to throw us into this war.
23rd. At the office all the morning, where Sir W. Pen come, being
returned from Chatham, from considering the means of fortifying the river
Medway, by a chain at the stakes, and ships laid there with guns to keep
the enemy from coming up to burn our ships; all our care now being to
fortify ourselves against their invading us. At noon home to dinner, and
then to the office all the afternoon again, where Mr. Moore come, who
tells me that there is now no doubt made of a peace being agreed on, the
King having declared this week in Council that they would treat at
Bredagh. He gone I to my office, where busy late, and so to supper and
to bed. Vexed with our mayde Luce, our cook-mayde, who is a good
drudging servant in everything else, and pleases us, but that she will be
drunk, and hath been so last night and all this day, that she could not
make clean the house. My fear is only fire.
24th (Lord's day). With Sir W. Batten to White Hall, and there I to Sir
G. Carteret, who is mighty cheerful, which makes me think and by some
discourse that there is expectation of a peace, but I did not ask [him].
Here was Sir J. Minnes also: and they did talk of my Lord Bruncker, whose
father, it seems, did give Mr. Ashburnham and the present Lord Digby
L1200 to be made an Irish lord, and swore the same day that he had not
12d. left to pay for his dinner: they make great mirth at this, my Lord
Bruncker having lately given great matter of offence both to them and us
all, that we are at present mightily displeased with him. By and by to
the Duke of York, where we all met, and there was the King also; and all
our discourse was about fortifying of the Medway and Harwich, which is to
be entrenched quite round, and Portsmouth: and here they advised with Sir
Godfry Lloyd and Sir Bernard de Gum, the two great engineers, and had
the plates drawn before them; and indeed all their care they now take is
to fortify themselves, and are not ashamed of it: for when by and by my
Lord Arlington come in with letters, and seeing the King and Duke of York
give us and the officers of the Ordnance directions in this matter, he
did move that we might do it as privately as we could, that it might not
come into the Dutch Gazette presently, as the King's and Duke of York's
going down the other day to Sheerenesse was, the week after, in the
Harlem Gazette. The King and Duke of York both laughed at it, and made
no matter, but said, "Let us be safe, and let them talk, for there is
nothing will trouble them more, nor will prevent their coming more, than
to hear that we are fortifying ourselves." And the Duke of York said
further, "What said Marshal Turenne, when some in vanity said that the
enemies were afraid, for they entrenched themselves? `Well,' says he,
'I would they were not afraid, for then they would not entrench
themselves, and so we could deal with them the better.'" Away thence,
and met with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me that he do believe the
government of Tangier is bought by my Lord Allington for a sum of money
to my Lord Arlington, and something to Lord Bellasses, who (he did tell
me particularly how) is as very a false villain as ever was born, having
received money of him here upon promise and confidence of his return,
forcing him to pay it by advance here, and promising to ask no more
there, when at the same time he was treating with my Lord Allington to
sell his command to him, and yet told Sir H. Cholmly nothing of it, but
when Sir H. Cholmly told him what he had heard, he confessed that my Lord
Allington had spoken to him of it, but that he was a vain man to look
after it, for he was nothing fit for it, and then goes presently to my
Lord Allington and drives on the bargain, yet tells Lord Allington what
he himself had said of him, as [though] Sir H. Cholmly had said them.
I am glad I am informed hereof, and shall know him for a Lord, &c. Sir
H. Cholmly tells me further that he is confident there will be a peace,
and that a great man did tell him that my Lord Albemarle did tell him the
other day at White Hall as a secret that we should have a peace if any
thing the King of France can ask and our King can give will gain it,
which he is it seems mad at. Thence back with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W.
Pen home, and heard a piece of sermon, and so home to dinner, where Balty
come, very fine, and dined with us, and after dinner with me by water to
White Hall, and there he and I did walk round the Park, I giving him my
thoughts about the difficulty of getting employment for him this year,
but advised him how to employ himself, and I would do what I could. So
he and I parted, and I to Martin's, where I find her within, and 'su
hermano' and 'la veuve' Burroughs. Here I did 'demeurer toda' the
afternoon . . . . By and by come up the mistress of the house, Crags,
a pleasant jolly woman. I staid all but a little, and away home by water
through bridge, a brave evening, and so home to read, and anon to supper,
W. Hewer with us, and then to read myself to sleep again, and then to
bed, and mightily troubled the most of the night with fears of fire,
which I cannot get out of my head to this day since the last great fire.
I did this night give the waterman who uses to carry me 10s. at his
request, for the painting of his new boat, on which shall be my arms.
25th. (Ladyday.) Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen by coach to
Exeter House to our lawyers to have consulted about our trial to-morrow,
but missed them, so parted, and [Sir] W. Pen and I to Mr. Povy's about a
little business of [Sir] W. Pen's, where we went over Mr. Povy's house,
which lies in the same good condition as ever, which is most
extraordinary fine, and he was now at work with a cabinet-maker, making
of a new inlaid table. Having seen his house, we away, having in our way
thither called at Mr. Lilly's, who was working; and indeed his pictures
are without doubt much beyond Mr. Hales's, I think I may say I am
convinced: but a mighty proud man he is, and full of state. So home,
and to the office, and by and by to dinner, a poor dinner, my wife and I,
at Sir W. Pen's, and then he and I before to Exeter House, where I do not
stay, but to the King's playhouse; and by and by comes Mr. Lowther and
his wife and mine, and into a box, forsooth, neither of them being
dressed, which I was almost ashamed of. Sir W. Pen and I in the pit, and
here saw "The Mayden Queene" again; which indeed the more I see the more
I like, and is an excellent play, and so done by Nell, her merry part, as
cannot be better done in nature, I think. Thence home, and there I find
letters from my brother, which tell me that yesterday when he wrote my
mother did rattle in the throat so as they did expect every moment her
death, which though I have a good while expected did much surprise me,
yet was obliged to sup at Sir W. Pen's and my wife, and there
counterfeited some little mirth, but my heart was sad, and so home after
supper and to bed, and much troubled in my sleep of my being crying by my
mother's bedside, laying my head over hers and crying, she almost dead
and dying, and so waked, but what is strange, methought she had hair over
her face, and not the same kind of face as my mother really hath, but yet
did not consider that, but did weep over her as my mother, whose soul God
have mercy of.
26th. Up with a sad heart in reference to my mother, of whose death I
undoubtedly expect to hear the next post, if not of my father's also, who
by his pain as well as his grief for her is very ill, but on my own
behalf I have cause to be joyful this day, it being my usual feast day,
for my being cut of the stone this day nine years, and through God's
blessing am at this day and have long been in as good condition of health
as ever I was in my life or any man in England is, God make me thankful
for it! But the condition I am in, in reference to my mother, makes it
unfit for me to keep my usual feast. Unless it shall please God to send
her well (which I despair wholly of), and then I will make amends for it
by observing another day in its room. So to the office, and at the
office all the morning, where I had an opportunity to speak to Sir John
Harman about my desire to have my brother Balty go again with him to sea
as he did the last year, which he do seem not only contented but pleased
with, which I was glad of. So at noon home to dinner, where I find
Creed, who dined with us, but I had not any time to talk with him, my
head being busy, and before I had dined was called away by Sir W. Batten,
and both of us in his coach (which I observe his coachman do always go
now from hence towards White Hall through Tower Street, and it is the
best way) to Exeter House, where the judge was sitting, and after several
little causes comes on ours, and while the several depositions and papers
were at large reading (which they call the preparatory), and being cold
by being forced to sit with my hat off close to a window in the Hall, Sir
W. Pen and I to the Castle Tavern hard by and got a lobster, and he and I
staid and eat it, and drank good wine; I only burnt wine, as my whole
custom of late hath been, as an evasion, God knows, for my drinking of
wine (but it is an evasion which will not serve me now hot weather is
coming, that I cannot pretend, as indeed I really have done, that I drank
it for cold), but I will leave it off, and it is but seldom, as when I am
in women's company, that I must call for wine, for I must be forced to
drink to them. Having done here then we back again to the Court, and
there heard our cause pleaded; Sir [Edward] Turner, Sir W. Walker, and
Sir Ellis Layton being our counsel against only Sir Robert Wiseman on the
other. The second of our three counsel was the best, and indeed did
speak admirably, and is a very shrewd man. Nevertheless, as good as he
did make our case, and the rest, yet when Wiseman come to argue (nay, and
though he did begin so sillily that we laughed in scorn in our sleeves at
him), yet he did so state the case, that the judge did not think fit to
decide the cause to-night, but took to to-morrow, and did stagger us in
our hopes, so as to make us despair of the success. I am mightily
pleased with the judge, who seems a very rational, learned, and uncorrupt
man, and much good reading and reason there is heard in hearing of this
law argued, so that the thing pleased me, though our success doth shake
me. Thence Sir W. Pen and I home and to write letters, among others a
sad one to my father upon fear of my mother's death, and so home to
supper and to bed.
27th. [Sir] W. Pen and I to White Hall, and in the coach did begin our
discourse again about Balty, and he promises me to move it this very day.
He and I met my Lord Bruncker at Sir G. Carteret's by appointment, there
to discourse a little business, all being likely to go to rack for lack
of money still. Thence to the Duke of York's lodgings, and did our usual
business, and Sir W. Pen telling me that he had this morning spoke of
Balty to Sir W. Coventry, and that the thing was done, I did take notice
of it also to [Sir] W. Coventry, who told me that he had both the thing
and the person in his head before to have done it, which is a double
pleasure to me. Our business with the Duke being done, [Sir] W. Pen and
I towards the Exchequer, and in our way met Sir G. Downing going to
chapel, but we stopped, and he would go with us back to the Exchequer and
showed us in his office his chests full and ground and shelves full of
money, and says that there is L50,000 at this day in his office of
people's money, who may demand it this day, and might have had it away
several weeks ago upon the late Act, but do rather choose to have it
continue there than to put it into the Banker's hands, and I must confess
it is more than I should have believed had I not seen it, and more than
ever I could have expected would have arisen for this new Act in so short
a time, and if it do so now already what would it do if the money was
collected upon the Act and returned into the Exchequer so timely as it
ought to be. But it comes into my mind here to observe what I have heard
from Sir John Bankes, though I cannot fully conceive the reason of it,
that it will be impossible to make the Exchequer ever a true bank to all
intents, unless the Exchequer stood nearer the Exchange, where merchants
might with ease, while they are going about their business, at all hours,
and without trouble or loss of time, have their satisfaction, which they
cannot have now without much trouble, and loss of half a day, and no
certainty of having the offices open. By this he means a bank for common
practise and use of merchants, and therein I do agree with him. Being
parted from Sir W. Pen and [Sir] G. Downing, I to Westminster Hall and
there met Balty, whom I had sent for, and there did break the business of
my getting him the place of going again as Muster-Master with Harman this
voyage to the West Indys, which indeed I do owe to Sir W. Pen. He is
mighty glad of it, and earnest to fit himself for it, but I do find, poor
man, that he is troubled how to dispose of his wife, and apparently it is
out of fear of her, and his honour, and I believe he hath received some
cause of this his jealousy and care, and I do pity him in it, and will
endeavour to find out some way to do, it for him. Having put him in a
way of preparing himself for the voyage, I did go to the Swan, and there
sent for Jervas, my old periwig maker, and he did bring me a periwig, but
it was full of nits, so as I was troubled to see it (it being his old
fault), and did send him to make it clean, and in the mean time, having
staid for him a good while, did go away by water to the Castle Taverne,
by Exeter House, and there met Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and several
others, among the rest Sir Ellis Layton, who do apply himself to
discourse with me, and I think by his discourse, out of his opinion of my
interest in Sir W. Coventry, the man I find a wonderful witty, ready man
for sudden answers and little tales, and sayings very extraordinary
witty, but in the bottom I doubt he is not so. Yet he pretends to have
studied men, and the truth is in several that I do know he did give me a
very inward account of them. But above all things he did give me a full
account, upon my demand, of this judge of the Admiralty, Judge Jenkins;
who, he says, is a man never practised in this Court, but taken merely
for his merit and ability's sake from Trinity Hall, where he had always
lived; only by accident the business of the want of a Judge being
proposed to the present Archbishop of Canterbury that now is, he did
think of this man and sent for him up: and here he is, against the 'gre'
and content of the old Doctors, made judge, but is a very excellent man
both for judgment and temper, yet majesty enough, and by all men's
report, not to be corrupted. After dinner to the Court, where Sir Ellis
Layton did make a very silly motion in our behalf, but did neither hurt
nor good. After him Walker and Wiseman; and then the judge did pronounce
his sentence; for some part of the goods and ship, and the freight of the
whole, to be free, and returned and paid by us; and the remaining, which
was the greater part, to be ours. The loss of so much troubles us, but
we have got a pretty good part, thanks be to God! So we are not
displeased nor yet have cause to triumph, as we did once expect. Having
seen the end of this, I being desirous to be at home to see the issue of
any country letters about my mother, which I expect shall give me tidings
of her death, I directly home and there to the office, where I find no
letter from my father or brother, but by and by the boy tells me that his
mistress sends me word that she hath opened my letter, and that she is
loth to send me any more news. So I home, and there up to my wife in our
chamber, and there received from my brother the newes of my mother's
dying on Monday, about five or six o'clock in the afternoon, and that the
last time she spoke of her children was on Friday last, and her last
words were, "God bless my poor Sam!" The reading hereof did set me a-
weeping heartily, and so weeping to myself awhile, and my wife also to
herself, I then spoke to my wife respecting myself, and indeed, having
some thoughts how much better both for her and us it is than it might
have been had she outlived my father and me or my happy present condition
in the world, she being helpless, I was the sooner at ease in my mind,
and then found it necessary to go abroad with my wife to look after the
providing mourning to send into the country, some to-morrow, and more
against Sunday, for my family, being resolved to put myself and wife, and
Barker and Jane, W. Hewer and Tom, in mourning, and my two under-mayds,
to give them hoods and scarfs and gloves. So to my tailor's, and up and
down, and then home and to my office a little, and then to supper and to
bed, my heart sad and afflicted, though my judgment at ease.
28th. My tailor come to me betimes this morning, and having given him
directions, I to the office and there all the morning. At noon dined
well. Balty, who is mighty thoughtful how to dispose of his wife, and
would fain have me provide a place for her, which the thoughts of what I
should do with her if he should miscarry at sea makes me avoid the
offering him that she should be at my house. I find he is plainly
jealous of her being in any place where she may have ill company, and I
do pity him for it, and would be glad to help him, and will if I can.
Having dined, I down by water with Sir W. Batten, [Sir] W. Pen, and [Sir]
R. Ford to our prize, part of whose goods were condemned yesterday--
"The Lindeboome"--and there we did drink some of her wine, very good.
But it did grate my heart to see the poor master come on board, and look
about into every corner, and find fault that she was not so clean as she
used to be, though methought she was very clean; and to see his new
masters come in, that had nothing to do with her, did trouble me to see
him. Thence to Blackwall and there to Mr. Johnson's, to see how some
works upon some of our repaired ships go on, and at his house eat and
drank and mighty extraordinary merry (too merry for me whose mother died
so lately, but they know it not, so cannot reproach me therein, though I
reproach myself), and in going home had many good stories of Sir W.
Batten and one of Sir W. Pen, the most tedious and silly and troublesome
(he forcing us to hear him) that ever I heard in my life. So to the
office awhile, troubled with Sir W. Pen's impertinences, he being half
foxed at Johnson's, and so to bed.
29th. Lay long talking with my wife about Balty, whom I do wish very
well to, and would be glad to advise him, for he is very sober and
willing to take all pains. Up and to Sir W. Batten, who I find has had
some words with Sir W. Pen about the employing of a cooper about our
prize wines, [Sir] W. Batten standing and indeed imposing upon us Mr.
Morrice, which I like not, nor do [Sir] W. Pen, and I confess the very
thoughts of what our goods will come to when we have them do discourage
me in going any further in the adventure. Then to the office till noon,
doing business, and then to the Exchange, and thence to the Sun Taverne
and dined with [Sir] W. Batten, [Sir] R. Ford, and the Swede's Agent to
discourse of a composition about our prizes that are condemned, but did
do little, he standing upon high terms and we doing the like. I home,
and there find Balty and his wife got thither both by my wife for me to
give them good advice, for her to be with his father and mother all this
time of absence, for saving of money, and did plainly and like a friend
tell them my mind of the necessity of saving money, and that if I did not
find they did endeavour it, I should not think fit to trouble myself for
them, but I see she is utterly against being with his father and mother,
and he is fond of her, and I perceive the differences between the old
people and them are too great to be presently forgot, and so he do
propose that it will be cheaper for him to put her to board at a place he
is offered at Lee, and I, seeing that I am not like to be troubled with
the finding a place, and having given him so much good advice, do leave
them to stand and fall as they please, having discharged myself as a
friend, and not likely to be accountable for her nor be troubled with
her, if he should miscarry I mean, as to her lodging, and so broke up.
Then he and I to make a visit to [Sir] W. Pen, who hath thought fit to
show kindness to Balty in this business, indeed though he be a false
rogue, but it was he knew a thing easy to do. Thence together to my
shoemaker's, cutler's, tailor's, and up and down about my mourning, and
in my way do observe the great streets in the city are marked out with
piles drove into the ground; and if ever it be built in that form with so
fair streets, it will be a noble sight. So to the Council chamber, but
staid not there, but to a periwigg-maker's of his acquaintance, and there
bought two periwiggs, mighty fine; indeed, too fine, I thought, for me;
but he persuaded me, and I did buy them for L4 10s. the two. Then to the
Exchange and bought gloves, and so to the Bull-Head Taverne, whither he
brought my, French gun; and one Truelocke, the famous gunsmith, that is a
mighty ingenious man, and he did take my gun in pieces, and made me
understand the secrets thereof and upon the whole I do find it a very
good piece of work, and truly wrought; but for certain not a thing to be
used much with safety: and he do find that this very gun was never yet
shot off: I was mighty satisfied with it and him, and the sight of so
much curiosity of this kind. Here he brought also a haberdasher at my
desire, and I bought a hat of him, and so away and called away my wife
from his house, and so home and to read, and then to supper and to bed,
my head full in behalf of Balty, who tells me strange stories of his
mother. Among others, how she, in his absence in Ireland, did pawne all
the things that he had got in his service under Oliver, and run of her
own accord, without her husband's leave, into Flanders, and that his
purse, and 4s. a week which his father receives of the French church, is
all the subsistence his father and mother have, and that about L20 a year
maintains them; which, if it please God, I will find one way or other to
provide for them, to remove that scandal away.
30th. Up, and the French periwigg maker of whom I bought two yesterday
comes with them, and I am very well pleased with them. So to the office,
where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and thence with my wife's
knowledge and leave did by coach go see the silly play of my Lady
Newcastle's, called "The Humourous Lovers;" the most silly thing that
ever come upon a stage. I was sick to see it, but yet would not but have
seen it, that I might the better understand her. Here I spied Knipp and
Betty, of the King's house, and sent Knipp oranges, but, having little
money about me, did not offer to carry them abroad, which otherwise I
had, I fear, been tempted to. So with [Sir] W. Pen home (he being at the
play also), a most summer evening, and to my office, where, among other
things, a most extraordinary letter to the Duke of York touching the want
of money and the sad state of the King's service thereby, and so to
supper and to bed.
31st (Lord's day). Up, and my tailor's boy brings my mourning clothes
home, and my wife hers and Barker's, but they go not to church this
morning. I to church, and with my mourning, very handsome, and new
periwigg, make a great shew. After church home to dinner, and there come
Betty Michell and her husband. I do and shall love her, but, poor
wretch, she is now almost ready to lie down. After dinner Balty (who
dined also with us) and I with Sir J. Minnes in his coach to White Hall,
but did nothing, but by water to Strand Bridge and thence walked to my
Lord Treasurer's, where the King, Duke of York, and the Caball, and much
company without; and a fine day. Anon come out from the Caball my Lord
Hollis and Mr. H. Coventry, who, it is conceived, have received their
instructions from the King this day; they being to begin their journey
towards their treaty at Bredagh speedily, their passes being come. Here
I saw the Lady Northumberland and her daughter-in-law, my Lord
Treasurer's daughter, my Lady Piercy, a beautiful lady indeed. So away
back by water, and left Balty at White Hall and I to Mrs. Martin . . .
. and so by coach home, and there to my chamber, and then to supper and
bed, having not had time to make up my accounts of this month at this
very day, but will in a day or two, and pay my forfeit for not doing it,
though business hath most hindered me. The month shuts up only with
great desires of peace in all of us, and a belief that we shall have a
peace, in most people, if a peace can be had on any terms, for there is a
necessity of it; for we cannot go on with the war, and our masters are
afraid to come to depend upon the good will of the Parliament any more,
as I do hear.
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
Angling with a minikin, a gut-string varnished over
Better now than never
Bring me a periwig, but it was full of nits
Buying up of goods in case there should be war
For I will not be inward with him that is open to another
He is a man of no worth in the world but compliment
History of this day's growth, we cannot tell the truth
I love the treason I hate the traitor
King of France did think other princes fit for nothing
My wife will keep to one another and let the world go hang
No man knowing what to do, whether to sell or buy
Not more than I expected, nor so much by a great deal as I ought
Now above six months since (smoke from the cellars)
Reparation for what we had embezzled
Uncertainty of all history
Whatever I do give to anybody else, I shall give her
End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, v58
by Samuel Pepys, Unabridged, transcribed by Bright, edited by Wheatley